Athens

Between 500BC and 400BC, Athens was the most important city in the world. Many of ancient Greece's greatest thinkers, artists and writers lived here.

At the centre of Athens is a rocky hill called the Acropolis. This was the site of the city’s most important temples. The largest temple was called the Parthenon. Inside there was a stunning gold and ivory statue of the goddess of the city, Athena.

Athens was also the world's first democracy. Instead of being ruled by a king, Athenian citizens would meet to decide how the city should be run. However, not everyone got a say - women, slaves and foreigners were not allowed to vote.

(Text taken from: Who were the ancient Greeks? - BBC Bitesize )