410s BC

This decade witnessed the continuing decline of the Achaemenid Empire, fierce warfare amongst the Greek city-states during the Peloponnesian War, the ongoing Warring States Period in Zhou dynasty China, and the closing years of the Olmec civilization (lasting from c. 1200–400 BC) in modern-day Mexico.

Events and trends

• Peloponnesian War (431 BC–404 BC) between Athens and Sparta continues.
• 419 BC- Agis II of Sparta concludes a treaty with Agros after a brief expedition to the Argive plain.^[1]
• 419 BC- Andromache by Euripides first performed.
• 419 BC- Sophocles' Electra first performed.
• 418 BC- Battle of Mantinea.
• 418 BC- Argos replaces its democratic government with an oligarchy and forms an alliance with Sparta. Most of Argos' allies do the same.
• 417 BC- Hyperbolus, Athenian demagogue, expelled from Athens.
• 416 BC- Athens captures island of Melos.
• 415 BC- Athens launches the Sicilian Expedition in response to the city of Segesta's call for aid.
• 415 BC- The Athenian Statesman Andocides is sent into exile.
• 415 BC- Alcibiades of Athens defects to Sparta.
• 415 BC- Euripides' The Trojan Women first performed.
• 414 BC- Gylippus of Sparta defeats the Athenians during the siege of Syracuse.
• 414 BC- Aristophanes' play The Birds is first performed.
• 413 BC- The Athenian expeditionary force is defeated at the Second Battle of Syracuse.
• 413 BC- Tissaphernes, the Persian Satrap of Lydia and Caria, forms an alliance with Sparta.
• 413 BC- Sparta occupies Decelea.
• 413 BC- Euripides' play Electra (not to be confused with Sophocles' Electra) is performed.
• 412 BC- Sparta signs a treaty of mutual help (Treaty of Miletus) with Tissaphernes.
• 412 BC- Alcibiades defects to the Persians.
• 412 BC- Clazomenae revolts against Athens.
• 411 BC- Athens' democratic government overthrown and briefly ruled by a "Council of Four Hundred" for four months.
• 411 BC- Alcibiades is recalled from exile.
• 411 BC- Antiphon is executed.
• 411 BC- Euripides' play Iphigeneia in Tauris is first performed.
• 411 BC- Aristophanes' plays Lysistrata and Women Celebrating the Thesmophoria are first performed.
• 411 BC- Amyrtaeus, future Pharaoh of Egypt, leads an unsuccessful rebellion against Persian rule.
• 410 BC- Battle of Cyzicus
• 410 BC- Carthage sends reinforcements to the city of Segesta.
• 410 BC- Hannibal Mago, ruler of Carthage, defeats the city of Selinus in battle on Sicily.
• 410 BC- Carthage's Iberian colonies revolt and secede from Carthage.
• 410 BC- Evagoras reclaimed his throne in Salamis after years of foreign rule.
• c.410 BC- Arsames, Satrap of Egypt, issued a document in Aramaic asking officials in the region of Assyria to supply provisions to his estate manager Nehtihor who would be passing through on his way to Egypt. He mentions some cities in the region of Assyria, a sign that the region during the Achaemenid period was economically active.^[2] This document is of importance for Assyriologists in the study of the "Post-Assyrian" and Achaemenid periods of Assyria.

Significant people

• Euripides of Athens, playwright
• Socrates of Athens, philosopher
• Sophocles of Athens, playwright
• Thucydides of Athens, historian and author of the History of the Peloponnesian War
• Hannibal Mago, King of Carthage, r. 440–406 BC
• Weilieh, Zhou dynasty king of China, r. 425–402 BC
• Tharrhypas, King of Epirus, r. 430–390 BC
• Perdiccas II, King of Macedon, r. 454–413 BC
• Archelaus I, King of Macedon, r. 413–399 BC
• Mahapadma Nanda, King (and founder) of the Nanda Dynasty in Magadha (in Ancient India), r. c.420–362 BC
• Kosho, legendary Emperor of Japan, r. 475–393 BC
• Herinutarekamen, king of Kush r. 431–405 BC
• Darius II, King of the Achaemenid Persian Empire r. 423–404 BC
• Amyrtaeus of Egypt, Anti-Achaemenid rebel and future Pharaoh of Egypt
• Joiada of Judah, High-Priest of Israel, held position 433–410 BC
• Johanan of Judah, High-priest of Israel, held position 410–371 BC
• Malachi of Judah, prophet (according to Bible)
• Tissaphernes of Persia, Satrap of Lydia and Caria
• Abdemon, King of Salamis, r. 420–410
• Evagoras, King of Salamis, r. 410–374
• Pleistoanax (Agaid king r. 459–401 BC) and Agis II (Eurypontid king r. 427–400 BC), co-kings of Sparta.
• Seuthes I, King of Thrace, r. 424–410 BC
• Amadocus I, King of Thrace, r. 410–390 BC

Contemporaries of future importance

• Artaxerxes of Persia, Achaemenid prince and future King of Persia
• Cyrus the Younger of Persia, Achaemenid prince and satrap
• Plato of Athens, student of Socrates and future philosopher
• Xenophon of Athens, soldier and future writer of Anabasis

Births

• 418 BC- Epaminondas of Thebes, Theban general and statesman (d. 362 BC)
• 418 BC- Iphicrates, Athenian general (approximate date) (d. c. 353 BC)
• 417 BC- Theatetus of Athens, Mathematician
• 412 BC- Diogenes of Sinope, philosopher
• 411 BC- Timoleon, Greek statesman and general (approximate date) (d. 337 BC)

Deaths

• 418 BC- Laches, Athenian aristocrat and general (b. c. 475 BC)
• 415 BC- Prodicus of Ceos, Philosopher
• 414 BC- Lamachus, Athenian general
• 414 BC- Eurymedon of Athens, general
• 413 BC- Demosthenes, Athenian general
• 413 BC- Nicias, Athenian soldier and statesman (b. 470 BC)
• 413 BC- Perdiccas II, Macedonian king
• 413 BC- Nehemiah, prominent Jewish leader and governor of Judah (then part of the Achaemenid empire)
• 411 BC- Antiphon, Athenian politician and orator (b. 480 BC)
• 411 BC- Phrynicus, Athenian general (assassinated)
• 411 BC- Eupolis of Athens, poet
• 411 BC- Hyperbolus of Athens, orator and statesman
• 410 BC- Hippocrates of Chios, mathematician and astronomer
• 410 BC- Mindarus of Sparta, admiral
• 410 BC- Seuthes I, king of Thrace

References