Editing 5th century BC (section)

===[[490s BC]]===
* [[499 BC]]: [[Aristagoras]], acting on behalf of the [[Achaemenid Empire|Persian Empire]], leads a failed attack on the rebellious island of [[Naxos, Greece|Naxos]].
* [[499 BC]]: Aristagoras instigates the [[Ionian Revolt]], beginning the [[Persian Wars]] between [[Greece]] and [[Persia]].
* [[499 BC]]: [[Sardis]] sacked by [[Athenian]] and Ionian troops.
* [[498 BC]]: [[Lentini|Leontini]] subjugated by [[Hippocrates of Gela]].
* [[498 BC]]: [[Alexander I of Macedon|Alexander I]] succeeds his father [[Amyntas I of Macedon|Amyntas I]] as king of [[Macedon]].
* [[496 BC]]: [[Battle of Lake Regillus]]: A legendary early [[Roman Republic|Roman]] victory, won over either the [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]]s or the [[Latin]]s.
* [[496 BC]]: [[Sophocles]] is born.
* [[495 BC]]: [[Temple]] to [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]] on the [[Circus Maximus]] in [[Rome]] is built.
* [[494 BC]]: The [[Battle of Lade]], where [[Achaemenid Empire|Persians]] take back [[Ionia]].
* [[494 BC]]: Two [[tribunes of the plebs]] and two [[aedile|plebeian aediles]] are elected for the first time in [[Ancient Rome|Rome]]: the office of the [[tribunate]] is established.
* [[494 BC]]: The year Rome changed from an Aristocratic Republic to a Liberalized Republic.
* [[493 BC]]: [[Piraeus]], the port town of [[Athens]], is founded.
* [[493 BC]]: [[Gaius Marcius Coriolanus|Coriolanus]] captures the [[Volsci]]an town of [[Corioli]] for [[Rome]].
* [[492 BC]]: First expedition of King [[Darius I of Persia]] against Greece, under the leadership of his son-in-law [[Mardonius (general)|Mardonius]]. This marks the start of the campaign that culminated in the [[Battle of Marathon]] in [[490 BC]].
* [[492 BC]]: [[Ajatashatru|Ajatashartu]] overthrows his father [[Bimbisara]] to become king of [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]].
* [[491 BC]]: [[Leotychidas]] succeeds his cousin [[Demaratus]] as king of [[Sparta]].
* [[491 BC]]: [[Gelo]] becomes [[Tyrant]] of [[Gela]].
* [[490 BC]]: The [[Battle of Marathon]], where Darius I of [[Persia]] is defeated by the [[Athenians]] and [[Plataeans]] under [[Miltiades the Younger|Miltiades]]
* [[490 BC]]: [[Phidippides (Marathon runner)|Phidippides]] runs 40 kilometers from [[Marathon, Greece|Marathon]] to [[Athens]] to announce the news of the Greek victory; origin of the [[marathon (sport)|marathon]] long-distance race.