The golden age of ancient Greek city-state civilization lasted from 490 to 336 BC. This book concentrates on the individuals in the cultural, social, artistic and political history of the Classical Greeks, who shaped future civilizations, as well as their own. Placing the work of Sophocles, Aristophanes, Herodotus, Aristotle, the architect and sculptors of the Parthenon, Phillip II of Macedonia and many others in their historical context, Grant asks what gave rise to such outstanding achievement in the cultural, philosophical, scientific and literary spheres.