Ancient Greece: Golden Age of Athens & Sparta. The Golden Age of Greece, often called the Age of Pericles or Classical Greece, was a 50-200 year period (approx. 480–400 BC) of peak artistic, cultural, and political achievement following the Persian Wars. Centered in Athens, this era saw the rise of democracy, the construction of the Parthenon, and foundational work in philosophy, theater, and science. Helena Koumpenaki Video by History Odyssey | Greece High Definition