The center of Athens has been inhabited for at least 5000 years. This makes Athens an open-air museum with historical remains from all ages. However, it is not easy to find and connect them with history as they are mixed and sometimes hidden by modern buildings.
At first glance such an extended history seems chaotic but you can easily remember it by its main periods.
Athens is mostly known for its ancient history and particularly the Golden age of Pericles in 500 BC. Athens became the most powerful state city of Greece. His main contribution was, of course, the establishment of democracy. Athens became the intellectual and art center of the ancient world. In addition to everything else he was responsible for the construction of the Parthenon.