- 481 BC
__NOTOC__ Events
By place
Persian Empire
* The Persian King Xerxes I arrives at
Sardis and begins to build up his great army and navy for the invasion of Greece. Egypt contributes 481 ships.Greece
* The
Congress at the Isthmus of Corinth , under the presidency ofSparta , brings together a number of the Greek city states, who agree to the end of the war betweenAthens andAegina . They also discuss the threat from the Persians. Athens is unwilling to place her forces under Sparta and its king Leonidas.Gelo ,tyrant of Syracuse, wants high command, but Sparta and Athens refuse. However, during the Congress, Gelo has to withdraw due toCarthage 's plans to invadeSicily . Finally, Themistocles agrees that Athens' navy serve under a Spartan admiral to achieve the unity of the Greek states. Nevertheless, Thebes andThessaly are unwilling to support Athens against the Persians andCrete decides to remain neutral.China
* The
Spring and Autumn Period , which has begun in722 BC , ends, while theWarring States Period officially begins in403 BC .Births
*
Protagoras , Greek presocratic philosopher (d. c.420 BC )Deaths
*
Sima Niu , the highest ranking aristocrat among the disciples ofConfucius
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
