500 BC - 401 BC

The expanding Persian Empire clashed repeatedly with the Greek City States. The Spartans had the most powerful Greek army, training their citizens from the age of 7. Athens on the other hand, had the most powerful navy and they dominated the seas around Greece.

In Italy, Rome had become a Republic but was almost constantly at war with the other peoples of Italy.

Carthage had become the most important trading centre in the Western Mediterranean region with it's ships visiting ports from Britain to the the Eastern Mediterranean coast.