The history of Attica is for the most part the history of Athens. The merging of the territories in Attica with Athens happened around year 800 B.C.
Athens developed to a great industrial and naval force during the 8th and 7th century B.C. A milestone in the city's history has been the period of Pisistratus tyrrany when the exporting commerce of Athens reached Sicily, Egypt and the Black Sea. Athens was also the prime actor during the war with Persia. This activity aided by the appearance of democratic governing helped Athens become Greece's leading city and the center of an allied state.During Pericles' "Golden Age" period, Athens was famous to the world for its power, culture and science.
In 146 B.C. Athens was occupied, together with the rest of Greece, by the Romans, who although they were conquerors, showed respect to the city's culture.
After the first years A.C. , Gothic tribes brought destructive invasions and looting to Athens. The gradual integration with the Byzantine Empire was completed with the shut down of Philosophic Schools, the modification of shrines to Christian temples and the general rural confrontation of Athens.
Plaka, the old neighborhood of Athens, is stretched around Acropolis and is considered to be the oldest and more picturesque part of Athens. It has narrow streets and alleys, single storey houses, neoclassical villas, taverns and cafeterias. The Arios Pagos is located NW of Acropolis. A rock with an artificially levelled top, lower than the Acropolis Rock. The ancient Parliament went to session here.
The Ancient Market includes the site of the Ancient Market on the bottom of the Holy Rock, Hifaistos' temple (Thisio) and Attalus' tunnel. The Persians destroyed all of the buildings in the Ancient Market in 480 B.C., which were afterwards rebuilt.
Adrianus Library is located near the Roman Market, it was a gift to Athens from Emperor Adrianos, built in the second century. The Archaeological Site is fenced, but all of the ruins are visible from the outside.
Ceramicus is the ancient graveyard of Athens. It includes part of the city's ancient Wall.
This webpage created by Elizabeth Van Rij
http://www.oocities.org/greece/evanrij/attica.htm