Final answer:
During the Golden Age, Athens saw dramatic advancements in democracy, culture, and economics. Under Pericles' leadership, they enjoyed an era of democratic reforms, cultural achievements in arts and philosophy, and significant economic prosperity through trade and imperialism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Athens During the Golden Age::
During the Golden Age of Athens, approximately from 500 BCE to 300 BCE, the city-state of Athens experienced an unprecedented period of cultural flowering, economic growth, and political advancement. Under statesman Pericles, the Athenians made significant contributions to democracy, allowing less wealthy citizens (thetes) to occupy public office and introducing the misthophoria, a salary for citizens who served as jurors.
The economic prosperity was reflected in public works including the iconic Parthenon and advancements in art, drama, and philosophy, with notable figures such as Socrates and Hippocrates contributing to a legacy that has profoundly influenced Western culture.
Athens also became a major trading power in the Mediterranean, benefiting from the wealth that allowed it to dominate other Greek city-states through the Delian League and move towards a form of imperialism. The irony of the situation was that, even as Athens was building an empire, it was also laying the foundations for democracy and fostering a society that critically examined the world through science and philosophy.
The culmination of Athens' dominance in trade, culture, and politics can be primarily attributed to the efficient use of wealth accumulated through imperialism. The Golden Age saw classical Greek art and architecture reach their zenith, funded significantly by resources from the empire Athens controlled at the time. Moreover, this era also laid the groundwork for scientific inquiry and rationalistic philosophy.