Beginning in 478 BC when `the city of Athens was in ruins', Anton Powell presents an excellent, well-written account of 5th-century Greek history and society. Powell presents much of the ancient source material, with analysis and comment, along with two new sections on the use of vase-painting as evidence and recent debates on the honesty of Thucydides. Other subjects include: The Delian League, the growth of the Athenian Empire, Sparta (her problems and ingenuity), the Peloponnesian War, life within Sparta, Athenian democracy, Athenian women and religious prophecy.