450 BC

450 BC refers to the year 450 Before Christ (or Before Common Era) in the Julian calendar. It was a year in the 5th century BC and falls within the Classical period of ancient Greece.

Significant Events and Developments:

• Roman Law: The Law of the Twelve Tables, considered the foundation of Roman law, was supposedly codified and displayed in the Roman Forum around this time. While the exact year is debated by historians (sources often cite 451-449 BC), it's generally accepted that this period was crucial for the development of Roman legal institutions.

• Greek City-States: The Greek world was in a period of significant activity following the Persian Wars. Athenian democracy under Pericles continued to flourish, though tensions with Sparta were escalating, eventually leading to the Peloponnesian War. This year falls between the end of the Second Persian Invasion (479 BC) and the start of the Peloponnesian War (431 BC).

• Philosophy and Thought: Key philosophical figures such as Socrates and Zeno of Elea were active during this time, shaping the development of Western philosophical thought. While pinpointing specific contributions to the year 450 BC is difficult, the intellectual climate of the period was strongly influenced by their emerging ideas.

• Art and Architecture: Classical Greek art and architecture continued to develop, with significant building projects and artistic endeavors underway in Athens and other Greek city-states. The Parthenon, for example, was under construction at this time (construction began in 447 BC and was completed in 432 BC).