What were the reasons for the wealth and power of Athens in the 5th century BC?

The main reason for the wealth of Athens was that it became the largest trade center in the Mediterranean world. The results of the Greco-Persian wars, which not only enriched the victors, but also increased the military-political importance of Athens among other Greek city-states, also played a role. The large-scale construction work undertaken by Pericles, which ensured a high demand for labor, made a significant contribution to increasing welfare. And at the same time, these strengths turned into weaknesses: for example, the widespread use of slave labor not only “worked” to enrich Athens, but also pushed free citizens out of the labor market.