Final answer:
After the Persian War, Athens became the dominant Greek city-state, politically and commercially, marking the start of its golden age filled with cultural and intellectual achievements.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the Greeks won the Persian War, the city-state of Athens became both politically and commercially dominant. With the toppling of the Persian threat, Athens emerged as the most influential polis, marking the beginning of its golden age. The victory against Persia, a formidable regional superpower, shocked the Mediterranean and Middle East regions and filled the Greeks with immense confidence in their civilization. Significant cultural and intellectual achievements were accomplished during the Classical Age that followed, including advancements in drama, philosophy, literature, art, and architecture, exemplified by the construction of the Parthenon.
The wealth and power accrued from their imperial outreach and their naval dominance provided Athens the resources to lead in public spending and cultural development. It was this era that saw Athens rise to the zenith of its cultural and political influence, before the emergence of rivalries with other Greek city-states, such as Sparta, which eventually led to the Peloponnesian War and the subsequent decline of Athenian dominance.