Final answer:
The end of the Classical period saw significant political changes with the rise of Athens, the Peloponnesian Wars, and eventual Macedonian conquest. Power shifts included the move to professional armies and changes in government types. This turbulent era concluded with the advent of the Hellenistic period following Alexander the Great's conquests.
Step-by-step explanation:
The end of the Classical period was marked by significant political changes and shifts in power. After the Greco-Persian Wars, the Athenian victory led to the formation of the Delian League, which Athens utilized to establish an empire. The ensuing Peloponnesian Wars, which lasted until 400 BCE, saw the warring Greek city-states such as Athens and Sparta vie for dominance. Ultimately, the wars weakened the Greek polities, making them vulnerable to conquest.
Power changes in the late Classical period were profound. The practice of state-financed standing armies and reliance on mercenaries became common among the poleis. Political participation fluctuated between democracies, oligarchies, and monarchies. This period saw the decline of hoplite citizen-soldiers and the rise of oligarchic councils and tyrants. The Persian Empire regained control over Anatolian Greek cities and remained a significant force.
By 338 BCE, King Philip II of Macedonia defeated the Greek city-states at the Battle of Chaeronea, effectively ending the Classical period of Greek history. His son, Alexander the Great, unified Greece and embarked on a conquest that established the Hellenistic period, marked by the spread and interaction of Greek culture with other civilizations. The late Classical period set the stage for extensive cultural and artistic shifts, including a trend toward more individualized and expressive forms of art reflecting the period's uncertainty and human experience.