Why was 404 BC one of the worst years in history?

Before 404 BC, Athens was a global beacon of knowledge, progress and philosophy. It was an open city. And its system of government was one of the first democratic systems in human history.

Athena was able to make writers and philosophers whose ideas are still influential to this day. Athena also possessed a very great wealth in her time; As a result of its attracting innovators from around the world, it became one of the most powerful military forces of its time.

The Athenian leader Pericles wanted to explain why the Athenian society was more advanced than other societies. As a result, he made a list of the features that are unique to Athenian society. According to Pericles, the two most important characteristics of Athena were "democracy" and "freedom".

Pericles did not view democracy as a mere tool that makes "the people rule," but rather as a tool that encourages "wise action," as Pericles described it. Continuing his saying during what is known as the "funeral sermon" in 431 BC:

"We do not view debate as an obstacle to action, but rather as an indispensable prelude to any wise action."

David Deutsch, in his book The Beginning of Infinity, commented on Pericles’s words, saying:

“[Democracy] prompts continuous debate, which is the condition necessary to discover the correct answer, which in turn is a necessary basis for progress to be made.”

As for Pericles' view of freedom, it was demonstrated by Athena’s openness to foreign visitors, which was a rare phenomenon compared to the defensive stance taken by most cities and their neighboring countries. Pericles believed that Athena could make great progress by communicating with unexpected new ideas, even if this led to the entry of enemy spies, as he later admitted. He also saw that treating children kindly is a source of military power, saying on one occasion:

“In education, our competitors seek manhood from the cradle with rough upbringing, while we in Athens live as we please, and nevertheless we remain equal in our readiness to face every danger. Maybe".

In the same book, Deutsch explained the characteristic of freedom, saying:

“The practice of untested methods over and over is an act that a pessimistic civilization deems unethical, because it blinds itself to the possibility of compensating the benefits of doing so for its risks, so that it is withholding thought and puritanical.”

Sparta, the city bordering Athens, was in complete contrast to Athens, in all respects. “It was known for its strict lifestyle, the harshness of its educational system, and the militarization of its entire community. Every Spartan man was a full-time soldier, who had absolute obedience to his superiors, who in turn were committed to following religious traditions,” Deutsch said.

In 404 BC, that is, 27 years after the "funeral sermon" of Pericles, Sparta was able to completely sweep Athena. To destroy its time, the first true eras of the Enlightenment, delaying that civilization progress for more than two thousand continuous years.

Athens was able, after a few years, to regain its democracy and way of life, but it was no longer exactly what it was. Her soul had been killed, and “her optimism had vanished,” in Deutsch's words. If the Enlightenment at that time had survived the conquest of Sparta, "perhaps we would be immortal now exploring the stars of our galaxy."

(Most of the informations were taken from The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch)