Sophocles lived during a period of immense cultural significance, not only for Athens but for the broader context of Western democratic culture. This era was marked by conflicts with Persia and Sparta, the evolution of democratic principles, grand public architectural projects, and theatrical events. Additionally, there was a notable rise in a rhetorical culture, emphasizing the power of language and writing. These elements characterized Athens during Sophocles's lifetime, a period known as the Golden Age of Athens.

Shortly after Cleisthenes established democracy in Athens in 507 B.C., the city faced threats from external enemies. In the early fifth century B.C., the Persians, under the leadership of Darius, attempted to conquer Athens by crossing the Aegean Sea. Despite the Persian victory over Miletos in 494, Athens achieved a significant triumph at Marathon in 490. The battles of Salamis, Platea, and Mycale in 480-79 also ended in Athenian victories, leading to the eventual defeat of the Persian forces led by Xerxes I. The Athenians took great pride in their victory over Xerxes; around fifteen years after Sophocles's birth, Athens had emerged as an empire, forming the Delian League in 478-77. From 492-60, the city-state was led by Pericles, a populist leader known for his military prowess, rhetorical skills, and public building projects, including the Parthenon. Sophocles participated in some of Pericles's initiatives and the military life of the city, assisting in the Samian War (441-39), serving as an ambassador, and joining the ruling council in 413.

Although the Persian threat had diminished, a new conflict emerged: the Peloponnesian War with Sparta and its allies began in 432. Thucydides, an Athenian general and historian renowned for his objectivity and accuracy, chronicled this war in his History of the Peloponnesian War. Athens, having suffered a defeat in Sicily in 413, ultimately surrendered to Sparta (which received support from Persia) in 404, the year after Sophocles passed away.

Amidst the ongoing war, Athenian democracy thrived during the lifetime of Sophocles. The city's commercial ventures along the eastern Mediterranean coastline were prosperous, and its cultural life experienced significant growth and development. Greek religious practices were centered around shrines visited by worshippers of Apollo at Delphi, Apollo and Artemis at Delos, and Zeus at Olympia. These shrines frequently hosted festivals that included athletic competitions, dance, song, and theatrical performances.

Athens was also a hub of intellectual activity. Following the work of Pythagoras and Xenophanes in the previous century, Athenian mathematicians and scientists began making new advancements in arithmetic and geology. Pericles, who studied sophistry with Zeno, elevated the art of oratory to unprecedented levels. His patronage of the plastic and literary arts enabled Athenians to appreciate the lasting achievements of their contemporaries. Although public building projects were interrupted by the Persian war, they resumed with vigor in the latter half of the fifth century. Notable constructions included the Temple of Zeus at Olympia and, in Athens, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Parthenon, Propylaea, and the Erechtheum. Pericles ensured that these grand public building projects inspired artists of his era to strive for greatness on behalf of their city.

Greek drama also saw a golden age. Pericles supported public festivals by providing entertainments and pageantry, ensuring that all men could attend. The era's three great dramatists were Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. Sophocles successfully competed against both his mentor Aeschylus and his contemporary Euripides in the annual tragic competitions of the Great Dionysia. Some dramas of this period addressed specific political issues, such as Phrynichos's Capture of Mileros (493) and Aeschylus's Persians (472). Other plays, like Aeschylus's Oresteia and Oedipus Rex, explored broader themes related to mythological figures and their relationships with the gods, fate, and Greek cultural heritage. Although critics have debated whether parallels should be drawn between the plague-stricken Thebes of Oedipus Rex and the plague in Athens in 430-29 B.C., it is easy to imagine that an audience familiar with such devastation would find particular resonance with their own experiences.

Fifth Century B.C.: The evolution of jury trials in law courts and the rise of sophistry, practiced by philosophers like Zeno, led to the emergence of the first professional lawyers. Persuading a public audience became a crucial cultural skill, with philosophers training leaders such as Pericles in the art of oratory.

Today: Rhetorical skill remains a key attribute for modern courtroom lawyers. The public typically has limited access to these trials unless they attract media attention, as seen in the notorious case of former football star O. J. Simpson, who was accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.

Fifth Century B.C.: In an effort to gain popularity, Athenian ruler Pericles invested heavily in the arts, funding pageants, processions, public banquets, and providing financial support for theatrical performances. The theater was integral to cultural and religious festivals like the Great Dionysia, where playwright Sophocles won over twenty first-place prizes.

Today: Public funding for the arts makes up less than one percent of the federal budget. Republican leaders in Congress have suggested eliminating this public funding in favor of a private grant system supported by donations from actors and private citizens. While theater remains a popular form of entertainment, festivals surrounding public performances are seldom state-funded.

Fifth Century B.C.: A significant conflict led to a prolonged war between Athens and Sparta, the two most powerful city-states, each supporting vastly different governmental structures—democracy in Athens and oligarchy (rule by a committee) in Sparta.

Today: Until the early 1990s, the two major global powers, the capitalist, democratic United States and the communist U.S.S.R., were engaged in the Cold War, marked by an arms race involving conventional and nuclear weapons. The U.S.S.R. eventually collapsed due to internal strife, leading to a shift from Cold War tensions to an awareness of potential global peace and the rise of localized civil conflicts.

Fifth Century B.C.: Scientific advancements and significant progress in mathematics coincided with the belief, as stated by Protagoras, that "man is the measure of all things," suggesting that humans can control their destinies and master the universe through knowledge.

Today: Advances in artificial intelligence and bioengineering raise complex and controversial issues about the potential for computers and robots to "think," and the ethics surrounding techniques like cloning.