What was the historical context surrounding the writings of Socrates and Plato?

Socrates and Plato lived in ancient Greece during the 5th and 4th century BCE, a time of intellectual flourishing known as the Golden Age of Athens. They witnessed the Peloponnesian War which led to political instability and a questioning of traditional beliefs, prompting them to explore questions of ethics, justice, and the nature of reality through their philosophical writings. Their works reflect a society grappling with issues of democracy, tyranny, and the search for knowledge and truth.