Editing 444 BC (section)

== Events ==
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=== By place ===

==== Greece ====
* The conservative and democratic factions in [[Athens]] confront each other. The ambitious new leader of the conservatives, [[Thucydides (politician)|Thucydides]], accuses the leader of the democratic faction, [[Pericles]], of profligacy and criticises the way Pericles is spending money on his ambitious building plans for the city. Thucydides manages, initially, to gain the support of the [[Ecclesia (ancient Greece)|ecclesia]]. Pericles responds by proposing to reimburse the city for all the expenses from his private property, on the condition that he would make the inscriptions of dedication in his own name. His stance is supported by the ecclesia, so Thucydides' efforts to dislodge Pericles from power are defeated.

==== Persian empire ====
* [[Nehemiah]], the [[Jewish]] cupbearer to [[Artaxerxes I]] at Susa, is given permission by Artaxerxes to return to [[Jerusalem]] as governor of [[Judea]], in order to rebuild parts of it.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Nehemiah|2:5–8}}</ref>
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