<P> Athens emerged as the dominant economic power in Greece around the late 6th century BCE , this was further bolstered by the finding of several veins of silver in the neighbouring mountains which further added to their wealth . They facilitated an efficient trading system with other Greek city states . Again , pots and other forms of cooking utensils seem to have been the most quantitatively traded product ( over 80,000 amphorae and other such things have been recovered from around Athens in archaeological digs ) . Marble and bronze artwork also seems to have been traded ( though it was largely a luxury product , and this trade only really exploded after the rise of the Roman Republic , as Greek Art exerted a massive influence on Roman Culture on all levels ) . Athens began to import grain due to poor soil conditions however . </P>
when did athens emerges as wealthiest greek city state
the late 6th century BCE