for greece 500-440bc, i suggest you investiage the following
the delian league and its transformation to an athenian empire (there has been a question on that last 2 years in a row, its 3 dot points in the syllabus, you simply gotta know it)
also find out a bit about the peloponesian league
and the causes, course and consequences of the persians wars (darius' failed attack in 492bc, then reattempted invasion leading to defeat at marathon 490bc... then xerxes phat attack in 480BC... thermopylae & artemisium (look into military tactics for those 2 - athenian kyklos, 300 spartans, the traitor, etc)... the burning of athens, evacuation to salamis and the battle of salamis (tactics! - periplus) look at important characters - learn their role... themistocles, aristedes, miltiades, ephialtes...
development of naval power (athens - piraeus & delian league tribute)
development and nature of athenian democracy - cimon, reforms of ephialtes, then pericles, was it actually a democracy or did pericles dominate
learn the details of that shit, biff in a few quotes and you'll be right