The Athenian Empire
Spartan Misconduct & Athenian Take-Over
Following the successes at Plataea and Mykale, the Spartans led a counter-attack against the remaining Persian outposts in Greek territory. However, their leader, Pausanius, was considered to have been behaving arrogantly and violently so the allies became dissatisfied very quickly.
By 477 BC, the Athenian Aristides (c. 525 BC - 465 BC) had persuaded the other Greek allies to request Athenian leadership. The Spartans also agreed happily to this as their army was needed in Sparta in order to guard against helot uprisings.
By 477 BC, the Athenian Aristides (c. 525 BC - 465 BC) had persuaded the other Greek allies to request Athenian leadership. The Spartans also agreed happily to this as their army was needed in Sparta in order to guard against helot uprisings.
Permanent Structure
Members had to swear a solemn oath never to desert the coalition, now known as the Delian League. The Delian League had an assembly of representatives to make its policy in order to allow participation by all its members. It was formed of members predominantly from northern Greece, the islands of the Aegean and the western coast of Anatolia. However, most states on the Peloponnese kept their traditional alliance with Sparta,known as the Peloponnesian League.
Finances of the Delian League
The treasury was based on the island of Delos, hence the League's name. Aristides set the different levels of payments based on the size and prosperity of each city-state; the payment was in the from of 'phoros' meaning 'that which is brought/ / dues / tribute'. The larger member states were expected to supply warships and crews whilst smaller states simply paid cash. Over time, more and more of the member states chose to pay in cash as it was far cheaper than furnishing warships and young men. Therefore Athens built and manned many warships on behalf of the Delian League.
Rebellion of Thasos (465 BC - 463 BC)
Due to the size of Athens' navy, it had the most power in the Delian League - no other member could threaten it. When the city-state of Thasos withdrew from the Delian League following a dispute with Athens over the possession of gold mines on the neighbouring mainland, the Athenians led the fleet of the Delian League against Thasos. This was in order to get Thasos to keep their sworn agreement to stay in the League. It turned into a three year siege, finally ending in 463 BC with the island's surrender. Thasos was forced to pull down its defensive walls, give up its navy and pay massive fines to the League. Thucydides states that rebellious allies "lost their independence" which made the Athenians "no longer as popular as they used to be" as the League's leaders (1.98-99).
Military & Financial Success
The Delian League enjoyed many successes against the Persians in the twenty years following the Battle of Salamis; almost all the Persian garrisons had been expelled from the Greek world and the Persian fleet driven from the Aegean. Persia would not be a threat to the Greeks for the next fifty years.
Athens' wealth grew from its share of the spoils of Persian outposts and from the dues paid to the League. The city had a massive population (30,000 to 40,000 male citizens) and became incredibly prosperous.
Athens' wealth grew from its share of the spoils of Persian outposts and from the dues paid to the League. The city had a massive population (30,000 to 40,000 male citizens) and became incredibly prosperous.
Athenian Self-Interest
The citizens who attended the Assembly decided how the income of the Delian League was to be spent and both the rich and the poor had an interest in maintaining the fleet; the rich (e.g. Cimon) could enhance their social status from spending the spoils of victories in Athens and the poor could gain a salary from becoming oarsmen in the navy. The decision at the Assembly on how to spend money turned the Delian League into Athens' Empire.