How and why did Athens become an Empire?
During the Persian wars, Athens became the most dominant naval power in the world.
The Ionians sought a powerful ally like Athens for protection from the Persians. At the
beginning the Delian League was to be beneficial for both Athens and her allies, however
because of radical democracy, the leadership of Aristides, Cimon and in particular
Pericles and his aggressive imperial policy Athens had transformed the Delian League
into the Athenian Empire. This essay will discuss how Athens became not only a member
but leader of the Delian League; it will also examine Aristides, Cimon and Pericles fight
for the right to set the direction of the League, Pericles’ foreign policy and finally
Sparta’s response to Athens growing power.
Athens willingly and in fact, eagerly became the leader of the Delian League because of
self interest and the opportunities that it would provide for her. After the Greeks final
victory over the Persians in 479 BC, some of the Greek communities in the Aegean still
sought liberation from Persian control. The Ionians first looked to Sparta to secure and
maintain their independence. However Sparta was more concerned with problems that
affected them and so were apprehensive about having to ensure the safety of the Ionians
as well. Sparta was under constant threat from the Helots, they had an independent grain
supply and they lacked a navy large enough ensure the Ionians safety. Sparta’s loss of
supreme military command was not only because of traditional security and religious
issues but also the Peloponnesian states began to question Sparta’s leadership of the
Peloponnesian League and Pausanias’ “grasping and overbearing conduct” towards the
Greeks at the end of the war. Pausanias’ actions in particular as well as Sparta’s attitude
that the Ionians should return to the mainland for protection, this greatly angered the
larger Ionian settlements being Chios, Lesbos and Samos. Plutarch states that the allies
“approached Aristides and pressed him to accept the supreme command and rally around
him the allies who had long wished to be quit of Sparta and to transfer their support to
Athens.” Athens was the obvious alternative to Sparta. Athens had proven herself as a
more than capable leader through the likes of Xanthippus and Aristides and Athens
victory at Salamis and the removal of Persian control in Asia Minor.
Leadership of the League was in the best interests of Athens. Athens was heavily
dependent on maritime trade, and so like the Allies, control of the shipping lanes would
be essential for Athens growth. Athens moving away from a landed aristocracy meant
that because Athens was a democracy, was forced to seek her wealth through trade and so
taking leadership of the Delian League was a logical decision. Lastly, Athens had the
same ancestry as the Ionians, unlike the Spartans.
When the Delian League was formed it was set out to be mutually beneficial for Athens
and the Allies as it was an aggressive as well as a defensive alliance, they had “the same
enemies and the same friends”. The structure and organisation of the League can be
largely attributed to Aristides, whose reputation among the Athenians and the Allies was
seen as the honourable politician and was given the nickname ‘the Just’. Meetings and
the treasury were to be held at the island of Delos, which was located in the central
Aegean. Each member was to be represented by a deputy, they were to be free and equal
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During the Persian wars, Athens became the most dominant naval power in the world.
The Ionians sought a powerful ally like Athens for protection from the Persians. At the
beginning the Delian League was to be beneficial for both Athens and her allies, however
because of radical democracy, the leadership of Aristides, Cimon and in particular
Pericles and his aggressive imperial policy Athens had transformed the Delian League
into the Athenian Empire. This essay will discuss how Athens became not only a member
but leader of the Delian League; it will also examine Aristides, Cimon and Pericles fight
for the right to set the direction of the League, Pericles’ foreign policy and finally
Sparta’s response to Athens growing power.
Athens willingly and in fact, eagerly became the leader of the Delian League because of
self interest and the opportunities that it would provide for her. After the Greeks final
victory over the Persians in 479 BC, some of the Greek communities in the Aegean still
sought liberation from Persian control. The Ionians first looked to Sparta to secure and
maintain their independence. However Sparta was more concerned with problems that
affected them and so were apprehensive about having to ensure the safety of the Ionians
as well. Sparta was under constant threat from the Helots, they had an independent grain
supply and they lacked a navy large enough ensure the Ionians safety. Sparta’s loss of
supreme military command was not only because of traditional security and religious
issues but also the Peloponnesian states began to question Sparta’s leadership of the
Peloponnesian League and Pausanias’ “grasping and overbearing conduct” towards the
Greeks at the end of the war. Pausanias’ actions in particular as well as Sparta’s attitude
that the Ionians should return to the mainland for protection, this greatly angered the
larger Ionian settlements being Chios, Lesbos and Samos. Plutarch states that the allies
“approached Aristides and pressed him to accept the supreme command and rally around
him the allies who had long wished to be quit of Sparta and to transfer their support to
Athens.” Athens was the obvious alternative to Sparta. Athens had proven herself as a
more than capable leader through the likes of Xanthippus and Aristides and Athens
victory at Salamis and the removal of Persian control in Asia Minor.
Leadership of the League was in the best interests of Athens. Athens was heavily
dependent on maritime trade, and so like the Allies, control of the shipping lanes would
be essential for Athens growth. Athens moving away from a landed aristocracy meant
that because Athens was a democracy, was forced to seek her wealth through trade and so
taking leadership of the Delian League was a logical decision. Lastly, Athens had the
same ancestry as the Ionians, unlike the Spartans.
When the Delian League was formed it was set out to be mutually beneficial for Athens
and the Allies as it was an aggressive as well as a defensive alliance, they had “the same
enemies and the same friends”. The structure and organisation of the League can be
largely attributed to Aristides, whose reputation among the Athenians and the Allies was
seen as the honourable politician and was given the nickname ‘the Just’. Meetings and
the treasury were to be held at the island of Delos, which was located in the central
Aegean. Each member was to be represented by a deputy, they were to be free and equal
1
