Delian League
The Delian League was a significant alliance of Greek city-states formed in 478 BCE, initially aimed at uniting against the Persian Empire's threats. Athens emerged as the dominant power within the League, which included around two hundred member states, with many hailing from Ionia. The League derived its name from the island of Delos, where its treasury was originally located. While the League achieved notable military victories, such as the triumph at the Battle of Eurymedon in 466 BCE, its purpose shifted over time, especially after the Persian threat diminished. Athens's increasing demands for tribute from member states, coupled with its imperialistic tactics, led to growing dissatisfaction among allies. Notably, the transfer of the treasury to Athens symbolized its control, and attempts by states to secede were met with military force. Ultimately, the combination of internal revolts and external conflicts, particularly with the rival Peloponnesian League led by Sparta, contributed to the dissolution of the Delian League around 404 BCE, marking a significant shift in the power dynamics of ancient Greece.
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Delian League
The Delian League was an alliance of city-states in and around Greece that formed in 478 BCE. The powerful city-state Athens was the dominant power in the league, which included at least two hundred smaller member states. The Delian League originally formed to counter the threat posed to Greek territories by the Persian Empire. Once the Persian threat subsided, however, Athens insisted that the league remain and its members continue to pay tributes, or membership fees, much of which went to construction projects in Athens. Athens became increasingly dominant and aggressive toward league members, blocking attempts to secede. A series of internal revolts and military losses eventually sapped the league's strength, and it dissolved around 404 BCE.
Background
Prior to the unification of Greece, the region contained hundreds of small civilizations spread across the mainland and nearby islands. Many of these civilizations developed into city-states, governmental units that, while relatively small, functioned as independent urbanized entities. These city-states adopted a wide range of political systems, most notably early forms of democracy, or government by the will of the people. The largest and most powerful city-state, Athens, became the first documented democratic government in the world.
Although many groups around Greece flourished, they lacked a centralized power or efficient means of cooperation. In the sixth century BCE, the Persian Empire, a powerful kingdom from Asia, interfered in Greek affairs and sent armies to conquer much of its territory, particularly in eastern regions. By 478 BCE, many groups throughout the regions of Greece, led by Athenian statesman Aristides, formulated a plan to form an alliance. The main intent of the alliance was to reclaim lands conquered by the Persians and defend Greek states from future Persian incursions.
At the time, the partnership was known simply as the alliance or Athens and its allies. Later scholars applied the name Delian League to the alliance, the word Delian being derived from the island of Delos, where the league was first designed and where member city-states later stored much of their wealth. Aside from Athens, the founding members of the Delian League are not clear to modern scholars, as most records have been lost over time.
Overview
Athens was the figurehead and guiding force of the Delian League. Some of the other most important participating states included Byzantium, Chios, Aegina, Lindos, and Naxos. The overall number of league members is unknown. Some historians believe it was around two hundred, but others maintain that the number may have been considerably higher. Members hailed from all parts of Greece, but most commonly from the eastern region known as Ionia (in modern-day Turkey), where most states joined the alliance. A few city-states outside of Greece also participated.
League members were required to pay regular tribute to the group treasury. This tribute was used to cover the costs of the Athenian naval fleet and its various actions against the enemies of Greece. The amount of tribute increased greatly in a short time, but states unable to afford the price in talents (silver currency) could pay in timber, crops, or sailing ships. In return, these states received the help of Athens, the support of one another, and an equal vote in league meetings. Many states also hoped to benefit from the advanced cultural offerings and democracy of Athens, although this hope would ultimately not be fulfilled.
In the first decades of its existence, the Delian League won some important battles against its Persian foes. The greatest victory came about 466 BCE at the Battle of Eurymedon, a battle waged simultaneously on the land and sea. By 450 BCE, less than thirty years after the founding of the league, Persia had been largely neutralized and the two sides drafted a peace treaty.
The league offered its members many other benefits outside of the military realm, including greater interstate communication and cooperation. Trade improved and increased with the help of standardized currency and measurement systems and a reduction in piracy. More efficient systems of taxation and access to Athenian-style justice systems benefited many states. The league also promoted the democratic form of government, though, ironically, Athens began instituting a series of undemocratic policies as head of the league.
With the end of the conflicts with Persia, several member states felt that they no longer needed the league. Athens, however, was unwilling to allow them to secede. When the city-state of Naxos attempted to leave, Athenian forces attacked and conquered it. A similar reaction followed the attempt of Thasos to leave. These distinctly imperialistic actions coincided with increasing demands for tribute from league members. Rather than funding a military fleet, however, much of these funds went directly toward building projects in the city of Athens. The famous Parthenon, for instance, was partly built through league tributes.
Despite the victories over Persia and the heightening glory of Athens, the Delian League quickly began to erode. One major problem was that Sparta, another powerful city-state on mainland Greece, assembled its own alliance of states known as the Peloponnesian League. This competing alliance allowed states to choose against Athens in support of its competitor. Another major problem was internal dissatisfaction and dissent within the Delian League. Aside from the bullying tactics of Athens, Athenian statesmen outraged their allies by moving the Delian treasury from Delos to Athens, another sign of Athenian domination.
Athens and the Delian League began facing some punishing military defeats, in Greece and abroad. In 460 BCE, war broke out between the Delian and Peloponnesian Leagues. The war was damaging by itself, as was the realization that the Delian League, originally envisioned as a pro-Greek entity, was now being used as a weapon against other Greeks. An Athenian campaign in Egypt failed, and many components of the Delian League began to fight internally and revolt against Athens. A second war with the Peloponnesian League, now supported by old enemy Persia, from about 432 to 404 BCE finally sapped the strength of Athens and ended the Delian League.
Bibliography
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