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The factors most revealing of Athens’ intention to take the lead in the Delian League after the Persian Wars are the following:
Thucydides believes that the initial reason for the subjugation of her allies was the fact that they preferred to ensure their defence through financial contributions rather than actively participating in expeditions themselves (Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian Wars 1.99). Tax collection seemed to be one of Athens’ pretexes for interfering, at first indirectly but later directly, in the internal affairs of the allied cities.
In 454 B.C. the allied treasury was transferred from Delos to Athens, placed initially in the old temple of Athena and later in the Parthenon. Some scholars attribute Athenian shipbuilding and especially the great construction programmes this influx of alliance money. |
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The establishment of cleruchies was peculiar to Athenian colonies in the allied regions. In 450 B.C. the first official cleruchies were established in Lemnos, Andros, Naxos and Carystus. In many caese, the presence of garrisons and Athenian officials charged with the enforcement of League decisions was seen by the natives as an Athenian imposition, since the settlers (cleruchs) retained their Athenian citizenship, and thus served to intensify existing feelings of resentment towards Athenian policies. |
Trials concerning federal matters took place in Athens, which obliged the allies to travel to Athens and appear in Athenian courts in order to resolve their differences and comply with Athenian rulings. |
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In 449 B.C., Athens issued a decree banning the mining of silver by the allied cities, thus imposing the circulation of its own coinage, weights and measures. A stone pillar bearing the Athenian decree establishing the Athenian coin for federal transactions was erected in the agora of all allied cities, imposing severe sanctions on every city failing to comply.
The negotiations with the Persians which probably led to the Peace of Callias in 449 B.C., took place between the Athenians and the Persians and did not involve the League as a whole.
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The Athenians headed the establishment of the colony of Thurii in Southern Italy in 443 B.C., even though many colonists from other cities of the League had participated. |
Athenian expansionism, especially in the northern Aegean, combined with the constant expeditions to the eastern Mediterranean financially drained and demoralised her allies, many of which rebelled, for example Thasos (465-3 B.C.), the cities of Euboea (454 449 B.C.) and Samos (441-439 B.C.). The Athenians repressed these insurrections and the cities capitulated, that is, they had to destroy their walls, hand over their fleets and give hostages.
