DEVELOPMENT OF ATHENS AND THE
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*Delian League: origins, aims, organisation and activities to the Battle of the Eurymedon River
*role and contribution of Cimon and Aristides the Just *transformation of the Delian League into the Athenian Empire *nature of Athenian imperialism, changing relations with allies *key democratic developments: influence of the thetes, ostracism, citizenship law |
Fallout from the Greco-Persian Wars Ionian liberation Pan-Hellenism |
THE DELIAN LEAGUE: ORIGINS, AIMS, ORGANISATION AND ACTIVITIESOrigins
• In 479 BCE the Persians had been beaten, for the most part. Plataea had driven them from the Greek mainland, and Mycale had caused a large part of the fleet to fall victim to the Greeks. • While the Greek mainland was safe for the time being from future Persian invasion, some statesmen believed that there might be a third invasion (juts as a second had followed the first). • More obviously, what was to be done about the Greek poleis in the Aegean and on Asia Minor, within spitting distance of the Persians? How would these Greek populations protect themselves from future Persian reprisals? • One solution proposed by the Spartans was that these (for the most part) Ionian Greeks be transported to the Greek mainland where they would be given the territory of Greek poleis that had surrendered to the Persians. Athens (in particular, Themistocles) resisted this proposal. Instead the seeds for a defensive league were sown. • The Persian wars had brought about an unusual awareness on the part of separate Greek city states that their common Hellenic identity amounted to something. Therefore the creation of a league that would safeguard Greek communities over in Ionia was a responsibility that mainland Greeks couldn’t simply ignore. • At the same time, the creation of such a league would lead to opportunities of expansion for ambitious parties. |
Image: www.panormitis-studios.gr
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"The Greeks - Crucible of Civilisation Episode 2" by PBS, 2000
the_delian_league_by_dr_christina_vestor.pdf |
The site of the Delian League is currently undergoing extensive restoration work. It was a small, mostly uninhabited island with many options for a safe harbour. The wealth of the league was obvious!
@realmofhistory.com
@realmofhistory.com
Aims
1. Liberate Greek cities and maintain a united front by being active against the Persian Empire forces. 2. The purpose of the league wasn’t entirely offensive. There was an element of revenge after cities were ravaged by Persia. Athens especially had been torched by the Persians and its inhabitants were definitely interested in hurting Persia and its allies in return. 3. Promotion of democracy. Each member state would meet in an assembly and be allowed one vote when it came to determining the league’s combined course of action. Athens was, in principle, just another face in the crowd. |
Herodotus would call it "Athens and her allies", Modern Historians, "The Delian League." In reality, Athens was supreme - there was no league or alliance built on respect and mutual concord. Athens had the fleet and coerced other states to meet their aims.
- Dewell |
An alliance of Greeks under the Regent Pausanias of Sparta were still routing the Persians from teh eastern Mediterranean, attacking them as far as Cyprus. Unfortunately for him, Pausanias quickly won the hatred of the united Greeks and even the disapproval of the Spartans. Soon he was recalled home to stand trial and Dorcis was sent to command in his place. The Greeks gleefully handed over leadership to the Athenians who had the better navy anyway. "The Athenians, having gotten leadership ... established which cities would supply money to fight the barbarian, and which ships. The pretext was to avemnge themselves by ravaging the lands of the Great King.And at theat time, the offices of the Treasurers was set up by the Athenians. After these events they wagd war on teh Naxians who had revolted and took them by seige. This was the first city to be enslaved contrary to the established rule and many cities followed in turn." Thucydides
Thus began the Delian League. Budin, The Ancient Greeks, 2004 Oxford Universoty Press. |
Organisation
• The league took shape in 477. It was a league that poleis could voluntarily join. By paying an appropriate tribute – one in proportion to the wealth of one’s state, as assessed by officials known as Hellenotamiai – each member would be granted the protection of the combined forces of the league as a whole. There were 3 types of members: 1. Paying tribute members 2. Members who provided ship to the League's fleet 3. Subjugated states who were coerced or forced to join (later stage and treated very harshly - Aegina for example). • Members would share both friends and enemies in common. • Tribute could be paid in the form of ships, manpower or money. The latter was the favourite option of most small states and some larger ones. • The headquarters of this league was the island of Delos. This was a wise choice for at least two reasons. It was situated between the Greek mainland and Ionia – it was something of a halfway point. It was also sacred to Apollo and therefore of cultural/religious significance to all Greeks. • The league’s treasury was situated here and this is where important meetings were held. Because of the centrality of Delos, the league came to be known by modern scholars as the Delian League. • Who would lead the league? Sparta and Athens were the obvious candidates. • Pausanias acted harsh and superior towards the Ionians, Sparta held internal concerns over helots, they had a land based military strength. That left Aristides the Just of Athens. • Athens had transformed itself into a major sea power and was ready to take on Persia. • Themistocles was (in 477BC at least) an immensely popular politician and stuck to domestic affairs and Aristides was more than capable of taking on the combined military commands and early activities of the Delian league and was instrumental in its creation. • Then there was Kimon. Son of Miltiades, the hero of Marathon whom was also disgraced and heavily fined before his death. Kimon inherited that debt and had a lot to prove. He was young, capable and now started to build his own reputation taking a leadership role in terh activities of the newly formed league against the Persian in Ionia and the Aegean. |
Member-ship Funds & HQ Hegemony (or leadership) |
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:
*It is a good idea to think of the Delian League as changing over time. The League in 477BC may have only had a dozen or so members. In 440BC, there would have been 40+. Is it then logical to think that the original constitution/agreement would change?
*If Athens was sacked twice in the Persian Wars - did they lose the most? Did they deserve to rebuild from war booty against Persia?
*Athens clearly had the biggest fleet. Who better to lead?
*Many of the contributing states would vote to please Athens. Hoping to get more attention/favouritism.
*Thucyidides does not give us enough on the constitution. Everything is contestable.
*It is a good idea to think of the Delian League as changing over time. The League in 477BC may have only had a dozen or so members. In 440BC, there would have been 40+. Is it then logical to think that the original constitution/agreement would change?
*If Athens was sacked twice in the Persian Wars - did they lose the most? Did they deserve to rebuild from war booty against Persia?
*Athens clearly had the biggest fleet. Who better to lead?
*Many of the contributing states would vote to please Athens. Hoping to get more attention/favouritism.
*Thucyidides does not give us enough on the constitution. Everything is contestable.
'A maritime confederacy'
A fleet of triremes - defending against Persia by the sea was a logistical and tactically sound move from Athens..
Activities
From 477BC to 468BC, Athens as hegemon of the Delian League in many ways fulfilled its promise to continue the offensive against Persian and any threat they would pose to the Greek orld. Below is a summary of the major campaigns the League took part in. It is important to note the motivations of Athens in each circumstance. The League was an alliance, though it is not surprising that all decisions of the leageu, all votes, all 'activities' seemed to work in their own favour.
From 477BC to 468BC, Athens as hegemon of the Delian League in many ways fulfilled its promise to continue the offensive against Persian and any threat they would pose to the Greek orld. Below is a summary of the major campaigns the League took part in. It is important to note the motivations of Athens in each circumstance. The League was an alliance, though it is not surprising that all decisions of the leageu, all votes, all 'activities' seemed to work in their own favour.
Antiquity 2, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, SYDNEY, 2008
TRANSFORMATION OF THE DELIAN LEAGUE INTO THE ATHENIAN EMPIRE |
"NAXOS WAS THE FIRST ALLIED CITY TO BE ENSLAVED, CONTRARY TO ESTABLISHED USAGE"
Thucydides, History of the Peleponnesian War Book I, 98
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Things to consider:
1. Did Athens intend for an empire from the outset of the Delian League?
2. Can there actually be adefinitive moment where Athens was now at the head of its own empire?
3. What is the difference between the ancients and their narrative, as opposed to modern historians and their classifications?
4. What did the Battle of Eurymedon in 468BC really mean for Athens and the allies?
1. Did Athens intend for an empire from the outset of the Delian League?
2. Can there actually be adefinitive moment where Athens was now at the head of its own empire?
3. What is the difference between the ancients and their narrative, as opposed to modern historians and their classifications?
4. What did the Battle of Eurymedon in 468BC really mean for Athens and the allies?
A little more help...
1. Athens was continuously flexing its new found strength after the Persian Wars. There is no conclusive evidence to state that it was always the intention of Athens, but their actions and the organisation of the league certainly suggests most events an drules would favour Athens.
2. It depends on perspective. Certain allies would arguye it happened at a definitive time, especially how they might be affected by the actions of Athens.At the very latest the subjugation of Chalcis and the Chalcis decree of 446-45BC put it beyond doubt what was really happening in the Aegean.
3. The definition of Athens leading an EMPIRE is very much a modern construction. The ancients spoke about Athens overstepping its authority and hypocrisy (including Roman authors), but the understanding and classification of the Athenian Empire is an analysis that is explored most in the modern age of historiography.
4. Symbolically, the battle according to Herodotus, was the end of any Persian presence or threat by land or sea in Anatolia. The allies felt any more contributions by ships or phoros was unecessary. Athens felt any idea of disbanding would diminish their influence and power over other Greeks.
1. Athens was continuously flexing its new found strength after the Persian Wars. There is no conclusive evidence to state that it was always the intention of Athens, but their actions and the organisation of the league certainly suggests most events an drules would favour Athens.
2. It depends on perspective. Certain allies would arguye it happened at a definitive time, especially how they might be affected by the actions of Athens.At the very latest the subjugation of Chalcis and the Chalcis decree of 446-45BC put it beyond doubt what was really happening in the Aegean.
3. The definition of Athens leading an EMPIRE is very much a modern construction. The ancients spoke about Athens overstepping its authority and hypocrisy (including Roman authors), but the understanding and classification of the Athenian Empire is an analysis that is explored most in the modern age of historiography.
4. Symbolically, the battle according to Herodotus, was the end of any Persian presence or threat by land or sea in Anatolia. The allies felt any more contributions by ships or phoros was unecessary. Athens felt any idea of disbanding would diminish their influence and power over other Greeks.
EVENT
REVOLT OF THASOS 465BC FIRST PELOPONNESIAN WAR 460-44BC5 THE EGYPTIAN DEFEAT 454BC PEACE WITH PERSIA 449/8BC REVOLTS OF EUBOEA & SAMOS |
ANALYSIS
+ > + > + |
NATURE OF ATHENIAN IMPERIALISM, CHANGING RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS ALLIES |
KEY DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENTS: INFLUENCE OF THE THETES, OSTRACISM, CITIZENSHIP LAW |
Do I think Assassins Creed is historically accurate and perfect? No... Do I think its an awesome interpretation of the time period? YES!!
Click this link or the picture above to take a tour of classical Athens... you won't regret it.
Click this link or the picture above to take a tour of classical Athens... you won't regret it.