THE BEECHMONT CREST GUIDE TO ANCIENT GREECE
The Delian League: the dark side of Athens
Once again the Athenians were shaken to their core by a near miss with the Persians. The most recent Persian invasion convinced Athens that it would have to become more serious about defense. This time Athens would do more than just build a navy. In response to the Persian invasion of 480 B.C., Athens set up a regional defensive alliance known as the Delian League. The Delian League probably began with good intentions. After all, the Persian threat was real and it could not be ignored. Over time, however, the Delian League evolved into an instrument of Athenian imperialism.
Athens pressured other cities to join their new league. As members of the league, the cities enjoyed a certain degree of protection from Athens. But membership had its price: member cities had to pay tribute to Athens. With this new source of cash, the Athenian government funded a new series of campaigns to liberate the Ionian Greek cities that remained under Persian rule. This of course earned the gratitude of the Ionian Greeks. At first, the Athenian policies were also largely popular in cities that made up the Delian League.
Then the Greeks learned that the Athenians now considered themselves to be masters as well as liberators. When two members of the Delian League, Naxos and Thasos, left the league, the paid a terrible price. The leaders of Naxos and Thasos declared that the Persian threat was over, and told Athens: “Thanks for your help, but we can manage by ourselves now. And by the way: we won’t be sending any more tribute money.” Athens responded by sacking both cities, tearing down their defensive walls, and forcing their governments to pay reparations. Athens also confiscated the navies of Naxos and Thaxos.