S8_The Delian League & Rise of Pericles

• The Athenians, on a new high after the Persian war, founded the Confederation of Delos, also called the Delian League, in 477. The purpose of the League was to protect against another invasion from Persia. Most of the Ionian islands joined. Many of the islands were too small to furnish ships themselves, so instead they gave money to the League treasury, kept on Delos, and the Athenians used this money to build ships to protect all the League members.
• Aristides, an Athenian statesman known as “The Just”, was tasked with keeping up with the League’s finances.
• Themistocles, the man largely responsible for the birth of Athenian naval power, became less and less important. Xanthippus, an Alcmaeonid, and Aristides eclipsed him. Themistocles was ostracized in 472. He went to Persia and died in the Persian district of Magnesia.
• Cimon, commanding the Delian league forces, i.e., the Athenian navy, won many victories over the Persians. In 458, Athens completed the Long Walls, which connected Athens to its port, Piraeus. The Long Walls came to symbolize Athenian power.
• In 454, the treasury of the Delian League was moved to Athens, making the League effectively an Athenian empire. Cimon was ostracized in 461 after he ordered an expedition to Messenia the previous year (462) to help the Spartans put down a revolt there.
• Ephialtes, known for reducing the powers of the Areopagus, and Pericles, the son of Xanthippus, led the opposition party that caused Cimon’s exile. Ephialtes was murdered in 461, leaving Pericles basically in control of Athens. Pericles issued pay for jury service in 462. Athenian politics were conducted in general by amateurs.
• First Peloponnesian War: began in 459 when Athenian forces seized Naupactus and Megara submitted as well. Athens won the minor battles of Halieis and Cecryphalea early in 458. Athens then besieged Aegina, which fell in 457. In 457, Athens and Sparta fought the battle of Tanagra.
• Before the battle of Tanager, Cimon begged to be reinstated. His request was refused. Sparta won the battle. Cimon was then reinstated and negotiated a truce with Sparta. Athens invaded Boeotia. Under the command of Myronides, they defeated the Boeotians at Oenophyta in 457, giving Athens control of all of Boeotia except the city of Thebes itself.
• Athens lost control of Boeotia after losing the battle of Coronea in 447. The Spartans took control of Phocis in 448 in another Sacred War.
• The Peace of Callias was a treaty between Athens and Persia in 449 (note: there were two treaties named the Peace of Callias). Athens and Sparta signed the Thirty Years’ Peace in 446 (or 445). Pericles was elected strategos (general) fifteen consecutive years (444-429).