The Influence Of The Delian League

The Classical Period in Ancient Greek history began in 500 BC, when the Greeks first came into conflict with the Persians, and ended in 323 BC, with the death of Alexander the Great. Ancient Greece was made out of many city states all separated by mountainous terrain that made it difficult to travel; therefore each city-state developed independently. One of the most influential city-states was Athens. During this period, Athens was able to transform itself into a successful empire that had a well-developed system of government and a flourishing of the arts. Athens was very successful in Ancient Greece because of its’ democracy, the rapid development of the arts, and strong alliances with other city-states. Nevertheless, some of the qualities

Athens dominated the Delian League so heavily that it eventually became known as the Athenian Empire. Each city-state participating in the Delian League had to agree to hold the same enemies and allies, as well as contribute to the treasury which was used to help develop the naval fleet led by Athens. The members of the Delian League all had a common aim, to protect themselves from the Persian Empire, and so they were able to band together under a uniting cause. The mountainous terrain of Ancient Greece had long separated the city states from each other, so the Delian League was significant because it helped ensure their cooperation despite their differences. The Delian League enjoyed military victories against their common enemies and had success in economics and politics. Trade between the city states boomed, aiding the economy. A common currency was eventually introduced, which helped unite the Athenian Empire even further. Taxation became centralized, and democracy as a form of government was promoted. Overall, the Delian League helped the allied city-states unite into a very powerful and successful force capable of protecting itself from outside