Athenian Imperialism and her Changing Relations with Allies

Nature of Athenian Imperialism Changing Relations with Allies Lars Hoogvliet After the conclusion of the Persian Wars (492-479BC) with Athens being the true victor, and before the Peloponnesian War, a period of prosperity covered Athens, and they needed to devise new ways to protect themselves and expand their wealth, and how this would affect their relations with allies. The Athenians and their Allies was an organisation led by the Athenians in the 5th century, but is now referred to as the Delian League or the Confederacy of Athens. The official aim of the League was, according to Thucydides, to compensate themselves for their losses [of the Persian War] by ravaging the territory of the King of Persia. The long term aim of†¦show more content†¦The besiegement of Thasos revealed Athens true motivations behind the League and the future plans for her allies. According to _Ancient Greece Using Sources_ Thasos was one of the largest and richest members of the Delian League, and a conflict broke out between Athens and Thasos over the gold mining on the island. Thasos then attempted to withdraw from the League, as the Persians were no longer a threat in the Aegean, and Athens was demanding too much for too little in return. The League, under the control of Cimon, then besieged Thasos for two years, and destroyed their city walls, confiscated their navy, closed their mint and annexed their possessions on the mainland. According to Thucydides, the period from the revolt of Thasos to the ostracism of Cimon (465-461BC) was the time when the main friction between Sparta and Athens occurred and eventually led to their war. If Sparta really was willing to attack Athens, an apparent ally, then their relationship must have been weak and forced. Was Sparta jealous of Athens wealth and power? Did they feel threatened by the Athenians sudden harshness against their own allies? Or it could have been a combination of reasons. Thucydides didnt help either when his pro-Athenian feelings got the better of him, this was a time when Sparta was particularly friendly to Athens because of the courage displayed by Athens against the Persians. Another case of conflict betweenShow MoreRelatedOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesshaped the likelihood and direction of migration in many forms. Labor demands and low frontier populations produced both higher wages and increased opportunities for employment and trade. At the same time, increased commercialization impacted rural relations around the world, creating both the need and the opportunities to spend money earned through the wages of migrants. The growth of commercial agriculture and rural industry also provided an impetus for seasonal rural-to-rural moves.7 In Europe alone