Chapter XLV

PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFEDERACY UNDER ATHENS AS HEAD. — FIRST
FORMATION AND RAPID EXPANSION OF THE ATHENIAN EMPIRE.

Consequence of the formation of the confederacy of Delos. —
Bifurcation of Grecian politics between Sparta and Athens.
— Distinction between the confederacy of Delos, with Athens
as president — and the Athenian empire which grew out of it.
— Tendency to confuse these two, and to impute to Athens
long-sighted plans of ambition. — The early years, after the
formation of the confederacy of Delos, were years of active
exertion on the part of Athens. — Our imperfect knowledge of
them. — Necessity of continued action against the Persians, even
after the battles of Platæa and Mykalê. This necessity was the
cause, both of the willing organization of the confederacy of
Delos and of the maritime improvement of Athens. — Confederacy of
Delos — sworn to by all the members — perpetual and peremptory
— not allowing retirement nor evasion. — Enforcing sanction of
Athens, strictly exercised, in harmony with the general synod. —
Gradual alteration in the relations of the allies — substitution
of money-payment for personal service, demanded by the allies
themselves, suitable to the interests and feelings of Athens. —
Change in the position as well as in the feelings of Athens. —
Growing unpopularity of Athens throughout Greece — causes of it.
— Synod of Delos — gradually declines in importance and vanishes.
— Superior qualities and merit of the Athenians as compared with
the confederates of Delos generally. — Tribute first raised by
the synod of Delos — assessment of Aristeidês. — Events between
B. C. 476-466. — Eion — Skyros — Karystus. — Athens as guardian
of the Ægean sea against piracy. — The Hero Theseus. — First
revolt among the members of the confederacy of Delos — Naxos
revolts and is reconquered. — Operations of Athens and the
confederacy against Persia. — Defeat of the Persians by Kimon at
the river Eurymedon. — Revolt of Thasos from the confederacy of
Delos. — Siege of Thasos by the Athenians under Kimon. — Mines in
Thrace. — First attempt of Athens to found a city at Ennea Hodoi
on the Strymon above Eion. The attempt fails and the settlers
are slain. — Reduction of Thasos after a blockade of two years —
it is disarmed and dismantled. — Application of the Thasians to
Sparta for aid — granted, but not carried into effect — glimpse
of hostilities between Sparta and Athens. — Trial and acquittal
of Kimon at Athens. — Great increase of the Athenian power. —
Proceedings in Central Greece between 470-464 B. C. Thebes and
the Bœotian towns. Discredit of Thebes. — Sparta restores and
upholds the supremacy of Thebes over the lesser Bœotian towns.
— Events in Peloponnesus — Arcadia — Elis, etc. — Terrible
earthquake at Sparta, 464 B. C. — Revolt of the Helots. — The
Lacedæmonians invoke the aid of their allies against the revolted
Helots. — March of the Athenians under Kimon into Laconia, to
aid them. — Mistrust conceived by the Lacedæmonians of their
Athenian auxiliaries, who are dismissed from Laconia. Displeasure
and change of policy at Athens. — The Athenians renounce the
alliance of Sparta, and contract alliance with Argos. Position
of Argos — her conquest of Mykênæ and other towns. — Megara
becomes allied with Athens. Growing hatred of Corinth and the
neighboring Peloponnesian states towards Athens. — Energetic
simultaneous action of the Athenians — in Cyprus, Phenicia,
Egypt, and Greece — they build the first “Long Wall” from
Megara to Nisæa. — War of Athens against Corinth, Ægina, etc.
Total defeat of the Æginetans at sea. — The Athenians besiege
Ægina — the Corinthians, Epidaurians, etc. are defeated by the
Athenians under Myrônidês. — The Long Walls between Athens and
Peiræus are projected — espoused by Periklês, opposed by Kimon —
political contentions at Athens — importance of the Long Wall. —
Expedition of the Lacedæmonians into Bœotia — they restore the
ascendancy of Thebes. — Intention of the Spartan army in Bœotia
to threaten Athens and sustain the Athenian oligarchical party
opposed to the Long Walls. — Battle of Tanagra — defeat of the
Athenians. — Effects of the battle — generous behavior of Kimon
— he is recalled from ostracism. — Compromise and reconciliation
between the rival leaders and parties at Athens. — Victory of
Œnophyta gained by the Athenians — they acquire ascendency over
all Bœotia, Phocis, and Lokris. — Completion of the Long Walls.
— Conquest of Ægina, which is disarmed, dismantled, and rendered
tributary. — The Athenians first sail round Peloponnesus — their
operations in the gulf of Corinth. — Defeat and losses of the
Athenians in Egypt. — The revolted Helots in Laconia capitulate
and leave the country. — Truce for five years concluded between
Athens and Lacedæmonians, through the influence of Kimon. —
Fresh expeditions of Kimon against Persia. — Death of Kimon at
Cyprus — victories of the Athenian fleet — it returns home. — No
farther expeditions of the Athenians against Persia — convention
concluded between them. — Mistakes and exaggerations respecting
this convention — doubts raised as to its historical reality.
Discussion of those doubts — confirmatory hints of Thucydidês. —
Thucydidês, son of Melêsias, succeeds Kimon as leading opponent
of Periklês. — Transfer of the common fund of the confederacy
from Delos to Athens. — Gradual passage of the confederacy into
an Athenian empire. — Transfer of the fund was proposed by the
Samians. — Position of Athens with a numerous alliance both
of inland and maritime states. — Commencement of reverses and
decline of power to Athens. — Revolt of Bœotia from Athens —
defeat of the Athenians at Korôneia — they evacuate Bœotia. —
Revolt of Phocis, Lokris, Eubœa, and Megara: invasion of Attica
by the Peloponnesians under the Lacedæmonian king Pleistoanax. —
Eubœa reconquered by Periklês. — Humiliation and despondency of
Athens. — Conclusion of the Thirty years’ truce. — Diminution of
Athenian power. — Feud between Athens and Megara.
290-352