Chapter XLVII

FROM THE THIRTY YEARS’ TRUCE, FOURTEEN YEARS BEFORE THE
PELOPONNESIAN WAR, DOWN TO THE BLOCKADE OF POTIDÆA, IN THE YEAR
BEFORE THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR.

Personal activity now prevalent among the Athenian
citizens—empire of Athens again exclusively maritime, after
the Thirty years’ truce.—Chios, Samos, and Lesbos, were now
the only free allies of Athens, on the same footing as the
original confederates of Delos—the rest were subject and
tributary.—Athens took no pains to inspire her allies with the
idea of a common interest—nevertheless, the allies were gainers
by the continuance of her empire.—Conception of Periklês—Athens,
an imperial city, owing protection to the subject-allies;
who, on their part, owed obedience and tribute.—Large amount
of revenue laid by and accumulated by Athens, during the
years preceding the Peloponnesian war.—Pride felt by Athenian
citizens in the imperial power of their city.—Numerous Athenian
citizens planted out as kleruchs by Periklês.—Chersonesus
of Thrace. Sinôpê.—Active personal and commercial relations
between Athens and all parts of the Ægean.—Amphipolis in Thrace
founded by Athens.—Agnon is sent out as Œkist.—Situation
and importance of Amphipolis.—Foundation, by the Athenians,
of Thurii, on the southern coast of Italy.—Conduct of the
refugee inhabitants of the ruined Sybaris—their encroachments
in the foundation of Thurii: they are expelled, and Thurii
reconstituted.—Herodotus and Lysias—both domiciliated as
citizens at Thurii. Few Athenian citizens settled there as
colonists.—Period from 445-431 B.C. Athens at peace. Her
political condition. Rivalry of Periklês with Thucydidês son
of Melêsias.—Points of contention between the two parties: 1.
Peace with Persia. 2. Expenditure of money for the decoration of
Athens.—Defence of Periklês perfectly good against his political
rivals.—Pan-Hellenic schemes and sentiment of Periklês.—Bitter
contention of parties at Athens—vote of ostracism—Thucydidês
is ostracized about 443 B.C.—New works undertaken at Athens.
Third Long Wall. Docks in Peiræus—which is newly laid out
as a town, by the architect Hippodamus.—Odeon, Parthenon,
Propylæa. Other temples. Statues of Athênê.—Illustrious
artists and architects—Pheidias, Iktînus, Kallikratês.—Effect
of these creations of art and architecture upon the minds of
contemporaries.—Attempt of Periklês to convene a general congress
at Athens, of deputies from all the Grecian states.—Revolt of
Samos from the Athenians.—Athenian armament against Samos,
under Periklês, Sophoklês the tragedian, etc.—Doubtful and
prolonged contest—great power of Samos—it is at last reconquered,
disarmed, and dismantled.—None of the other allies of Athens,
except Byzantium, revolted at the same time.—Application of
the Samians to Sparta for aid against Athens—it is refused,
chiefly through the Corinthians.—Government of Samos after the
reconquest—doubtful whether the Athenians renewed the democracy
which they had recently established.—Funeral oration pronounced
by Periklês upon the Athenian citizens slain in the Samian
war.—Position of the Athenian empire—relation of Athens to her
subject allies—their feelings towards her generally were those
of indifference and acquiescence, not of hatred.—Particular
grievances complained of in the dealing of Athens with her
allies.—Annual tribute—changes made in its amount. Athenian
officers and inspectors throughout the empire.—Disputes and
offences in and among the subject-allies, were brought for
trial before the dikasteries at Athens. Productive of some
disadvantages, but of preponderance of advantage to the
subject-allies themselves.—Imperial Athens compared with imperial
Sparta.—Numerous Athenian citizens spread over the Ægean—the
allies had no redress against them, except through the Athenian
dikasteries.—The dikasteries afforded protection against
misconduct both of Athenian citizens and Athenian officers.—The
dikasteries, defective or not, were the same tribunals under
which every Athenian held his own security.—Athenian empire was
affected for the worse by the circumstances of the Peloponnesian
war: more violence was introduced into it by that war than had
prevailed before.—The subject-allies of Athens had few practical
grievances to complain of.—The Grecian world was now divided into
two great systems; with a right supposed to be vested in each,
of punishing its own refractory members.—Policy of Corinth, from
being pacific, becomes warlike.—Disputes arise between Corinth
and Korkyra—case of Epidamnus.—The Epidamnians apply for aid
in their distress to Korkyra; they are refused—the Corinthians
send aid to the place.—The Korkyræans attack Epidamnus—armament
sent thither by Corinth.—Remonstrance of the Korkyræans with
Corinth and the Peloponnesians.—Hostilities between Corinth and
Korkyra—naval victory of the latter.—Large preparations made
by Corinth for renewing the war.—Application of the Korkyræans
to be received among the allies of Athens.—Address of the
Korkyræan envoys to the Athenian public assembly. Principal
topics upon which it insists, as given in Thucydidês.—Envoys
from Corinth address the Athenian assembly in reply.—Decision
of the Athenians—a qualified compliance with the request of
Korkyra. The Athenian triremes sent to Korkyra.—Naval combat
between the Corinthians and Korkyræans: rude tactics on both
sides.—The Korkyræans are defeated.—Arrival of a reinforcement
from Athens—the Corinthian fleet retires, carrying off numerous
Korkyræan prisoners.—Hostilities not yet professedly begun
between Athens and Corinth.—Hatred conceived by the Corinthians
towards Athens.—They begin to stir up revolt among the Athenian
allies—Potidæa, colony of Corinth, but ally of Athens.—Relations
of Athens with Perdikkas king of Macedonia, his intrigues along
with Corinth against her—he induces the Chalkidians to revolt
from her—increase of Olynthus.—Revolt of Potidæa—armament
sent thither from Athens.—Combat near Potidæa, between the
Athenian force and the allied Corinthians. Potidæans, and
Chalkidians.—Victory of the Athenians.—Potidæa placed in blockade
by the Athenians. 1-75