EMPIRE OF ATHENS AT ITS MOST POWERFUL
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Athenian Empire
a) The Delian League, also known as the Confederacy of Delos, was an association of Greek city-states under the leadership of Athens. The Athenians assumed a lead role in the confederation due to their display of naval power against the Persians. Founded in 478 B.C., the League's name derives from its official meeting place, the island of Delos. The confederation's affairs were handled by a synod which met, from time to time, in the temple of Apollo located on the island.
b) The initial goal of the League was to continue fighting the Persian Empire after the Greek victory in the Battle of Plataea at the end of the Greco–Persian Wars.
c) The League occupies a special place in history even though its existence was not very long. It is the first known serious attempt of a large number of self-governing states to unite for a common purpose. Each of the states had their own military, financial and judicial systems which led to a certain amount of autonomy.
d) Shortly after the League's inception Athens began to exploit it for its own benefit. By 454 B.C. the Delian League could be fairly characterized as the Athenian Empire.
e) Athens' use of the League would frequently lead to conflict between them and less powerful League members. By 431 B.C. their heavy-handed control led to the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War, which pitted the Athenians and her allies against a Sparta-led opposition. At the start of the war, however, only the islands of Chios and Lesbos were left to contribute ships to the Delian league, and these states were far too weak to revolt without support. Athens' empire was not very stable and dissolved in 404 B.C. when the Peloponnesian war ended.
f) Athens tried to regain her power and influence with a confederacy of Aegean Sea territories that lasted from 378 to 355 B.C.
g) The Bible records the apostle Paul visiting the city of Athens and preaching the gospel in it in 49 A.D.
The End ...
1. Athenian Empirea) The Delian League, also known as the Confederacy of Delos, was an association of Greek city-states under the leadership of Athens. The Athenians assumed a lead role in the confederation due to their display of naval power against the Persians. Founded in 478 B.C., the League's name derives from its official meeting place, the island of Delos. The confederation's affairs were handled by a synod which met, from time to time, in the temple of Apollo located on the island.
b) The initial goal of the League was to continue fighting the Persian Empire after the Greek victory in the Battle of Plataea at the end of the Greco–Persian Wars.
c) The League occupies a special place in history even though its existence was not very long. It is the first known serious attempt of a large number of self-governing states to unite for a common purpose. Each of the states had their own military, financial and judicial systems which led to a certain amount of autonomy.
d) Shortly after the League's inception Athens began to exploit it for its own benefit. By 454 B.C. the Delian League could be fairly characterized as the Athenian Empire.
e) Athens' use of the League would frequently lead to conflict between them and less powerful League members. By 431 B.C. their heavy-handed control led to the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War, which pitted the Athenians and her allies against a Sparta-led opposition. At the start of the war, however, only the islands of Chios and Lesbos were left to contribute ships to the Delian league, and these states were far too weak to revolt without support. Athens' empire was not very stable and dissolved in 404 B.C. when the Peloponnesian war ended.
f) Athens tried to regain her power and influence with a confederacy of Aegean Sea territories that lasted from 378 to 355 B.C.
g) The Bible records the apostle Paul visiting the city of Athens and preaching the gospel in it in 49 A.D.
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