Athens organised and led an anti-Persian league (today called the Delian League as its treasury was on the island of Delos) of about 180 Greek cities on the Aegean coast and islands.

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Cities were allowed to contibute ships or soldiers and money. Most took the easy way out and opted fro the money (tribute). This left Athens with the big fleet and the money to pay for it. Cities which failed to pay had it collected by force – the Athenian fleet sent out a hundred ships each year on extraction duties.

This effectively became an Athenian empire. after a peace was concluded with Persia in 449 BCE, the treasury was moved to Athens, where it was pillaged under Pericles’ guidance to beautify the city (Parthenon etc).

He also put half the population on the City payroll, paid for by all the others of course. Sound like anything which is happening in Greece today?

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