What were the main reasons why Athens became the most powerful Greek city-state in the aftermath of the Persian Wars Please be sure to discuss at least two reasons for the rise of Athens

It had led the Delian League of Greek city-states to keep thePersians away from the cities of Asia Minor. When the Persiansagreed to stay away, Athens then turned the cities into an empireof its own, continuing to levy the annual fees for the nownon-existent war effort. It used this money to maintain a strongfleet, which both gave the muscle to force the cities to pay up,and also interfere in the rest of the Greek cities around theAegean Sea.