Through the Confederation of Delos, Athens became an essential city for Greece. Athens practically controlled the Aegean Sea. When the Greek-Persian war ended, in 490 BC. C., the great city carried forward the collection of the voluntary tax that was collected from the member cities of the confederation for the maintenance of the army as a pretext for new Persian invasions. With money collected from member cities, Athens was rebuilt.
Pericles was the mentor of the Athenian Empire through the fortification of the Port of Piraeus. He built a wall that provided access and protection for communications from the port to Athens, turning the city into a geographically strategic point. Sparta tried in every way to stop the construction of the wall, but Pericles' policy was astute. Thus, through a prolonged dialogue, he found time to speed up construction and carry out the projected work. This cunning ended up further fueling the Spartans' distrust.
The power of the city of Athens slowly turned into an unyielding policy of domination. Cities that were not part of the confederation were forced to become member cities. Cities that refused were severely punished, such as Naxos and Thassos. The attempt to separate these cities showed the force Athens exerted on its allied cities. This power was felt widely, as Athens interfered in all existing clashes between the members of the Confederacy.
The courts of Athens had the power to try all complex cases, especially commercial ones, forbade members of the Confederacy. export cereals, except to the Port of Piraeus, and ordered bankers to make loans only to merchants loyal to the port. Athenian. Thus, the confederation created by Aristides was replaced by a stifling imperialism that determined that military troops rigidly guard the cities suspected of mutiny.
Athenian democracy, internally, was not yet full, as slaves and metecs remained. The metecs were foreigners domiciled in Athens who, although respected to some extent, had no right to land or political life and lived in serfdom. In this context there were Greek citizens reduced to the same condition as slaves and metecs by the misfortunes of war.
By Lilian Aguiar
Graduated in History
Brazil School Team
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/historiag/o-imperio-ateniense.htm