How did Athens get larger and powerful?

Answer 1

It set up an anti-Persian league after the Persian invasion was repelled, giving the couple of hundred Greek city-states the option of contributing ships or money. Most took the easy way of money, so Athens had the strongest fleet, paid for by others.

When a peace was signed with the Persians, Athens continued to collect the money - by force where nacessary - and so maintained its naval supremacy.

Answer 2

It bred so many children that when they grew up the city-state had a large supply of fighting men. The income they gained by establishing rule over a couple of hundred other city-states gave them the money to maintain the most powerful navy, and with a walled city and port, and with the navy they were able to sustain attacks by other cities, resupply itself, and send out fleets to raid the cities of their attackers. They maintained this advantage until Persia bankrolled a Peloponnesian League fleet led by Sparta which was able to destroy the Athenian one, and then starve out Athens into submission.

Answer 3

The Athens dominated the delian league c: