How did the Athens benefit from the victory in the Persian wars?

Answer 1

It organised a defensive league against further Persian incursians, and levied money from the members-cities to pay for it. When peace was secured with the Persians, it then used the money (collected by force where necessary) to beautify Athens (Parthenon etc) and put half its populace on the public payroll.

After the war they kept collecting the city-states payments to the Delian League to prosecute the war, using their fleet to enforce payment, and used the money to glorify their city (Athens' Golden Age) and keep half its people on the public payroll.

During the 470s, Athens emerged as the leader of the Delian League, which had grown-up to 200 city-states. Athens began to use its power to control other league members. It moved league headquarters to Athens, and used military force against members that challenged its authority.They set stage for dazzling burst. The city was entering its brief golden age.

After the Persians agreed to peace, Athens turned the Delian League which it had led against Persia into and empire of its own, continuing to extort the now unnecessary war contributions by force, and spent the money on itself, and a large war fleet which enforced the yearly collection of the war contributions. This effectively became an empire of Athens, making the Greek cities wonder if this new empire was any better a fate than being part of the Persian Empire, particularly as Athens ruthlessly put down and punished any attempts to secede or not pay up.

Answer 2

It converted the anti-Persian league it had headed into an empire of its own, and turned its revenues to its own benefit.

Answer 3

It kept anti-Persian league paying the annual war funds and spent the money on itself, effectively converting the league into an empire of its own.