What happened to the Delian League?

Answer 1

Athens led the League during the latter stage of the Persian War 478 to 449 BCE, and after peace was arranged in 449 BCE, it converted the League into an empire of its own, continuing to levy the annual war funds by force, and spending the proceeds on itself, glorifying the city and putting half its citizens on the public payroll.

Answer 2

It morphed into an empire of its leader, Athens.

When the Persians agreed to peace and to stay away from the eastern Greek city-states, Athens still continued to collect the annual war levy from the cities, by force where necessary, shifted the treasury from Delos to Athens, and then spent the money on itself, building the Parthenon and putting half its citizens on the public payroll. As Pericles admitted, Athens had turned the League into an empire of its own.

Answer 3

After the Persian invasion of mainland Greece was repelled in 479 BCE, Athens organised and led the Delian League of Greek cities in the eastern Mediterranean, mainly in Asia Minor and the Islands, to maintain their independence.

These cities had to contribute the ongoing war with either ships or payment. Most opted for payment as the easiest way out. Athens sent out a fleet each year to collect the payment, by force if necessary, and maintained a fleet to keep the Persians at bay (and collect the payment).

After peace was made with Persia, Athens continued to enforce the payment, but brought the League treasury to Athens and used it to glorify itself with the Parthenon etc, and put half of its own citizens on the public payroll from the money it collected. It effectively converted the League formed against the Persian Empire into and empire of its own.

Answer 4

After the Persian threat, which was the reason for the League's existence, was ended by the peace treaty with Persia, Athens kept it going, moving the treasury from Delos to Athens, collecting the war fund annual contributions by force if necessary, and spent the money on itself - rebuilding and glorifying the city and putting half the population on the public payroll, including the navy which extorted the money from the other cities.

Athenian leader Pericles admitted that they had turned the defensive League into an empire of Athens, but said 'so what' - Athens enjoyed the spoils.

Answer 5

It first saw off the Persian invasion, then was harnessed by its leader Athens to become its empire, supplying it with the money and forces for Athens to glorify itself and try to stand over the rest of the Greek world.