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The lower classes had plenty of work in the construction work, which gave them a share in Athens' prosperity. The money for this came from the anti-Persian defence fund which Athens had set up, with annual contributions from a couple of hundred cities around the Aegean Sea. Pericles hi-jacked this fund, which had been kept on the island of Delos, and brought it to Athensfor 'safe keeping' - but rather it was pillaged for the construction programme, a massive public service, and in keeping a war fleet which could enforce ongoing contributions to the fund. Athens prospered until in its overconfidence it overshot itself, getting into a long war with the Spartan alliance, which resulted in loss of its empire and wrecking of the Greek world.

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17y ago

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