The official aim of the league was to ‘avenge the wrongs they suffered by ravaging the territory of the King’ (Thucy) With reference to the source, explain how successful the was in fulfilling its aims.

The Delian League initially set out with 3 main objectives to be fulfilled Through close examination of this period between 478-440BC the success of the Delian League in initially fulfilling their aims is evident, yet on a negative note, we see their failure in the Athenians of maintaining such aims revealed through Athenian military, political, judicial, economic means members which in turn result in the formation of the Athenians empire.

Success of the Greeks in fulfilling their aims was initially in the first 10 years of this period. They were able to protect Greeks after liberation, take revenge on Persian Empire and maintain freedom of Greeks from Persians by eliminating the Persian threat after the Battle of Eurymedon River “free the Greeks from the Persians” and “avenge the wrongs they suffered by ravaging the territory of the King” (). Actions of the League in accordance with these League aims are evident in 478 where Pausanius successfully freed those states still under Persian control at . Also, in 476-5 on the Strymon River was recaptured, expelling the Persians from their base in Thrace. As a consequence of these actions, the Delian League successfully fulfilled their aims during the first 10 years of its inception.

It is evident that the Athenians had ulterior motives to that of the initial League aims which were signs of their gradual change from League to Empire. This is revealed through failure of maintaining their objectives through military and naval policy which would result in the League branching into an Athenian Empire. Their use of the powerful navy was the foundations of ’ power. “The most important means of maintaining the empire, obviously, was the powerful Athenian fleet.” (Fine) As allies chose to contribute money (phoros) rather than ships to the Delian League, it resulted in the fleet increasing; and by 450, when , and Lesbos were the only ship contributing allies left; it caused the Athenian fleet to become strong enough to face the combined fleet of the Aegean. Hence, their fleet became a deterrent to anti-Athenian elements throughout the Aegean, and were used to intimidate members of the League who decided not to pay tribute. “Fear of the rapid striking power of this fleet kept many a subject state obedient, no matter how disgruntled.” (Fine) The Athenian fleet could be used to blockade the harbours of disloyal allies and control the passage of corn ships from the Black Sea, cutting off rebellious states from a vital source of food. Another aspect of their control away from original aims was Cleruchies being set up in some states with the purpose of acting as ‘watchdogs’ for Athenian interests and to maintain control over the empire “implanting among the allies a healthy fear of rebellion.” (Plutarch) Lastly, Garrisons of Athenian soldiers were used to keep political rivalries between local democrats and oligarchs in check. in 472 Carystus was forced to join the League as it was benefitting from League activity, according to Bury “it was of a political necessity” as it dominated a strategic waterway and Persian threat was still alive “The incident again reveals how Athens was willing to go beyond the Leagues original aims, especially when the actions benefitted themselves” (Buckley)

Similarly, Political methods were also used by the Athenians to restrain their allies, a move that signified the gradual change to an empire away from league aims, This was achieved through Democratic Governments which was the prevailing form of Government by 466. Initially, Athens didn’t force the democratic government on member states as there were not so many stresses in the Delian League at the time, with Athens still on friendly terms with where -the conservative pro-Spartan was still influential. Its enforcement by Athens was an act of imperialistic control-“the radical democrats gained the ascendancy in Athens and embarked on an aggressive imperial policy” (Bradley). The Athenians to ensure that the allies would remain loyal to the Delian League, the Athenians, specifically Aristides “made all the Greeks swear to maintain in the alliance against the Persians and he himself took the oath for Athens and to solemnise it, threw wedges of hot iron into the sea.” (Aristotle). This is strongly evidenced by the Athenian patronage for League members in return for vote in the League to make decision; revealing how they were determined to get what they wanted from the very beginning through any means possible to exercise their control over the states.

Judicial means were used by the Athenians to signify their increasing power over the allies, a move away from league aims towards formation of an empire. The main aspect of this was legal interference of Athenians, where serious criminal matters were taken to Athenian courts where oligarchs stood little chance. Athenian actions reveal how they were taking it upon themselves to assert control in various ways, even by legal means. This is evidenced by the and Erythrae oaths of submission 454-53BC in the Erythrae decree, which reflects the conditions imposed on them by the Athenians-exercising their leadership through judicial practice.

Economic methods were utilised by the Athenians to maintain control over their allies rather than fulfil its aims. The allies lost their economic independence with the Athenians using the funds for their own uses-a step away from league aims “Economic motives contributed to the growth of an imperialistic spirit at Athens, but these were closely linked with political motives- the passion to rule over others” (Fine) This economic motive was firstly linked with the Athenian decision to move the League treasury from Delos to Athens after ’ Egyptian campaign in 454, allowing Athenians control over the funds; “the transfer was to make more easy the use of league funds by Athens for her own purposes.” (Bury and Meiggs) This is evidenced by the Congress and Papyrus Decree 449- 448 revealing that Athens under leadership of Pericles allowed Greek funds to be used for domestic policy; to rebuild temples and beautify Athens. The coinage decree is an inscription that informs us about the Athenian compulsory change of the coinage system in all her allies. All states had to have the same coins, “Fails to act in accordance with the resolution, he is to be stripped of civic rights and his property confiscated.” When the change occurred, the Athenians even took a small percentage for themselves. This way the Athenians controlled the economic systems within each state allowing them to gradually transform to an empire through a lack of maintaining league aims.

In conclusion, the Delian League somewhat initially fulfilled its aims in the first 10 years, but a gradual transformation at the hands of the Athenians saw tightening control over its allies. Resulting, a gradual change from League to empire with League aims being pushed aside.