The Delian League and the
Peloponnesian War
Background Information:
After the Persian Wars ended, the Persians were still causing
trouble in some areas and many Greek city-states had
suffered great losses.
About 150 city-states decide to for the Delian league to keep
a treasury for wars funds to finish off the Persians and protect
Greece against future attacks.
The actual treasury was kept on the small island, called
Delos- that is where the league got its name.
Athens lead the Delian League and collected taxes from the
other city-states, like Sparta and Corinth. Athens grew weathly
by running the Delian League.
Goals of the Delian League
To increase Athenian power
 To spread democracy
 To unite the Greek city-states
 To take revenge on the Persians by
ransacking Persian land
 To completely push the Persians out of
Greek territory
 To protect against future invaders

What do you think?

Look back the goals on the last slide- rank
them in order from most to least important
(write down on your worksheet)

For the top 3 goals- write why you think
they are so important (on worksheet)

Decide whether each goals is offensive or
defensive.
Organization of the Delian League:
Each city-state paid a tribute to the treasury
 Ships that contributed ships to the league kept
control of them
 All states were independent and equal
 Athens kept 1/60 of the treasury as a tax to pay
the for running Delian League
 Each city-state got one vote in League
decisions but Athens often pushed votes in their
favor
 City-states took an oath to have the same
friends and enemies and to accept Athens as
the leader of the alliance

Short answer:
Read the following statement and decide
whether you agree or disagree. On lined
write a paragraph stating your opinion and
at least 2 reasons why you think that. (Turn
in)
“The formation of the Delian League was not
really about fighting Persia; it was more
about increasing Athenian power”.
The Peloponnesian War:
Eventually the other city-states got tired of
Athens running the Delian league and tired
of paying taxes.
 Sparta and Athens never got along well and
in 431 BCE Sparta began to feel that
Athens was growing strong and a war
began that lasted for 30 years.
 It was called the Peloponnesian War
because Sparta is located in Peloponneisa
 Sparta finally surrounded the walled city of
Athens and the Athenians surrendured.
