Greek World: 500-440BC

End of the Persian Wars

479 BCE

Pausanias expelled Persians from Byzantium and Cyprus.
Capture of Sestos.
Pausanias disgraced and recalled.

Delian League Founded

478 BCE

Athens assumed leadership under Cimon and Aristides Membership:
Athens, most of Aegean island and Ionian cities, cities in Propontis, Thrace and Euboea.

Capture of Byzantium and Sestos

477 BCE

Cimon led an expeditionary force to recapture these two cities after the disgrace and recall of Pausanias.

Capture of Eion

476 BCE

Persians expelled from their base in Thracev - added advantage for Athens and League in access to mineral, timber and trading opportunities.

Capture of Scyros

474 BCE

Cimon and League expelled Dolopian pirates and colonised it themselves. This freed Aegean from piracy, ensuring free flow of trade.
Value of Scyros on corn route rom Hellespont to Athens.
Capture of Scyros signaled 'flexibility' in League's aims.

Carystus forced to join Delian League

472 BCE

A campaign against fellow Greeks - not in orginal charter of League.
Carystus had not joined League but was benefiting from League activities without contributing.
Resentment of other Euboeans is implied by Thucydides.
Athens benefited from this action as Euboea was an important city on corn route from Hellespont.

Revolt of Naxos

469 BCE

A clear turning point in the League's activities - first time League was used against a member state. 'Naxos was the first allied city to be enslaved, contrary to established usage'

Battle of Eurymedon River

468 BCE

Cimon and the league won a major victory over the Persians at the mouth of Eurymedon River southern Asia Minor. This victory removed the Persian threat from the Aegean.