Finally, a topic that I enjoy! :) Okay, so the Delian League played a MASSIVE role in the creation of the Athenian Empire. When the Delian League was first created its purpose was to unite the various Greek City States such as Athens, and Sparta (The 2 most famous City States) into an Alliance to keep Persia in check and to keep the Greeks safe from another attack. The League was formed on the Island of Delos (Artemis and Apollos Birthplace and hence its name), and that was where the. Treasury and resources where kept until Pericles had it moved FROM Delos TO Athens to "Keep it safe from Persian Attack" This was the start of the Athenian Empire. Athens began using the resources and funds that other City-States provided for the Delian League to support their own defenses and navy instead of those of the other city states. Because of this Athens became an Empire which resulted in some of the other city-states such as Sparta to leave the League and to start a war known as the Peloponnesian War.
