The Age of Pericles | The Athenian Empire (Lecture 3)

Lecture 3: In this lecture, we tackle the difficult question of how and when Athens was transformed from the victor of the Persian Wars into the imperial power of the Aegean. Using Thucydides as our guide, as well as key Greek inscriptions, we will examine the record of Athenian campaigns. At first, they were designed to drive the Persians from the Aegean, but soon, the Athenians were compelling smaller Greek states to join their alliance and punishing those who resisted or tried to secede. The allies paid tribute to Athens, money that was used to equip a vast fleet and, later, helped finance the building of the great temples of Athens, such as the Parthenon. We will also examine a lively debate among historians that concerns the more restrictive measures imposed by the Athenians. Garrisons, Athenian colonists, and the use of Athenian weights and measures were all mandated by law, but some historians see these as late developments, while others interpret the Athenians’ empire as coercive from an early date. The dating of inscriptions, therefore, influences the entire interpretation of the Athenian Empire.

Suggested Reading:
Meier, Christian. Athens: A Portrait of the City in Its Golden Age. New York: Metropolitan, 1993.

Lecture 4: https://rumble.com/v5e97x9-the-age-of-pericles-the-career-of-pericles-lecture-4.html