Page 22 - STOLEN LEGACY By George G. M. James

B. The Leagues

Apart from the resistance of a common foe, the Persians, a study of the function of the Leagues,
reveals the enmity and spirit of aggression which were characteristic of the relationship which
existed between the Greek city states themselves.

Accordingly in 505 B.C., the Peloponnesian states signed treaties among themselves, pledging
warfare against Sparta who had absorbed them under her influence. Meanwhile, Aristogoras
revived the Ionian League (499–494 B.C.) to resist Persian aggression, and friendship between
Athens and Aegina was restored by the Hellenic League (481 B.C.) which was afterward
converted into the Confederacy of Delos (478 B.C.) as mentioned elsewhere. In like manner,
Thebes also fell in line with the general temper of the age and organized the Boeotian League, a
federation of city states, for self-protection and aggression. (Sandford's Mediterranean World C.
9, P. 150; C. 12, P. 201).

In 377 B.C. a second Athenian Confederacy was organized, but this was to frustrate the aims of
the Lacedaemonians and to compel them to respect the right of the Athenians and their allies
(Sandford's Mediterranean World C. 15, P. 260). Likewise in 290 B C., the Aetolian League,
made up of the States of central Greece, gained control of Delphi, and frequently violated
Achaean rights in the Peloponnesus, while in 225 B.C. Antigonus Doson organized another
Hellenic League, with the purpose of obstructing the ambitions of Sparta and her Aetolian allies.
(Sandford's Mediterranean World C. 18, p. 317 and 319). (W. H. Couch's Hist. of Greece, p.
206–209, c. 11. Botsford & Robinson's Hellenic Hist., p. 115–121; 127–142. T. B. Bury's Hist.
of Greece, p. 216–229; 240–241; 259–269; 471472. The Tutorial Hist. of Greece by W. J.
Woodhouse, c. 18, 20 and 21).

C. The Peloponnesian Wars 460–445 B.C. and 431–421 B.C.

Owing to the ambitions of Athens to dominate the Ionians and other neighboring peoples,
Pericles launched a campaign of alliances and conquests extending from Thessaly to Argos, and
from Euboea to Naupactus, Achaea and the chief islands of the Ionian Sea.

The net results were as follows: (a) Athens established alliances with Boeotia, Phocis and Locris,
in spite of Sparta's opposition. (b) In 456 B.C. Aegina was captured and made tributary. (c) In
450 B.C. Athens failed in her attempt to invade Corinth. (d) In 451 friendship between Athens
and Sparta was restored through the instrumentality of Cimon, on the condition that Athenian
alliance with Argos was dissolved. (e) In 447 B.C. the exiled Oligarchs of Thebes defeated the
Athenians at Coronea, and reestablished the Boeotian League under Theban leadership. (f) In
445 B.C. the 30 years peace was signed and after the revolt of Euboea and Megara, Sparta
invaded Attica and Pericles sued for peace. Athens lost all her continent all her continental
holdings. (Sandford's Mediterranean World C. 13, P. 220).

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Stolen Legacy: Greek Philosophy is Stolen Egyptian Philosophy by George G. M. James
The Journal of Pan African Studies 2009 eBook