What was the Delian League? * An alliance of city-states led by Sparta A military alliance formed by Athens A trade agreement between Greece and Persia A cultural organization in Ancient Greece

The Delian League was a military alliance formed by Athens in 478 BCE after the Persian Wars, where several Greek city-states united to provide mutual defense against Persian aggression. The league was named after the sacred island of Delos, where its treasury was originally located. Over time, however, it evolved into an Athenian empire, leading to tensions with rival city-states, particularly Sparta. The League’s influence stretched over several decades, playing a critical role in the development of Athenian democracy and naval power. As members were often coerced into contributions, this led to resentment and contributed to the eventual outbreak of the Peloponnesian War, where Sparta and its allies confronted Athenian dominance.