The Delian League

The Delian League was a group of athenians citizens and the inhabitants of other city-stages of ancient greece. Their headquarter was found in the island of ´Delos´
This organisation was a maritime military alliance created and controlled by aristide, an statesman. In 477 B.C. he wrote the statutes and planified the league to defend the cities-stages from possible persians attacks.

If the cities-stages wanted to be in the Delian League, they should gave money, man and ships to Athens. All of the things that the cities-stages gave were going to be used in the war.
In the other hand, Athens were going to anssure that other cities-stages were not assaulted or invaded by the Persians. Important decissions were made at meetings of a council in which there was a representant from each of the confederated cities, this representative was entitled to voice.

Athens made some poleis that belonged to the Delian League, pay high taxes and took the League´s treasure.

The Delian League continued until the Athenians were defeated by the Spartans in 404 B.C. as a result from the Peloponnesian wars. Since this moment, the alliance was dissolved until 377 B.C. in this case to protect them from Sparta. However, Athens was unable to impose its authority. This was called  Second Delian League that desappeared in 338 B.C. because Philip II of macedon defeated Athenians at the battle of Chaeronea