ABSTRACT
The 440s and 430s were a period of great prosperity and power for Athens. The treasury of the Delian League was transferred to the Athenian Acropolis in 454 and detailed records were kept of a tithe of one-sixtieth of the tribute contributions from the allies which was paid to the goddess Athena. From these lists and other sources historians have traced the gradual encroachment of Athens on the autonomy of her League allies, whom they came to regard as subjects of the Athenian Empire. Athens grew richer and spent much of her wealth on magnificent temples and other building projects. The leading Athenian politician of this period was Perikles, the son of Xanthippos, who famously claimed that Athens was providing a lesson to the rest of the Greeks through the excellence of her citizens and scale of their achievements.
