Page:History of Greece Vol V.djvu/20

Xii CONTENTS. CHAPTER XLIV. FJBOM THE BATTLE OF PLAT^A AXD MTKALE DOWN TO THE DEATHS OF THEMISTOKLES AXD AEISTEIDES. Causes of the disgraceful repulse of Xerxes from Greece — hiso^sTi defects — inferior quality and slackness of most of his army. — TeYidency to ex- aggerate the heroism of the Greeks. — Comparison of the invasion of Greece by Xerxes with the invasion of Persia afterwards by Alexander the Great. — Xo improvement in warfare among the Persians during that intei-val of one hundred and fifty years — great improvement among the Greeks. — Progressive spirit in Greece — operating through Athenian initiative. — Conduct of Athens in the repulse of the Persians — her position, temper, and influence, after that event. — Proceedings of the Athenians to restore their city — jealous obstructions caused by the Pelo- ponnesians. — Stratagem of Themistokles to procure for the Athenians the opportunity of fortifying their city. — Athens fortified — confusion of the Spartans — disappointment of the allies. — EflFect of this intended, but bafiled, intervention upon Athenian feelings. — Enlargement of the walls of Athens. — Large plans of Themistokles for the naval aggran- dizement of the city — fortified town and harbor provided at Peiraeus — vast height and thickness projected for the walls. — Advantages of the enlarged and fortified harbor — increase of metics and of commerce at Athens. — Resolution to build twenty new triremes annually. — Expedi- tion of the united Greek fleet against Asia, under the Spartan Pausanias — capture of Byzantium. — JVIisconduct of Pausanias — refusal of the allies to obey him — his treasonable correspondence with Xerxes. — Pausanias, ha'ing assurances of aid from Xerxes, becomes more intolerable in his behavior. He is recalled to Sparta. — The allies transfer the headship from Sparta to Athens. — Importance of this change in the relations of the Grecian states. — Tendency of the Spartan kings to become corrupt- ed on foreign service — Leotychides. — Momentary Pan-Hellenic union imder Sparta, immediately after the reptdse of Xerxes — now broken up and passing iato a schism, with two distinct parties and chiefs, Sparta and Athens. — Proceedings of Athens in her capacity of leader — good conduct of Aristeides. — Formation of the confederacy of Delos, under Athens as president — general meetings of allies held in that island. — Assessment of the confederacy and all its members, made by Aristeides — definite obligation in ships and money — money total — Hellenotaraia;. — Rapid growth, early magnitude, of the confederacy of Delos : willing adhesion of the members. — State and power of Persia at the time when the confederacy of Delos was first formed. — Conduct of Pausanias after being removed from the command — he prosecutes his treasonable designs in conjunction with Persia. — He is recalled to Sparta — imprisoned — put on his trial — tries to provoke the Helots to revolt. — He is detected by the revelation of a slave — incredulity or fear of the Ephors. — His arrest and death — atonement made for offended sanctuary. — Themis- tokles is compromised in the detected treason of Pausanias. — Position of Themistokles at Athens — tendency of Athenian parties and politics. — Effect of the events of the Persian war upon Athenian political senti- ment — stimulus to democracy. — Alteration of the Kleisthenean consti- tution — all citizens without exception are rendered politically admissible to office : first, imiversal eligibiUty and election of magistrates — next, sortition, or drawing by lot. — Increase of the power of the Strategi —