Peace w Persian Empire (jan 1, 450 BC – jan 1, 448 BC)

Description:

Persia defeated at Cyprus

Cimon had resumed the leadership of the League forces against Persia with a fleet of 200 ships sailing to free Cyprus from the Persians who had re-established control there.

CIMON DIES </3

The death of Cimon marked “the beginning of a new period in which hostilities between Greek and Persian slumber.” — Bury and Meiggs

Athens had to decide whether to make peace with Persia or maintain peace with the Peloponnesians
→ Maintaining a permanent peace with Sparta and the Peloponnesians was unlikely while Corinth felt such bitterness about Athenian control of the Corinthian Gulf.

Athens made peace with Persia
- Cimon's death made this easier since “he had been the soul of the Persian war.” — Bury and Meiggs

Artaxerxes, the Persian king, was willing to open negotiations for a lasting peace

Athenian embassy, supposedly led by Callias, was sent to the Persian capital to bring the war with the Persians to an end

- by the Peace of Callias of 449-8 BC, the Persians agreed not to sail into the Aegean Sea and the Propontis and to keep at least three days' march away from the coast of Asia Minor → in return, the Greeks were not to attack any Persian territory

The main reason for the formation of the Delian League was to build a military fleet against Persian forces → now that Persia was no longer a threat, member states of the League felt there was no longer any need to contribute ships or pay tribute; Athens disagreed -- (when in doubt, Bradley, or Bury and Meiggs)

Added to timeline:

Date: