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Colonization; for which the genius and inclination of the Athenians had always been suited; was another method adopted by Pericles for extending the influence and empire of Athens。  The settlements made under his auspices were of two kinds CLERUCHIES; and regular colonies。  The former mode was exclusively Athenian。 It consisted in the allotment of land in conquered or subject countries to certain bodies of Athenians who continued to retain all their original rights of citizenship。  This circumstance; as well as the convenience of entering upon land already in a state of cultivation instead of having to reclaim it from the rude condition of nature; seems to have rendered such a mode of settlement much preferred by the Athenians。  The earliest instance which we find of it is in the year B。C。 506; when four thousand Athenians entered upon the domains of the Chalcidian knights (see Ch。5)。  But it was under Pericles that this system was most extensively adopted。  During his administration 1000 Athenian citizens were settled in the Thracian Chersonese; 500 in Naxos; and 250 in Andros。  The islands of Lemnos; Imbros; and Scyros; as well as a large tract in the north of Euboea; were also completely occupied by Athenian proprietors。

The most important colonies settled by Pericles were those of Thurii and Amphipolis。  Since the destruction of Sybaris by the Crotoniates; in B。C。 509; the former inhabitants had lived dispersed in the adjoining territory along the gulf of Tarentum; In B。C。 443 Pericles sent out a colony to found Thurii; near the site of the ancient Sybaris。  The colony of Amphipolis was founded some years later (B。C。 437); under the conduct of Agnon。

But Pericles; notwithstanding his influence and power; had still many bitter and active enemies; who assailed him through his private connections; and even endeavoured to wound his honour by a charge of peculation。  Pericles; after divorcing a wife with whom he had lived unhappily; took his mistress Aspasia to his house; and dwelt with her till his death on terms of the greatest affection。  She was distinguished not only for her beauty; but also for her learning and accomplishments。  Her intimacy with Anaxagoras; the celebrated Ionic philosopher; was made a handle for wounding Pericles in his tenderest relations。  Paganism; notwithstanding its licence; was capable of producing bigots: and even at Athens the man who ventured to dispute the existence of a hundred gods with morals and passions somewhat worse than those of ordinary human nature; did so at the risk of his life。 Anaxagoras was indicted for impiety。  Aspasia was included in the same charge; and dragged before the courts of justice。 Anaxagoras prudently fled from Athens; and thus probably avoided a fate which in consequence of a similar accusation afterwards overtook Socrates。  Pericles himself pleaded the cause of Aspasia。  He was indeed indirectly implicated in the indictment; but he felt no concern except for his beloved Aspasia; and on this occasion the cold and somewhat haughty statesman; whom the most violent storms of the assembly could not deprive of his self…possession; was for once seen to weep。  His appeal to the jury was successful; but another trial still awaited him。  An indictment was preferred against his friend; the great sculptor Phidias; for embezzlement of the gold intended to adorn the celebrated ivory statue of Athena; and according to some; Pericles himself was included in the charge of peculation。 Whether Pericles was ever actually tried on this accusation is uncertain; but at all events; if he was; there can be no doubt that he was honourably acquitted。  The gold employed in the statue had been fixed in such a manner that it could be detached and weighed; and Pericles challenged his accusers to the proof。 But Phidias did not escape so fortunately。  There were other circumstances which rendered him unpopular; and amongst them the fact that he had introduced portraits both of himself and Pericles in the sculptures which adorned the frieze of the Parthenon。  Phidias died in prison before the day of trial。

The Athenian empire; since the conclusion of the Thirty Years' Truce; had again become exclusively maritime。  Yet even among the subjects and allies united with Athens by the Confederacy of Delos; her sway was borne with growing discontent。  One of the chief causes of this dissatisfaction was the amount of the tribute exacted by the Athenians; as well as their misapplication of the proceeds。  In the time of Aristides and Cimon; when an active war was carrying on against the Persians; the sum annually collected amounted to 460 talents。  In the time of Pericles; although that war had been brought to a close; the tribute had nevertheless increased to the annual sum of 600 talents。  Another grievance was the transference to Athens of all lawsuits; at least of all public suits; for on this subject we are unable to draw the line distinctly。  In criminal cases; at all events; the allies seem to have been deprived of the power to inflict capital punishment。  Besides all these causes of complaint; the allies had often to endure the oppressions and exactions of Athenian officers; both military and naval; as well us of the rich and powerful Athenian citizens settled among them。

In B。C。 440 Samos; one of the free independent allies already mentioned; revolted from Athens; but even this island was no match for the Athenian power。  Pericles; who sailed against the Samians in person; defeated their fleet in several engagements; and forced the city to capitulate。  The Samians were compelled to raze their fortifications; to surrender their fleet; to give hostages for their future conduct; and to pay the expenses of the war。

The triumphs and the power of Athens were regarded with fear and jealousy by her rivals; and the quarrel between Corinth and Corcyra lighted the spark which was to produce the conflagration。 On the coast of Illyria near the site of the modern Durazzo; the Corcyraeans had founded the city of Epidamnus。  Corcyra (now Corfu) was itself a colony of Corinth; and though long at enmity with its mother country; was forced; according to the time… hallowed custom of the Greeks in such matters; to select the founder of Epidamnus from the Corinthians。  Accordingly Corinth became the metropolis of Epidamnus as well as of Corcyra。  At the time of which we speak; the Epidamnians; being hard pressed by the Illyrians; led by some oligarchical exiles of their own city; applied to Corcyra for assistance; which the Corcyraeans; being connected with the Epidamnian oligarchy; refused。  The Epidamnians then sought help from the Corinthians; who undertook to assist them。  The Corcyraeans; highly resenting this interference; attacked the Corinthian fleet off Cape Actium; and gained a signal victory (B。C。 435)。

Deeply humbled by this defeat; the Corinthians spent the two following years in active preparations for retrieving it。  The Corcyraeans; who had not enrolled themselves either in the Lacedaemonian or Athenian alliance; and therefore stood alone; were greatly alarmed at these preparations。  They now resolved to remedy this deficiency; and as Corinth belonged to the Lacedaemonian alliance; the Corcyraeans had no option; and were obliged to apply to Athens。  The majority of the Athenians were ready to comply with their request; but in order to avoid an open infringement of the Thirty Years' Truce; it was resolved to conclude only a defensive alliance with Corcyra:  that is; to defend the Corcyraeans in case their territories were actually invaded by the Corinthians; but beyond that not to lend them any active assistance。  A small Athenian squadron of only 10 triremes was despatched to the assistance of the Corcyraeans。  Soon after their arrival a battle ensued off the coast of Epirus; between the Corinthian and Corcyraean fleets。  After a hard…fought day; victory finally declared in favour of the Corinthians。  The Athenians now abandoned their neutrality; and did all in their power to save the dying Corcyraeans from their pursuers。  This action took place early in the morning; and the Corinthians prepared to renew the attack in the afternoon; when they saw in the distance 20 Athenian vessels; which they believed to be the advanced guard of a still larger fleet。  They accordingly sailed away to the coast of Epirus; but finding that the Athenians did not mean to undertake offensive operations against them; they departed homewards with their whole fleet。  These events took place in the year B。C。 432。

The Corinthians were naturally incensed at the conduct of Athens; and it is not surprising that they should have watched for an opportunity of revenge。  This was soon afforded them by the enmity of the Macedonian prince Perdiccas towards the Athenians。 He incited her tributaries upon the coast of Macedonia to revolt; including Potidaea; a town seated on the isthmus of Pallene。 Potidaea; though now a tributary of Athens; was originally a colony of the Corinthians; and received from them certain annual magistrates。  Being urged as well by the Corinthians as by Perdiccas; the Potidaeans openly raised the standard of revolt (B。C。 432)。  A powerful Athenian armament was despatched to the coast of Macedonia and laid

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