Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/134

 86 General History of Europe 129. Summary. Under such influences there had grown up at Athens a large group of intelligent men. They constantly shared in the tasks and problems of city government, and they also had the daily opportunity of coming in contact with the greatest works of art in literature, drama, painting, architecture, and sculpture. Very different from the old Athens of the days before the repulse of the Persians, the new Athens had become a wonderful community such as the ancient world had never known before. It now re- mained to be seen whether the people, in complete control of the State, could guide her wisely and maintain her power. III. FALL OF THE ATHENIAN EMPIRE 130. Unpopularity of Athens. In spite of all her greatness Athens was unpopular. Sparta hated her and despised her refine- ment. The merchants of Corinth were jealous of her successful business. The island cities which had joined her in the Delian League ( 113) wanted to withdraw when peace was arranged with Persia, but Athens would not let them and forced them to continue to pay tribute to the treasury, which had been trans- ferred from Delos to Athens. Her dependencies in the northern ygean revolted and received support from Sparta and Corinth. 131. Second Peloponnesian War. One war had been waged ( 115), now another began in 431 B.C. Pericles had to crowd all the people around Athens into the city and the walls leading down to the Piraeus. For season after season the Spartans and other enemies of Athens beleaguered the city. The plague, brought in from the Orient, broke out several times and carried off perhaps a third of the population. Pericles lost control of the people, was accused of misappropriating the public funds, and fined. Later he was reflected when matters went from bad to worse, but he died of the plague. After ten years of war and devastation a peace was arranged, and the belligerents gave back the conquests they had made and retained only what they had held before the war.