Athenian Foreign Policy

He argues that Athens probably "consciously and cynically planned their empire from the first."" The Athenian Empire was established by taking over land such as Eion and Skyros, and suppressing rebellious states like Naxos. Athens also attempted to prevent Spartan invasion of Boiotia, as Athens could not allow this large amount of land to be in Spartan control, creating an increased risk of invasion into neighbouring Attica. Hornblower suggests that the motivation behind Athenian aid in the Egyptian revolt from Persia was not to follow up Kimon's aggression towards Persia, nor to cut off the Persian supply of corn from Egypt. Hornblower proposes that this "ambitious foreign policy,"" including much of Athenian expansion, may have been in order to seek new, guaranteed corn supplies. Conversely, he suggests that Athens may have expanded because of a "desire for abundant shipbuilding timber in south Italy."" .
             Hornblower suggests that the Athenian campaign in the south-eastern Aegean may not have been motivated by a desire for aggression towards Persia but was a "response to allied discontent at the way the league was turning into a machine for policing it's own members."" This indicates that the campaign was just a fazade to remind the allies that "subservience to Athens included security from Persia."" However, Hornblower argues that protection from Persia was "at most times no more than propaganda."" The campaign may have been simply further propaganda to gain allied support.
             The Athenian alliance with Sparta was dissolved after Sparta refused Athenian assistance to help suppress the Helot revolt after they requesting aid, as the Spartans feared Athenian "subversive tendencies."" Athens was "offended, not considering it right that she should be treated like this,"" removing her alliance with Sparta. It was at this time that Athens created alliances with Spartan enemies Argos and Thessaly, created, as Hornblower suggests, as part of an ongoing process in which the qualities that Sparta most feared "were gradually manifesting themselves- in Athens.