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League // WMHSMUN 30
Delian League
Dear Delegates,
Welcome to the Delian League! This is a special crisis committee devoted towards
debating the issues that arose between the Greek city-states. My name is Elizabeth
Smedley, and I am lucky enough to be your director throughout the conference.
I am currently a sophomore at William and Mary, intending to double major in
International Relations and Economics with a minor in French and Francophone Studies.
I have competed in Model UN all four years in high school in Colorado, and was the
Secretary General my senior year at my high school, Kent Denver. During my freshman
year of college, I was a Rapporteur, a crisis staffer, and a Director where I gained valuable
knowledge. Model United Nations has always harbored a special place in my heart, and I
cannot wait to share my experience with all of you!
WMHSMUN requires that every delegate submits a position paper. This paper must
address the topics presented by the committee through the lens of your position.
For more information on what is expected from position papers, there is a link on the
WMHSMUN website, under the “committees” tab. We highly suggest that you use
this tool in order to make your position paper as effective as possible! For Specialized
Agencies, we highly encourage you to email your position paper to your chair before the
first committee session. If this cannot be done for any reason, you may submit a hard
copy to your dais at the beginning of the first committee session.
The Delian League has many interesting and conflicting facets that I am sure you will
soon discover for yourselves. I urge you to be creative in your solutions for the following
debates, as we are in this committee not to follow history, but to make it. With that said,
it is important that each city-state stay true to its beliefs and represent the ideals of the
ancient peoples that once inhabited what we know today as Greece.
Elizabeth Smedley
Director, Delian League
[email protected]
Delian League // WMHSMUN 30
Delian League
Dear Delegates,
Hello, and welcome to WMHSMUN XXX!!! (One exclamation mark for each
decade). My name is Jordan Moghanaki, and I am pleased to introduce myself
as your crisis director for the Delian League. I am from Midlothian, VA, and
have been involved with Model UN since the 8th grade, with five years of
delegate experience, the past three of which have been involved in crisis
committees. Outside of the International Relations Club/Model UN, I am
involved in Ultimate Frisbee, Cycling, and the Tribe Adventure Program. When
I am not in class, running between extracurriculars, or studying, I most often
am playing basketball at the Rec Center, reading a book outside, or catching
up on the latest episode of Gotham or The Daily Show.
But back to the important part, WMHSMUN! Both Elizabeth and I have spent
months creating the best and wildest committee we possibly could without
angering the Secretariat too much. Though part of my job is to challenge
you throughout the weekend, I will also do my best to carry out your craziest
personal directives with the assistance of the Olympic deities. Once again,
welcome to WMHSMUN XXX, and I look forward to working with (or against)
all of you.
Jordan Moghanaki
Crisis Director, Delian League
[email protected]
Delian League // WMHSMUN 30
T
he Delian
League was
General
founded in 477 B.C.
Background as an association of
and Overview Greek city-states
of Council that would work
together in order to
combat the Persian Empire to the East.
The Greco-Persian wars that were fought
over the Greek cities of Asia Minor, now
known as Ionia, caused great disruption
throughout the region. The Athenians
and surrounding city-states pledged to
support the Ionians who were revolting
against the Persians. In response, Darius
the Great of Persia wished to punish
Athens by conquering all of Greece. Two
successive invasions by Darius the Great
and then his son, Xerxes, were beaten
back by the Greeks, resulting in the
ultimate defeat of the Persians. Thus was
born the Delian League, spearheaded by
Athens.
Throughout the Delian League’s
history member states have numbered
from about 150-330, however, for our
purposes, we have chosen the most
significant and powerful city states to be
represented at the committee. Each city
state’s patron god or goddess also holds
a stake in the well-being of the Delian
League and its members, and will play
key roles in the upcoming issues. The
league’s leader is the Greek city-state
of Athens, the wealthiest of the league’s
members with the strongest army.
In contrast to the Delian League, the
Greek city-state known as Sparta, has
chosen to form its own league with its
own city-states. This opposing league is
called the Peloponnesian League. Sparta
believes that simply the liberation of
mainland Greece was needed to secure
the safety of Greek borders, but that
long-term security against the Persians
is not possible. Thus, Sparta wants to
transplant all Greeks from Asia Minor
(Ionia) to Europe in order to resolve
Persian dominion. Athens, however
believes that since the Ionians used to
be under Athenian control, Athens will
continue to protect them. As the Greek
city-states are divided between these
two leagues it is far easier for divisions
to be created among the Greeks and for
the Persians to attack a weakened Greek
community.
Each delegate that represents his or her
Greek city-state is bound to the traditions
and ideals of the city. As Athens will not
be present in committee, delegates will
have the opportunity to communicate
with the Athenian leaders through the
crisis room. This council is committed
to creating efficient answers for difficult
issues that arise from all corners of the
empire.
Delian League // WMHSMUN 30
P
irates have
been pillaging
throughout the
Aegean Sea for
generations.
The earliest
documented
pirate attacks appeared in the
fourteenth century B.C., where “sea
peoples” threatened the Aegean1.
Because Anatolian coastlines were
unable to support agriculture and large
populations, pirates raided coastlines in
order to secure enough food for their
families. Pirates in the Hellenistic age are
dangerous to the growing commercial
trade in the Aegean and Mediterranean
Seas. Combatting the pirates will allow for
trade to flourish and for the Greek citystates to partake in the wealth that stems
from this trade. Dispelling the pirates
from the region will also demonstrate the
power held by the Delian League and
its supporters, highlighting its military
strength and commercial endeavors.
Topic I:
Combatting
Pirates in the
Aegean and
Mediterranean
Seas
Present Situation
Piracy has evolved from random attacks
to organized groups centralized under
one governing body that determines
the raids and the rationing of spoils.
These more advanced pirates have
gathered around the commercial centers
of Greece, mainly Athens, Aegina, and
Corinth. Athens and Aegina are rivals in
trade, with each city-state pouring wealth
1 Pirates in the Ancient Mediterranean
out of its harbors, creating fine prizes
for bold pirates. Corinth, though not as
wealthy as either Athens or Aegina, has
an advantageous positioning with its port,
able to access the sea by both the East
and the West. This makes Corinth one of
the most populated trading city states
with commercial traffic almost suffocating
its ports on both sides.
Some of the most dangerous pirates
in the region are the Dolopian pirates
in the Aegean Sea. These pirates
terrorize the island of Scyros, a southern
island that is part of the Sporades
archipelago. The Dolopians, although
the original inhabitants of the island,
have become greedy and selfish, intent
upon harassing ships in the Aegean2.
Dolopian pirates attack whichever ship
seems the wealthiest, having no care
for who the owner is. Smaller city-states
are subject to Dolopian raids as well,
as no protection has been provided
in order to combat piracy. It is evident
that the Dolopian pirates are a cause of
embarrassment to the Delian League in
that they are unchecked in their raiding
and have seemingly been allowed to run
rampant throughout the Aegean Sea.
Other Greek city states have harbored
complaints against the threat of piracy
and questioned the ability of the Delian
League to control its own territory, let
alone Persian aggression.
2 Fine, The Ancient Greeks.
Delian League // WMHSMUN 30
In addition to the Dolopian pirates having
the free ability to raid ships and cities,
it has been discovered that multiple
local authorities are harboring pirates. In
exchange for a share in the profits that
the pirates steal, authorities have been
willing to support and hide the pirates
and their allies. Because of this, it is
becoming more difficult to stop pirates
and bring them to justice. Furthermore,
piracy has become so lucrative and
advanced that many citizens are easily
being converted into pirates, giving in to a
trade that is easily protected because of
the support from local authorities.
The growing issue of piracy must
become a priority to the Delian League,
as trade and commerce funds the Delian
League’s ability to campaign against the
Persians and other enemies. Strength
needs to exude from the league in order
to prove to the rest of the Greek citystates and Persia that the Delian League
and those under its protection will not be
easy targets to threats such as pirates.
The Debate
It is the necessity and duty of the Delian
League members to decide who should
be responsible for dispelling the pirates
out of the Aegean and Mediterranean
Seas. Delegation of troops, arms, and
supplies must be split among the citystates, remembering, however, that
not every state borders a coastline and
thus has little incentive to contribute
to battling pirates. Assigning who is to
contribute what is paramount in order to
fight a highly organized group of pirates.
In addition, leadership is needed from
one city-state to govern and oversee the
fight against piracy.
Athens has stated that it will not allow its
naval fleet to be dragged into the fight
against the pirates in the Aegean and
Mediterranean Seas. Athens believes
that piracy is not worthy enough a cause
to fight against with its entire fleet. It will
not demean its naval power to dealing
solely with pirates. A fleet, therefore,
must be comprised of a coalition of ships
from participating Greek city-states.
The obvious necessity to prove naval
superiority is of great importance to the
Delian League, as it must prove it can
protect itself and its allies from a myriad
of unknown threats.
Questions to
Consider:
1. Based on your
Greek city-state,
how willing is
your city-state to
contribute funds,
ships, and men to
combatting piracy?
2. Is there another solution to how
Athens might aid in fighting the pirates?
In other words, is it possible to make
Athens provide aid somehow?
3. Which Greek city-state will be the
chosen leader against piracy?
Delian League // WMHSMUN 30
4. How should relegation of local
authorities be handled in order to
prevent them from abetting pirates?
T
he purpose
Topic II:
of the Delian
Tensions Within League is to
provide Greek
the Delian
city-states with
League
the ability to fight
against Persian
invasion. There are, however, personal
conflicts within the city-states that can
result in high tensions amongst the
leaders and peoples. In addition, the
Gods are apt to play games with the citystates, pitting one against another simply
for pleasure. Each patron God wants their
own city to win, creating disasters for
the surrounding city-states and drawing
away from the purpose of the Delian
League; to fight Persia. Some city-states
believe that others have more power, and
other city-states cite that they hold divine
right to be leaders of the Delian League.
Present Situation
The most influential member of the
Delian League is Athens, who commands
the strongest military and navy. Athens
is one of the wealthiest city-states and
contributors to the League’s mutual
fund and treasury. Because of its great
influence and power over the region,
Athens is a powerful ally, as well as
a powerful enemy. Athens believes
that because of the money and troops
it contributes to the League, that it
deserves to command and rule over the
League as its leader. Athens is sometimes
called “metropolis,” or “mother city.”3
Although aggression against fellow
League members is prohibited, Athens
has been covertly showing slight
encroachment on this rule toward other
city-states. For example, a few members
of the League have voiced opinions that
the war with the Persians is over, and
that an alliance is not necessary anymore
to halt Persian aggression. Athens has
responded with forceful measures in
order to keep these city-states in check.
Alerts have been reported by some citystates about Athens’s lack of lenience
and desire for city-states to remain in
the league. Athenian aggression toward
league members has continued without
action from the League due to the
amount of power Athens has and amount
of resources at its disposal for war.
Athenian power continues to grow
financially as paying tribute has
been delegated to the Athenian citystate. Unlike the Spartan alliance, the
Peloponnesian League, which does
not ask for money or soldiers, the
Delian League requires its members
to contribute either boats or money.
Because the alliance is comprised
of city-states that are spread across
the Mediterranean and Aegean, not
connected by land, it is much more
3 Livius, Delian League
Delian League // WMHSMUN 30
difficult to maintain this maritime alliance.
In order to preserve and support the
Delian League, the League requires that
the wealthiest city-states must contribute
ships, and if a city-state did not have the
capital to contribute ships then it must
pay tribute through money and troops at
times of war. The smaller city-states that
contributed money give their money to
Athens, so that Athens can build more
ships and in turn protect the smaller
city-states. There does not exist any
regulation of the money that has been
given to Athens from other city-states,
and thus there is not way to track how
the money is being used. While there
is no proof of Athens using its funds
inappropriately, new, large structures
and monuments have begun to be
constructed in Athens’s largest square.
As Athens’s financial power continues to
grow, so too does its army and navy.
As mentioned above, a few city-states
have questioned if the League still
needs to exist because they do not
believe Persian aggression is still to be
feared. Particularly, Naxos, Carystos,
and Thasos, among others, have voiced
hesitations at continuing the League.
Naxos has not stated a clear reason as to
why it would wish to leave the League,
however Thasos has constantly been a
competitor against Athens economically4.
Both Thasos and Athens wish to control
4 Quirke, The Delian League and the
Athenian Empire
trading posts and mines that each believe
belong to themselves. If these tensions
continue for longer, then this could result
in a significant conflict between two
of the largest members of the Delian
League.
The Debate
It is the job of the League to ensure that
its fellow members are following the
rules agreed to by all city-states. The
League must also decide if it is necessary
to still maintain constant meetings and
demand tribute from its participating
city-states. Because each city-state holds
a different stake in the continuance of
the League there must be a unanimous
decision as to whether the League
should continue regular meetings, or if
there is another solution and compromise
for city-states.
Although Athens is a powerful city-state
the Delian League must certify that none
of its members can abuse the collective
funds, troops, and ships of the League.
Funds given to Athens or any other citystate must be accounted for and prove to
the League that said funds are not being
misused. A system must be developed in
order to keep all members in check. The
Delian League must decide if the reason
for creating the League has no gone
away, and if so, whether to disband the
League or continue providing assistance
to each other.
Delian League // WMHSMUN 30
Questions to
Consider:
1. Is it necessary
to regulate
Athens’s use of
league funds?
How could this
be accomplished
without angering
Athens?
2. Should city-states be allowed to
withdraw from the League?
3. Should there be consequences for
city-states that abuse the rules set forth
by the League?
S
ince the
Persian Wars,
Athens and Sparta
Topic III:
have differed on
Spartan
responses to the
Aggression
Persian Empire
and its aggression
toward the Greek city-states. While
Athens began forming the Delian League
to protect the Ionian city-states and
others within its sphere of influence,
Sparta formed the Peloponnesian
League. The Peloponnesian League
believes that war with Persia is inevitable
unless the Greek city-states allow Persia
to have control of the Ionian city-states
that Athens defends. It comprises citystates in the Peloponnesus, a peninsula
in the south of Greece that is separate
from the mainland by the Gulf of Corinth.
Because of the great rivalry between
Sparta and Athens, tensions have always
been high, and disagreements often form
into civil wars between the Greek citystates.
Present Situation
Sparta has been watching the growth
of power of Athens. Because Athens
seems to be the most powerful member
of the Delian League, its influence poses
a threat to Sparta and its Peloponnesian
League. With Athens’s influence
stretching further across the Aegean,
and its strong naval power, Sparta has
become wary of its spreading power. If
Athens is able to control the funds and
the troops of the League, then it would
be a formidable enemy to Sparta. Sparta
has always believed that Athens holds
too much power in the region, and that
any slight show of aggression from
Athens means total war.
Sparta has noticed that Athens has
been clandestinely talking to Corcyra,
an island in the Ionian Sea, and one of
Sparta’s most important allies. Corcyra is
the key to the city of Potidaea, which is
an economic powerhouse for the Greek
city-state Corinth. Corinth is extremely
important to Sparta because of its navy,
and does not wish for Corinth or any
of its cities to ally itself with Athens.
Furthermore, Athens has decreed an
economical decree against Megara, one
of Spartan’s allies, in order to reduce
Spartan power in the region. Because
Athens has begun to stretch its natural
Delian League // WMHSMUN 30
sphere of influence, Sparta is on high
alert, and has been seen consolidating its
forces, preparing for what looks like an
attack or heavy defense.
The natural split between the Delian
League and the Peloponnesian League
could result in intra-Greek conflicts,
creating a weaker Greece. Such conflicts,
on one hand might allow Persia to attack
a Greece who can not defend itself
because it is too busy fighting itself. On
the other hand, it is possible that Sparta
would ally itself with Persia in order to
help defeat Athens, promising to give
the Ionian city-states back to Persia. No
matter the outcome, Spartan aggression
is a threat to the safety of the members
of the Delian League and the other cities
under its protection.
The Debate
A fear for the Delian League is that if
any city-states feel too strongly against
Athenian power and influence that they
will join Sparta and the Peloponnesian
League. This would only add to the
mounting pressure between the two
leagues. Furthermore, if Sparta were to
join forces with Persia, it would almost
be unstoppable to stop an attack. Athens
has not thought of the consequences
of its actions. By extending its sphere of
influence it puts the rest of the Delian
League in danger of Spartan aggression,
because Sparta sees the Delian League
as a puppet under the leadership of
Athens.
The Delian League must debate as
to whether the Spartans are a more
important topic to discuss than piracy
and rising tensions within the League.
If so, then it would be the League’s
responsibility to either ameliorate Sparta
and attempt to control Athens, or support
one of its members in spreading the
influence of the Delian League.
1. Is Spartan
aggression a direct
threat to the Delian
Questions to League or just to
Consider:
Athens? Is there
a way to prevent
members of the
Delian League from switching to the
Peloponnesian League?
2. Should the Delian League respond to
reported sightings of moving Spartan
troops?
3. Does your city-state believe that
maintain peace in Greece is paramount
to keeping Persia from attacking?
Delian League // WMHSMUN 30
1. Fine, John V.A. “The Ancient Greeks.” Google Books. Harvard
University Press. Web. 03 June 2016.
2. “Pirates in the Ancient Mediterranean.” Ancient History
Encyclopedia. Web. 03 June 2016.
Works Cited:
3. Quirke, Patrick Quinn. “The Delian League and the Athenian
Empire.” CLIO History Journal -. N.p., n.d. Web. 0
June 2016.
4. “Delian League.” –Livius. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 June 2016.
5. http://www.ancient.eu/cimon/
6. http://www.ancient.eu/Delian_League/
7. http://www.livius.org/articles/concept/peloponnesian-war/archidamian-war/?
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peloponnesian_League
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korkyra_(polis)
10. https://books.google.com/books?id=6RtfKGUbE9sC&pg=PA163&dq=googl
e+dolopian+pirate+athenian&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjm6YmchDPAhUI52MKHbffD_YQ6AEIIjAB#v=onepage&q=google%20dolopian%20
pirate%20athenian&f=false