In the fifth century BC, the Athenian Empire dominated the politics and culture of the Mediterranean world. Historians, then and now, have been fascinated by that domination, and continue to grapple with the problem of explaining and analysing it. This book offers a comprehensive, and multi-faceted, analysis of the history and significance of the Athenian Empire. It starts by exploring possible answers to the crucial questions of the origins and growth of the empire. Subsequent sections deal with the institutions and regulations of empire, and the mechanisms by which it was controlled; the costs and benefits of imperialism (for both rulers and ruled); and the ideological, cultural and artistic aspects of Athenian power. The articles collected here are among the most influential studies in the field, written by the foremost scholars of the 20th and 21st centuries. They engage with the full range of evidence available to the historian of the Athenian Empire -- literary, epigraphic, archaeological and art-historical -- and offer a compelling demonstration of the range of approaches, and conclusions, for which that evidence allows. The book includes a chronology and a guide to further reading. All passages of ancient Greek are translated and difficult terms are explained. One article has been translated and is available in English for the first time. Key Features: * Key articles are collected and available in one location * Articles in Greek and other foreign languages are translated into English * Provides access to a range of scholarly views on contested topics * Includes editorial introductions, timelines and a bibliography which provide orientation for students and scope for further study