What accounts for the powerful position of Athens during the first half of the Classical period?

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Athens's assistance in defeating the Persians through the leadership of Themistocles enabled them to become the dominant power in Greece during the first half of the Classical period. This victory allowed Athens to expand its power and influence, establish its naval dominance, and gain control over the Delian League, a collection of Greek city-states that became an Athenian empire.

What Accounts for the Powerful Position of Athens During the First