The invasion of Greece by the Persians under Xerxes and the subsequent maritime supremacy of Athens produced great changes in the character of the Athenian government. When the Persians had passed over the mountains near Thermopylæ, Attica lay at their mercy, and the ten generals proclaimed that every Athenian must save himself as best he could. The council of the Areopagus however contrived to provide a sum of money as an instalment of pay for men who were willing to serve on shipboard; a hundred and eighty ships were manned, and the men who served, probably about thirty-six thousand in number, received a sum of eight drachmas apiece. The Athenian fleet, which was thus provided, formed more than half of the whole Greek force that won the marvellous battle of Salamis: and the Areopagus was allowed by the Athenians in recognition of the service it had rendered to have the chief influence in the government of Athens for twenty years[159]. But the whole body of the citizens who risked their lives in winning the great battle had contributed more effectually to the result than the council that found the money. Moreover within a few years after the defeat of Xerxes the Greek cities in the islands of the Ægean sea requested Athens to be their defender against Persian attack: from being protector of the islands Athens soon became their suzerain, receiving from them contingents of ships or payments of tribute, and possessing a maritime supremacy and abundant revenue such as no Greek city had ever enjoyed: and all these brilliant achievements were due to the exertions of the poorer citizens who served as common sailors on board the galleys[160]. Athens, Piræus and Phalerum were fortified and joined together by the building of the long walls and were formed into a single city capable of containing a very large population. The result of these events was a rapid progress towards democracy: the council of the Areopagus was deprived in 462 B.C. of most of its powers[161], the rules which had hitherto excluded citizens of the poorer classes from holding the archonship were repealed or disregarded[162], pay was provided for the citizens whilst serving as judges or jurymen in the law courts[163], and in various ways, twenty thousand--probably a majority--of the citizens were in the employ of the state and received from it salaries or wages sufficient to maintain them[164]. [159] Aristotle, _Constitution of Athens_, 23. The drachma contained the same weight of silver as a modern franc. [160] For the effects of Salamis see Aristotle, _Politics_ V. 4. 8. Welldon, p. 353. [161] The Areopagus was deprived of power in the archonship of Conon, i.e. 463-2 B.C. Aristotle, _Constitution of Athens_, 25.