Answer
The city-states around the Aegean Sea.
Explanation
The Athenian Empire was an association of Greek city-states under the leadership of Athens whose purpose was to continue fighting the Persian Empire after the Greek victory in the Battle of Plataea at the end of the Second Persian invasion. The Athenian people came from the city from all over Greece and other countries to study trade. The city's most famous building was the temple called the Parthenon which stood on a rocky hill called the Acropolis. Inside the Parthenon stood a statue of the city's protector-goddess Athena
