This volume reimagines the fifth-century Athenian Empire, decentring Athens and shifting focus to the diverse responses of allied communities. It brings together leading and emerging scholars from across different disciplines to reflect on how scholarship on this pivotal topic has progressed, and where it should go next. At a moment when societies are reassessing the legacies and interpretations of empire, this volume is especially timely. Drawing on historical, archaeological, epigraphic and numismatic evidence, the volume uncovers how coercion and consent operated in different local contexts, both within and beyond the empire. This emphasis on material culture is crucial in moving beyond long-standing, Athens-focused approaches. By situating Athenian imperialism within a broader historical context – from its late Archaic origins to its influence on the late Classical and even Hellenistic worlds – the volume also sheds new light on the fifth century.