After the Persians burned it down, Pericles had the opportunity to unite Athenians and start to rebuild the city-state of Athens in a new way. To start, he employed citizens as workers and paid them a salary for accomplishing their job, something no ruler had ever done before. Many of the buildings that were built still remain and have become an example of solid architecture and aesthetic beauty. Most of the bui

The development of direct democracy is Pericles’ most famous legacy, yet so many people take it for granted. The idea that the people rule brought citizens together, and instead of fighting against each other, they began working towards building a cohesive city-state. This new form of government allowed landowning men over the age of eighteen to vote for laws and attend the assembly meetings. At the assembly meetings laws were proposed and disputed, the council tried to remedy problems within the city-state. This system is very similar to our government in the United States. The citizens were given the right to veto a law, as are the elected Congressmen of today’s age. The Senate, House of Representatives and all government officials are today’s version of the Grecian council, while the citizens in the U.S. have the ability to discuss legislation, and to a limited degree, vote for or against it. In Athens, there were citizens who represented every Athenian tribe, just as we have governors, Senators, and Congressmen to represent each town, city, and state in the Union. Another similarity is the court system. When a man reached the age of thirty in Athens, he was eligible for jury duty and other court tasks. The jury, just as in today’s courts, would decide the fate of the accused, and receive a salary for doing so. Likewise, modern-day Americans are called up for jury duty, and receive a salary if they are selected as a panelist. Also, in Ancient Greece and today, government officials in general are paid for their services.

Another similarity in the governmental systems is the meeting that the Greeks called “Ostracism,” but is known today as impeachment. There are a few apparent differences in these meetings, however, the general idea holds to be the same. During the Age of Pericles, the male citizens would write down the name of a leader or politician that they though was doing a poor job in order to remove them from office. In order for the official to be removed and banned from government for s

Some topics in this essay:
Athens Pericles, Age Pericles, Strategoi America, Oresteia Sophocles, Washington DC, Senators Congressmen, Greeks Persians”, Cod MA, House Representatives, Inside Parthenon, ancient greece, military leaders, buildings built, people athens, direct democracy, assembly meetings, jury duty, six thousand, receive salary, “golden age”,