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Pericles

            Pericles has long been associated with the birth of Athenian democracy. His remarkable role as a leader and an Athenian patriot gave him the power to establish reforms, which brought Athens to the height of democracy. However, the leadership of Pericles did not go unopposed and was challenged for his use of public funds, which came from the treasury of the Delian League. Even though some opposed, Pericles was able to maintain his position as leader of Athens until his death in 429 BC. .
             Democratic reforms had begun some fifty years before Pericles took leadership of Athens. The Athenian democracy began to for under the power of Clisthenes and brought Athens into the early stage of government, which was new to the Greek world. .
             Pericles had made his first political appearance under Ephialtes, who was the leader of the democrats. Pericles entered the political scene very late at the age of thirty-one. .
             As general during the siege of Thasos, Pericles first gained the position that would lead him into public fame. Eventually, Cimon's policy towards Sparta would make him a target for Athenian opposition. When Cimon returned to Athens his reputation was ruined by the insults of the Spartans. Pericles finally came to power after Ephialtes was murdered. .
             After the ostracism of Cimon and the death of Ephialtes left Pericles as the center of the Athenian state. Year after year Pericles was elected strategos and this gave him power as one of the generals. Pericles increased his participation in the Athenian government by introducing laws that authorized payment to public officials. Another law that he passed was that citizenship was only granted to Athenians who had been born of an Athenian mother and father. Pericles had used his power and influence to make Athens a democracy though reform and legislation.
             Those who had opposed democracy tried to destroy Pericles politically by corrupting his name.


Essays Related to Pericles

1. Thucydides - Pericles' Funeral Oration

... and the ultimate example for the other Greek city-states in multiple ways. The strength of the Athenian democracy is a major point that Pericles makes evident throughout the entire speech. He is proud that the Athenian government has it's own unique constitution. He points out that unlike ... many other city-states, they prioritize equality and do not discriminate against the poor or any other social standing. Pericles brags the ample traits of their military and innate strength that the Athenians are able to convey. They are natural fighters and don't ... This meaning that they priori...

  • Word Count: 1767
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography

2. The Funeral Oration Of Pericles

... and up were welcome to speak when making descisions pertaining to war and foreign policy, only respected leaders did so. For these reasons, Pericles made it his personal mission as an Athenian political embassador to expand their democracy and make it more welcoming for both upper and lower ... some political order was due for Athens. The turn of a new democracy was in the making which began with a young aristocrat named Pericles. Pericles led Athens to become more involved and attatched to their democratic system. Throughout his time in office, he continued to stress the importance of ...

  • Word Count: 1004
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

3. PERICLES

... courts judged those who broke them. About 451 a law restricting Athenian citizenship to the people who are of Athenian parentage on both sides was passed with Pericles' support. About this time the war with Persia finally ended. The Delian League had been formed against Xerxes and the Persians. Each of the states ... were able to contribute their own ships, but most couldn't. Instead they contributed money, and Athens built the ships in its shipyards and recruited crews. Pericles increased the size of the navy and instituted wages to crewmen. In 454 the funds of the group was transferred...

  • Word Count: 596
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Pericles and Athenian Democracy

... ; The family in this case, is the previous Athenian leaders- Solon and Cleisthenes. This is why all three leaders: Solon, Cleisthenes and Pericles are deserving of the title "Father of Democracy." Because without one another there would have been no democracy (Cutrone). First and foremost ... quot;counties." This was one way he made Athens more organized and communal, which are traits of any well run democratic society. (Cutrone) Pericles, was a fundamental aspect for uniting all accomplishments from past leaders, and creating what today is known as the Athenian democracy- the first true ...

  • Word Count: 1086
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Pericles Funeral Speech

... most of the wars these days are fought from the air and from a distance. There is not much hand-to-hand combat used in war anymore. Pericles stated in his speech that they used a democracy in their city because it favors many people instead of just a few. It did not matter if ... the poor through it. Even though the workingman in Athens has to go to work everyday he still has a say in what happens in politics. Pericles stated the stronger friend was the doer of the relationship. In other words the person with more money or power was looked at as the stronger friend ... where these upper-...

  • Word Count: 1454
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Pericles

... bold spirit of each citizen. It was possible, naturally, that in this effort to soothe the painful loss of Athenian soldiers after battle, Pericles fabricated or at least over enhanced the true greatness of the polis Athens. However, The Funeral Oration did in fact describe Athens in ... Athens was among the first, and certainly the most famous, to introduce a new form of government in which the citizens held the power: democracy. Pericles described the government as one that did "not copy the institutions of [their] neighbors," (Thucydides, p. 100), and in which "power is in ... artis...

  • Word Count: 949
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

7. The Age of Pericles

... buildings in Washington, D.C. built with people in mind, so that many uses come out of one building. 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 ... cartoonists and satirists do much the same thing that Aristophanes was doing centuries ago. By allowing these great minds to educate without bounds meant that Pericles was not judging anyone of any of their own thoughts, but permitting freedom of speech. Free speech, just as it is now, was ... an ...

  • Word Count: 1370
  • Approx Pages: 5

8. Aspasia and Feminism in Ancient Greece

... for the women, and that he was also now included wives on invitations to dinner parties, where normally the man were only invited.18 Pericles was not only showing his regard for Aspasia within privacy of his home but was also demonstrating public displays of affection for her. A ... was just one of the people of the time using the questions and answer technique as a form rhetoric. Even though Aspasia was popular with Pericles, scholars, and many people in Athens, she also received vicious attacks and accusations. One was concerning her involvement in the Samian War. In ... evidence to sug...

  • Word Count: 2630
  • Approx Pages: 11
  • Has Bibliography

9. Aspasia and Ancient Greece

... for the women, and that he was also now included wives on invitations to dinner parties, where normally the man were only invited.18 Pericles was not only showing his regard for Aspasia within privacy of his home but was also demonstrating public displays of affection for her. A ... was just one of the people of the time using the questions and answer technique as a form rhetoric. Even though Aspasia was popular with Pericles, scholars, and many people in Athens, she also received vicious attacks and accusations. One was concerning her involvement in the Samian War. In ... evidence to sug...

  • Word Count: 2630
  • Approx Pages: 11
  • Has Bibliography

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