Pericles Research Paper Pericles was one of the greatest political leaders in Greece at the time. Not only did he affect Greece’s future but he was also a huge influence on the modern democratic world. It was under his leadership that Athenian culture flourished and that the idea of equality became more universal. There’s not much on Pericles’ childhood, however we do know that he was born into a rich family in Athens and his father was a war hero from the Persian Wars. When Pericles was still just a toddler, Persia was defeated at the Battle of Marathon. At the age of 13, young Pericles had to evacuate Athens with his family during the Battle of Salamis. Then, at the age of 17, Pericles inherited a large fortune. With this large fortune,
First, Greek and American democracy has almost the same amount of nationalism and patriotism saw in the people. For instance, the Athenian individuals respected their energy and presence exceptionally. "Pericles says in regard to his policy: Remember that the motivation behind why Athens has the best name in all the world is on the grounds that she has never offered into affliction. However, has spent more life and work in fighting than some other states. Like this
The freedom which we enjoy in our government extends also to our ordinary life” (Pericles’ Funeral Oration, Thucydides). In other words, it doesn’t matter what your social rank is, if you are a citizen of Athens, you have a right (and duty) to serve in the government. This is known as a direct democracy today, and it is where we, citizens of the United States, took inspiration for our current system of government. Pericles is right to praise the city-state in this regard, as its legacy still has effect on the world millenniums after its time.
1. In what ways does Pericles believe that Athens is great? Because not only is there a democracy but the people are free and able to prosper amongst the community if they choose to do so.
Pericles (C. 495-429 BC) was a very influential politician and general in Athens. He is said to have brought about a very important time in Athenian history known as ‘The Golden Age of Athens’ where he brought about or placed focus on certain things like art, which gave Athens the reputation as the cultural and educational centre of Ancient Greece, architecture, where he created a project to beautify the city and provide work for Athenians with most of its products like the Parthenon still surviving and giving us an idea of the glory of Athens. He also made valuable contributions to drama, the bringing about of democracy and the establishment of the Greek empire.
Pericles and Constantine were examples of great leaders in the ancient world. Under their rule, changes were made. Both led armies into battles against others. However, they both had a different style of leading and gave different effects on their citizens. Although they are both respected leaders, they affected different aspects of their civilizations. Pericles greatly improved the arts and literature of Athens, whereas Constantine enacted administrative, financial, social and military reforms to the Roman Empire, as well as decreed tolerance for Christianity within the empire. However, among all the leaders of the Archaic Period,
Pericles and his statements to other
In his ambitions to conquer Sicily and then move on to Italy and the Peloponnesus, he also shows this thirst.12 The Athenians recognized Alcibiades's brilliance and ruthlessness so they elected Nicias as a general to "[temper] his rashness."13 Alcibiades resorted to violence to gain glory, Pericles, on the other hand, attempted to prolong peace and settle matters with diplomacy. He once tried to persuade the cities to send delegates to meet in Athens to discuss restorations of temples destroyed during the war with Persia, but nothing came of his plan because of Spartan opposition.14 He even went so far as to bribe the chief magistrates of Sparta to buy time to prepare for war, which he knew was inevitable.15
A reading of Thucydides’, Pericles’ Funeral Oration and The Melian Dialogue uncovers both contrasting and comparable viewpoints on Athenian politics, power, aims of war, and empire. Thucydides presents two differing characteristics of Athens, one as the civilizer in Pericles’ funeral oration and the other as an tyrant in the Melian dialogue. In the funeral oration delivered by Pericles during the first year of the war, the Athenian leader emphasizes the idealized personal image of the Athenians in regard to their constitution and good character. Pericles goes on to praise the Athenian democratic institution of Athens that contributes to their cities greatness; in Pericles’s own words, “The Athenian administration favors the many instead of few… they afford equal justice to all of their differences” (112, 2.37). This quote emphasizes the good character of the Athens’ to coax and encourage the Athenians to preserve and better their great empire into the future. On the other hand, in the Melian dialogue, this notion of justice and equality is irrelevant; one, because Athens compared to Melos, is the stronger of the two and thus, is more powerful. Further, Athens, will continue to acquire absolute power and build its empire by conquering Melos and whomever else stands in its way. Through Pericles’ funeral oration and the Melian dialogue, the following conclusions/themes will demonstrate both the changing and somewhat stable nature of Athenian policy with regards to empire,
Pericles exercised political interest through giving speeches. He became very popular and earned his name in political arena by mastering oratory skills. His manner of speaking helped him to become the best of all speakers in Athens.
Pericles shaped his campaigning around pleasing the masses. Thucydides’ political strategy was to get all of his supporters to sit together in the assembly. Unfortunately for him, there were not many to support him against Pericles. Strategically, Pericles gave nearly all of the political power to the people. This was the reason he was known as the ‘first citizen of democratic Athens by the historian Thucydides.
Pericles was born in 495 B.C. E in Cholargos north of Athens. Pericles was an influential orator, leader and general during Athens golden age between the Persian and Peloponnesian wars. Pericles popularized arts and literature and was the main reason Athens holds the reputation of being the educational and cultural center of the ancient Greek world. During Pericles rule, Athens developed its Acropolis, the elevated citadel that held the most important buildings and temples. These building where so architecturally
Pericles knew what Athenians wanted and with a reputation of scrupulous honesty he deepened and extended the reforms that Cleisthenes had started 50 years before. Cleisthenes formed a general assembly of all Athenians
Athens reached its peak with Pericles (460 BC - 429 BC). Pericles belonged to the aristocratic family of the Alcmeonides, he was the son of the commander of the Athenian fleet of the battle of Micale. Pericles was a politician with the Democratic party, he ruled Athens with the support of the people and made it a rich and powerful city. It was Pericles, through his reforms and his idea of using the Delian League treasure to finance his administration, to turn the League into an Athenian dominion or empire. "He increased Athens’ power through his use of the Delian League to form the Athenian empire and led his city through the First Peloponnesian War (460-446 BCE) and the first two years of the Second Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE).
Pericles argument is that Democracy is the proper form of government. By Democracy Pericles identifies a variety of viewpoints. It is asserted by Pericles that citizens should defend their city, by doing so, they are worthy of such an honor (Pericles, 1). Moreover, by the establishment of a democracy as a form of government provides the citizens to rule directly instead of ruling through a representative. Therefore, the decisions are thought out, voted, and agreed on by the citizens as a majority instead of having one person dictating what is to occur. Furthermore, Pericles asserts that citizens should fight to defend their city therefore by democracy men are allowed to advance due to merit instead of privilege (wealth and social class) (Pericles, 7). For this purpose any man with sufficient capacity to rule is allowed.
Pericles spends most of the speech praising Athens. Pericles’ emphasis on democracy is very clear. He began his speech addressing the significance of the ancestors of Athens. Pointing out their sacrifices for their city and which directly correlates to the fairness and freedoms of the current Athenian democracy. Pericles’ spoke about separation of class of people is not tolerated and if anyone can serve the state they are not judged by their livelihood. He also advocates this position by returning briefly, at the end of the speech, to the fallen soldiers and their families, rather than merely promising glory to those who lose what is most their own (their lives) in defense of their own, Pericles presents glory itself as that