How Did Pericles Influence His Civilization

The Classical Era of Greece, 500 -338 BCE, made way to many different changes in Athenian history. The Athenian government changed from a tyranny to a democracy, and after the Persian war in 499 BCE, Athens’ started to became a military superpower, as well. Due to Themistocles advocating to build a stronger navy, their military power grew, causing Athens’ economy to rise becoming the richest city-states. The Peloponnesian War brought out the importance of politicians and leaders, because now the government is run by the people. This war brought two of the most prominent and influential individuals to lead Athens through the war and shaped Athens’ future. The two leaders are cousins, Pericles and Alcibiades. They have multiple similarities, like their lineage and education, while also utilizing their unique personalities in their leadership skills.

What qualities of Athenian life does Pericles mention? How do these contrast with those that Archidamus points out for Sparta? The qualities of the Athenian life that Pericles mentions are that they are far from practicing a jealous surveillance over each other because they do not feel like they should be angry with there neighbors for doing what they like, but all there private relations does not make them lawless as citizens. He also say’s that they provide plenty of means for there mind to refresh itself from the business, that they celebrate games and sacrifices all the year round. On the other hand Sparta is war-like, because they have self control and they honor bravery. They are also educated with the laws and with a self-control to

Pericles's speech first gave praise to the ancestors, for which they are the people who built the city from the ground up and fought for democracy. He speaks of the ancestors with great honor and valor and that it was them who gave birth to Athens. He perceives Athens as a city with virtue, modesty, and modernization. It is a city who doesn't isolate itself from other governing states. Pericles announce that they aren't afraid to show their culture to the world and any foreigners may come and learn or observe from them. He suggests Athens is a country that welcomes foreigners and they

The Peloponnesian war lasted from 431 to 404 B.C. and was profoundly influenced by two Athenian men, Pericles and Alcibiades. Though Pericles and Alcibiades were related by blood they were quite different. Pericles was a diplomat, he approached matters with a level head and tried to find a solution that did not end in bloodshed. Alcibiades was less stable, he either fought, manipulated, or ran when confronted with a problem. Both men spoke eloquently enough to move almost the entire city of Athens, using their words to bend people to their will.  What was different between them was what their will was, one cared about the city and its wellbeing, the other cared about his own wellbeing.

In his on Education, Pericles is directly criticizing Spartans and their way of life, comparing it to Athens more well rounded, yet equally worthy of honor, system of education. To begin with, it is important to consider the context in which Pericles is delivering this funeral oration. Honoring the fallen Athenian heroes in the Peloponnesian War, Pericles refers to “our rivals” as Sparta, which, along with its allies, retaliated against Athens in this military confrontation. In the excerpt, Pericles is directly criticizing Spartans and the military education they perpetrated, comparing it to the Athenians, who lived exactly as they pleased, yet were just as capable of confronting the challenges and altercations of the war. As referenced in the text, Pericles states, “While in

Themistocles was responsible for the Greek victory in the Persian wars to a considerable extent. The key to Athens' strength in the 5th Century BC was in this general and statesman and therefore, as Greek victory relied so heavily on Athens, Themistocles vitally contributed to the outcome of the Persian king’s invasion of 480-479 BC. His early life reflects the character and skills developed that were responsible for these contributions. Five pivotal roles he undertook were of varying degrees responsible for Greece’s success against Xerxes. Themistocles possessed an incredible foresight

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,

Plutarch was a well-known and respected historian, biographer, and philosopher. He held a very high status in society. He taught philosophy in Rome for some time and was granted high office by the royal family. When he returned to his native town in Greece, he was appointed as the Priest of Apollo. He wrote many philosophical essays as well as biographies of influential people during the times. This particular document was written by Plutarch as a biographical text about Pericles’ political influence in society during his time as a politician. He wrote this selection to thoroughly describe how Pericles used his platform to manipulate the people into giving him the opportunity to gain ultimate power.

encouraged to contribute and take part in self-rule. Pericles proclaimed, "We alone consider the man who refuses to take part in city affairs useless" (1). The Assembly was the regular gathering for male Athenian citizens to listen, discuss, and vote on official order issued by a legal authority. The legal authority who provided the Assembly agenda were called the Council. The Council consisted of 500 citizens, 50 from each ten tribes and could issue decrees on its own; "in a democratic city, the Council was the most important board of magistrates," (1). Pericles praised Athen for her form of government because it was very important for him, for citizens to contribute to

Pericles was hungry for power and with perseverance and sacrifice he made the city fall to him. Pericles, “finding himself come short of his competitor in wealth and money… turned to the distribution of the public moneys.” (Page 208) Since he was so determined to win the people over, the disadvantage of money did not stop him, which indicates that he would go to any measure to get what

When one thinks of Ancient Greece the named Pericles comes to mind. He was a peerless statesman that guided Athens during a Golden Age of Democracy, transformed the Delian League into an Athenian Hegemony, patron of the theatrical arts, and renovator of the Acropolis. None this facets of Pericles are the subject of this paper. The aspect that will be the topic of discussion is the only office Pericles ever officially held, general or strategos. While his political and cultural accomplishments endlessly researched and discussed his military exploits and how they affected his other accomplishments and vice versa have not received the same amount of attention. However, before Pericles’s military career can be delved into a look at his developing

Democracy developed in ancient Greece in the fifth century, in 507 BCE. It developed in the city of Athens, and is the first democracy in the world. The democracy in ancient Greece is well documented, that no other democracy can compare to it. However, the development of ancient Greece democracy, on how it all began is the most important. Ancient Greece democracy began after the Athens and several other Greek cities had been dominated by governments of aristocracy and tyranny.

Ancient historian Thucydides in his history of the ancient world describes us history of war between two superpowers, Athens and Sparta, which weakened all of the Greek City- states and lead to their submission by Macedonians. One of the leaders on the Athenian side was Pericles. Pericles, who was admired by Thucydides, was in one of his capacities strategist, who try to shape Athens’s strategy in war with Sparta. We

Pericles was born in the year 495 BC Athens, Greece and died in 420 BC Athens, Greece. Pericles’ parents were Xanthippus and Agariste. Xanthippus was ostracized from Athens between 485-484. But returned to Athens to run the Athenian military. Agariste was born into a powerful and historically influential family- Alcmaeonid. In the very early years of Pericles’ live the Persians declared war to wanted to take over Greece. Likely for the Greeks the Persians failed in their quest. At the age of seventeen Pericles inherited his family fortune which he used to fund plays. Three years later Pericles got married and had two sons.Pericles was a general and an orator (a skilled public speaker). Pericles was proclaimed as ‘The First Citizen of Athens’

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