Pericles Biography Essay

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.

The had prosperous fields of barley and wheat that they prided themselves on. They were the true earth born in their eyes. Athenians were in their own little world since they were isolated from other states. They had superior skill in making pottery and it was the main merchant trade. They had a large gap between the rich Eupatrids and the poor countryside folk. The Eupatrids started to get to big of ahead and finally realized when they were beat by a village of pig-farmers that they could be defeated. They knew reform was needed and appointed Solon to do the job. He knew he needed to give some power back to the working class. He made them debt free and gave them the right to vote. Although this seemed awesome in the beginning, they quickly realized the stipulations. They would soon be in debt again, and they couldn’t voice their opinion about laws or issues that affected their lives. Athens did well after that, although they never left the aristocracy governing. It was indeed a democracy, but it was only for men to spread their opinion and common people to only vote.

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 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.

As we have learned that Democracy came from the word ‘demos’ which means people, that makes people the ruling party or majority rule. Ancient Greeks who were experimenting with different kinds of political system and were much interested in which system works best. By far the most radical kind of democracy is a direct democracy which lasted less than two centuries in a Greek city-state of Athens. Citizens of Athens were directly involved in the process and participated in decision making and they were proud of it, they deemed their system to be the best and superior to other systems in other Greek city-states. As Cartwright stated an excerpt from Pericles himself who was one of the greatest supporters of democracy in classic

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.

Furthermore, in the mind of Pericles, any citizen who did not take some part in the realm of politics was not just missing the core of Athenian democracy, but was essentially useless. This is so because Athenian democracy stood on the idea that people would take an active role in the government that represented them in order to protect their freedoms, and anyone who shunned that responsibility was a detriment to society. The arguments that Pericles puts forth are persuasive in the sense that theoretically in order for a democracy to survive as intended (which is self-representation and majority rule) then people must take politics sincerely.

To stand in front of thousands; to speak the words aimed at persuading a crowd; to believe, and have them as well, a seemingly just cause - this is what a leader must do. Every era has its trouble, its own conflict, and along with it, its own leader who will do what he can to unite his followers. In 431 BC, Athens was in the midst of a war, and from that war came a speech, said by Pericles, that to this day, remains the model for any leader seeking to persuade his citizens and have them believe and act in favor of their land. Throughout United States' history, various leaders have used the format of his speech in efforts to reach their citizens. Many of the values and personal

This is due to the beginning of democracy forced by Solon and his followers. This form of government is based on rule by ordinary men, unlike all forms of rule at that time. The way this government is so important is due to the fact that at this time, all western civilizations are under a democracy, something not ever considered possible before the Athenians had it occur. In document three it contains an excerpt of Pericles’ funeral oration where a major topic was democracy. It explained how their form of government was a true rule of the people, a neglect of discrimination, as well as social scale.

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.

Pericles was born c. 495 B.C. in Athens, Greece into a noble family. A prominent statesman and strategos were his first jobs before he became a leader. His first jobs influenced him to be one of the greatest leaders of Athens. He ruled Athens from 460 B.C. to 429 B.C. Pericles prospered the land by strengthening the democracy, expanding the empire, and glorifying Athens.

(Funeral Oration p.34) Athens was a part of the city states that made up the Greek empire. Even though they all lived under one empire and shared a common language and religion, each state was independent which sparked frequent conflict between them. (99) What set Athens a part was its use of democracy. Every citizen had the chance to participate directly in government. This character also set them apart from other empires who ruled with kings. Pericles boasted about this fact during the funeral. He states that their government does not seek the approval of others, but rather acts as a guide for them to follow. Here he can be referring to neighboring states like Sparta or Corinth, and outside empires. His air of superiority over other nations can be due to the fact that this speech was given 50 years after defeating the Persian army for the second time in ten years. This victory made way to radicalization of democracy in Athens. (pg.

The first city-state that achieved democracy was Athens and achieved in creating the Athenian Constitution titled Constitution of Athens. “ It is called a government of people [demokratia] because we live in consideration of not the few but of the majority” (Thucydides 421 BCE) Thucydides wrote On Justice Power and Human Nature, this book is a memoir of the authors life as a solider of Athens during the Peloponnesian Wars. Thucydides like Napoleon was soldier fighting for the rights of people between the city-states of Athens, Sparta, and Thebes. At this time Pericle was the ruler of Athens, he was very fair to his people. During his rule Athens achieved its highest political, social, and economical height.

Everything Pericles did was out of humane means and out of love for his nation. This alone plays a key factor in why he was re-elected general year after year. His sincere personality was shown before his election when as stated by Plutarch he refused to go directly into politics “since he was rich, of brilliant lineage, and had friends of the greatest influence, he feared that he might be ostracized” (Plut.Per.7) instead he “devoted himself rather to a military career, where he was brave and enterprising” (Plut.Per.7). After his outstanding military performance, Pericles began to dedicate more time to politics. As written in Thucydides’ book, Pericles was chosen to make a speech at the public burial of the fallen soldiers. He was highly intellectual and generally respectable, making him the perfect candidate for this responsibility. In his speech, Pericles, addressed not only the ones who passed away in that battle, but made sure to mention the importance of other individuals who had a great influence on these soldiers. He began by talking about their ancestors and how it was through “their courage and their virtues, [they have been handed], a free country” (Thuc.2.36). He believed that they deserved praise for the foundation that they set for Athens. Pericles believed that without the hard work and blood shed of the generations before him the state would not be able to take care of itself in peace, let alone in war. Later

To start, before the fifth century all of Greek’s city-states were all monarchies. Then, they moved into aristocratism. Most city-states were run by aristocrats also, known as an oligarchy. Only the richest men like generals and judges, oversaw the city’s government. By the 600s B.C. tyrants tried to bring down the aristocrats, but they were unsuccessful in the plot. Many Athenians did not like the too strict rules of the aristocrats and attempted to topple the aristocrats. After Draco made harsh laws permitting the common people from minor crimes because the will be punishable by death and they were ready to end aristocracy. The Athenians called these strict laws Draco’s laws. Solon tried to make the Athenian laws better by making everyone a citizen and giving non-aristocratic men a say in the government. Even though, Solon was moving in the direction of democracy he was not there. It took Cleisthenes to call on the people for help to overthrow the government. He was able to overthrow aristocracy forever. Cleisthenes was able to form a new government. Under Cleisthenes’ leadership, Athens developed the world’s first democracy and all citizens had a right to vote and share their opinion on things going on in the government. The first known democracy of history was Athens; Athens was first a monarchy with a king and around the fifth century B.C. Athens transitioned into a democracy. The Athens democracy developed in this Greek city-state and the surrounding areas. Unlike