Why Was Pericles Essential For The Athenian Golden Age?

In the year 461 BC, after the ostracism of the politician Cimon, Pericles started his rule in Athens where he developed Athenian culture, starting with the development of the Delian League to the Athenian Empire. Using the money from the League, Pericles was able to lead the project of the new Parthenon, which allowed Athenians to hone their artistic skill through attention to detail. In his reign, Pericles also allowed for any person no matter what their class may be to watch plays for free, so literature could be widely developed on a greater scale throughout Athens. Following the unsuccessful Ionian Revolt, the Delian League was formed in order to protect the Greeks who were still threatened by Persians. Members of the league were required to pay tax to support the cause and so with the big treasury, Pericles was able to get the money to build a new Parthenon.

The Funeral Oration of Pericles: A Primary Text Analysis In Pericles’ Funeral Oration, the famous and influential text in 430 B.C was given by Pericles to traditionally honor the death of the soldiers that fought in war and serviced in the Athenian military. This interpretation of the oration is written by Thucydides, as it is a manuscript of what Pericles said to the Athenian public. Through this text, Pericles focuses on honoring the fallen soldiers, but he also emphases the values of Athenian society and the social structure of the invention of democracy, as it is introduced for the first time ever in history. The Funeral Oration of Pericles expresses the distinct values of strong moral standards for social structure and introduces democracy, as it reinforces laws and the need for equal justice.

Pericles the powerful, was the best leader of Athens. He was a mighty general, a brilliant orator, a good politician, and he was a patron of the arts. Under his great leadership came Athens golden age. Pericles is often credited for transforming the allied city-states into the Athenian empire, which there is some truth to. His military conquests include a successful military campaign in 454, which created many Athenian colonies in Thrace, and on the Black Sea coast.

His actual power came from being elected as the ecclesia as a strategic army general. He was not the only one (there were 10 of them) but he was one of prestige. Pericles was one of the most influential people in Athens especially after the ostracism of

The Constitution of Athens by the Old Oligarch and the funeral Oration given by Pericles in Thucydides’ The History of the Peloponnesian War offer two very different views of democracy in Athens. While the Old Oligarch lists the ways in which democracy fails the elite of Athens, Pericles’ speech highlights the very best aspects of Athens government. Fundamentally these two works are advocating for the different classes found in Athens, one the one hand the Old Oligarch supported the elite and on the other Pericles supported the average citizens of the city. As his moniker implies, the Old Oligarch favors oligarchy as opposed to democracy.

Speeches play an important role in Thucydides’s historical work. The use of rhetoric in them serves to convince various peoples to embark on journeys or build up morale. While one may simply read the rhetoric used in speeches as a device to convince people, a new meaning to the text is elucidated once one examines the underlying types of rhetoric used. The rhetorical nature of the main speeches in Thuydides’s History of the Peloponnesian War convey a message about Athens, yet with different spins amongst the three.

In Pericles’ speech, he appeals to the desiring and spirited parts of the tripartite soul. He starts his speech by entrancing the desiring parts of the soul by promising to “satisfy the individual wishes and expectations” of all those present at the funeral (Thuc. 2.35). This shows that Pericles wants each person to receive pleasure and comfort in their lives. He also feeds on the desiring part of the soul by saying “Famous men have the whole earth as their tomb” (Thuc. 2.43). Pericles appeals to the spirited part of the soul by encouraging the soldiers to “look day after day on the manifest power of [the] city, and become her lovers” (Thuc. 2.43).

Who was the better Greek city-state? Athens or Sparta? A question asked for quite some time now, probably since they existed. It’s time we get an answer! If you ask me, I think it was Athens that was the better Greek city state.

Democracy, a form of government, allows the people in their own nationality to vote for people in order for them to become representatives as a result to vote on new laws that would affect their own nationality. One of the many states of Greece, ancient Athens was indeed not truly democratic as a result of not inclusive, other than male citizens, to gain authority in ancient Athens, ¨Demokratia was ruled by male citizens only, excluding women, free foreigners(Metics) and slaves.¨(Document D), therefore ruling Athens was only accessible to male citizen since since women, free foreigners(Metics), and slaves were not allowed to rule as a result of not being male citizens. One of the many states of Greece, ancient Athens, was indeed not truly democratic as a result of not even using the essentials of democracy that is used today, “Thus, by our standards, it was oligarchy, not democracy.¨(Document D), therefore ancient Athens was not using democracy as their form of government, they were using oligarchy,another form of government in which a small group of people has power and control, as their form of government instead of democracy.

Alexander the “Great” was one of the best leaders Greece has had. Alexander ruled Greece for about eleven years, starting at about age 20, and ending at about age 32. He ruled after his father, Phillip, was murdered at his daughter’s wedding by a former bodyguard. Phillip trained Alexander from a young age for the military and had Aristotle to teach him academically. Alexander was truly “great” because of the many great advancements and achievements he made in the short time that he ruled.

Unlike the Romans, Athenians had a strict but fair schedule that allowed them to enjoy citizenship equally. Equally, hard workers have brought Athens power just as much as hereditary leaders. According to Document B all citizens should be allowed to speak their opinion and have a share in election because of the hard work they do to make the city powerful. Athenians allowed poor and common men to win a position in government which was a transition from the wealthy having power to everyone having power.

Pericles, a key political figure of 5th century Athens states, “Our constitution does not copy the laws of neighboring states; we are rather a pattern to others than imitators ourselves.” The Athenians had no desire to follow what appeared as mediocre government, the Athenians pushed for the best form they could find. Arete, for Athens, meant every person had a voice in politics. Politics embraces the reason of the mind as well as the emotion of the heart. Therefore, the very essence of a good human being would lie in being a politically active person.

Undoubtedly it helped the citizens of Athens to broaden their minds, their cultural awareness and, what was probably most important, to develop

Those three traits are wisdom, loyalty, and bravery. One of the most important traits that he possessed was wisdom. In today’s society, he value wisdom on an extremely high scale. Theseus invented democracy on his own accord. This is what was said about Theseus after he created a democracy for Athens; “He declared to the people that he did not wish to rule over them; he wanted a people’s government where all would be equal.

For most of the oration Pericles praised the city of Athens. There were multiple characteristics that he highlighted during his speech. First, Pericles talked about Athens’ system of democracy saying that “our system of government does not copy the institutions of our neighbors”. Even though other Greeks live their lives differently the Athenians do not consider them less than. They are free and tolerant in their private lives, but obey are law abiding citizens in public life.