PERICLES AND THE GOLDEN AGE OF ATHENS One

PERICLES AND THE GOLDEN AGE OF ATHENS One Man's Influence on the Beginnings of Democracy

PERICLES, THE BOY • Pericles grew up in Athens in a wealthy family. • He was about three years old when Athens fought the battle of Marathon. He was among the Athenians who were evacuated during the Battle of Thermopolae and Salamis. • He was very bright, and had some of the best teachers in Athens. • He studied politics, ethics, philosophy, and music. Statue of Greek boy, c. 3 rd century BCE

PERICLES, EARLY ADULT LIFE • As a young man, Pericles used much of his wealth to support the arts. This helped him to become a popular figure in Athens. • Together with some supporters, he took on a powerful council of leaders, and helped to break down their power, an important point in the history of democracy. • As a general of the Athenian army, Pericles led several successful military campaigns.

PERICLES AS LEADER. . . * The leadership of Pericles began a time which is known as the Golden Age of Athens. * Pericles worked on reforming the Athenian democracy: ~ He introduced new laws and ideas, for example, that people who served on a jury would be paid. ~ He appointed people to positions because of their abilities, not because they were members of a certain social class. ~ He brought more ordinary Athenians into government.

. . . LEADER OF A DIRECT DEMOCRACY • Under Pericles, the Athenian city-state became the economic and cultural center of Greece. • The Athenians especially took pride in their democratic system. • Athenians practiced democracy, which was a radical concept at the time. • The Athenian form of democracy is called direct democracy. In a direct democracy, all citizens meet to debate and vote on government matters. • In a representative democracy, such as the one we have in the United States today, citizens elect a smaller group of people to represent them; they make laws and govern on the citizens' behalf.

PERICLES AS BUILDER • Pericles is famous for his building projects. He loved the city of Athens, and wanted it to be the leader of the Greek world. • He rebuilt many of the temples on the acropolis that had been destroyed by the Persians. • He built the Parthenon on the acropolis. It was a magnificent building dedicated to the goddess, Athena. • He had the Long Walls built to protect the city in the event of a siege.

PERICLES AND ART AND EDUCATION • Pericles supported writers, artists, teachers, sculptors, and architects. • He allowed the poor to attend theaters for free. • Philosophers and their teachings flourished during the rule of Pericles. (Philosophers are thinkers who reflect on the meaning of life. ) • Athens became a great center for knowledge. Pericles called his city "the school of Greece. "

PERICLES AS A GREAT SPEAKER • During a public funeral for soldiers who had died in battle in a war between Athens and Sparta, Pericles talked about the greatness of Athens. He reminded the people that they made their government strong. He reminded them that citizens had to obey the rules in the constitution- their framework of government. He emphasized that the democratic way of life is worth protecting. • This famous speech is called the Funeral Oration.