Cleisthenes was a member of the Alcmaeonid family who had always been involved in the happenings of Greece. He is considered to be the founder of democracy in 510 B.C. It was said that he was an architect of a new type of government. He was not a theorist, but became a democrat virtually by accident, turning to the common people when he needed their support in his struggle to fill the position left empty by the tyrant, Hippias. He was the most political of all his family members so naturally he was the choice to lead his family back into political power after they had been exiled by Hippias' father, Pisistratus.
Themistocles was around from about 528 to 462 B.C.. He was the leader who in 480 B.C. persuaded the Athenians to build up their fleet to fight against the Persians in the battle of Salamis. He is known for being the statesman who helped to lead the Greeks against the Persian invasion of 480 B.C. In 471 he was ostracised.
Cimon lived from 510 to 450 B.C. He is known as the Athenian commander who expanded the Delian league. He was a member of one of the greatest old aristocratic families, and, according to Aristotle, he possessed the fortune of a tyrant. He supported many of his fellow Athenians, every one of whom was free to come daily and receive from him enough for his sustenance. None of his estates were enclosed, so that anyone who wished could take fruit or grain that was growing there. This is said to be a little exaggerated. Probably he mainly gave to those in his clan. Cimon was ostracised in 461 B.C.
Pericles lived from 495 to 429 B.C.. He was an Athenian leader during the great years of the Athenian empire. In 451-0 B.C. he passed a law that nobody whose parents were not citizens could become a citizen themselves. Pericles was a great leader who did many more things after 450 B.C. To find out more about him go to Pericles