Pericles

Words and Actions

In order to be put into power, you do not have to have a hereditary or legal claim to the throne. With Pericles, he gained power by way of the law courts. He gained a hearing because of his experience and natural ability. He ran for office, to be a general. Once elected, the generals seldom are put in charge, because there are ten of them. Pericles was chosen as a statesman, because this way his opinions counted for something. He was a statesman for thirty years, and this era is known as the "Age of Pericles".

When Pericles was a statesman, he accomplished many things. He had proposed to the people that jurymen should be paid, and the people agreed and showed that they did by voting. This allowed poor people to take the time from other business. Another law that he proposed was of citizenship. He refused citizenship to anyone if both of their parents were not Athenian-born.

In 448 B.C., after Cimon's death, peace had finally been concluded with Persia. Six years before this, allied treasury had been transferred, and now the funds were under Athenian management. These funds were applied by Pericles for the rebuilding of temples that were destroyed by the Persians. After the death of Cimon in 448, Pericles took his place as leader of the state.

In 443 B.C., his power became even greater. In this year, Thucydides was ostracised and went into exile. This left Pericles in complete control. This left him in control during part of the Peloponnesian War, which lasted from 431 to 404 B.C.

Pericles had a great love of Athens. He had lofty ideals for uplifting Athens culturally, and spent a lot of money to beautify the city. His love of Athens motivated the citizens to be good fighters. There was a great war between Athens and Sparta. After all of his attempts at saving his great city, Athen lost. The men grew desperate, and the democracy proved to be a failure. Pericles died in the year 429 B.C. of a plague, and the war didn't end until 404. A dictatorship was left behind.

After the war, Pericles made a speech to the Athenians over who died in the war. He praised the freedom of the country, liberal education, and the love of beauty and wisdom which provided many pleasures, such as festivals and contests. When it came to fighting, Athenians were just as tough as Spartans.

"The men who died were not all heroes, but by their death they have made up for shortcomings. I know that for love of Athens they were glad to do so. They were all alike, swept away from a world filled for their dying eyes not with terror, but with glory." - Pericles