Intro
Pericles meaning ‘Surrounded by Glory’, was an influential member and a credit to the society that he lived in during the classical period within ancient Athens. Pericles affected his society in a number of ways, politically, socially and economically. Pericles’ actions and motives were also shaped by the society that he lived in as Athens at the time of Pericles was a place of “aggressive, self-assertive competition” where “Greeks made a clear distinction between friends and enemies”. Pericles’ impact on his society can be seen through works and moments such as the pantheon and the democratic reforms of Athens..
Paragraph 1 (How did the individual's actions shape their society?)
Pericles’ actions shaped his society in a number of ways, socially economically and politically.
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Ethialtes, another well respected Athenian politician and Pericles, set out to reduce the power of the judiciary in the Areopagus. At this time Pericles also abolished the system whereby the archons were appointed by lot, only being chosen from a select number of pre-elected candidates. Pericles’ and Eltialtes reforms resulting in “appointed by lot from all the eligible citizens [who now] had an equal chance of holding political office, and taking part in the conduct of political affairs” This system was also extended to the Boule, also known as the Council of Five Hundred. Pericles also reformed the role of the Areopagus with the dismantlement of the hereditary powers of the Areopagus. Restricting its activities in order to redefine its role as little more than a “supreme
Pericles argues that Athens has become a model for others, and articulates what it is to be a good citizen. This can be seen when he says, “although the eyes of an enemy may occasionally profit by our liberality; trusting less in system and policy than to the native spirit of our citizens; while in education, where our rivals from their very cradles by a painful discipline seek after manliness, at Athens we live exactly as we please, and yet are just as ready to encounter every legitimate danger.” (Thucydides, 2.39) It proves that Ancient Athens’ valued greatness and worked in order to achieve the excellence of the state, by focusing on rebuilding themselves back up after the Persian war. Pericles played a big role in this because he showed his ambitions to rebuild Athens, which lead to the thriving of other subjects such as literature, philosophy, science, art, and religion.
Pericles, who was Greek, can be biased in his statement because as a leader, he needs to win the people’s support. Therefore, he can only say the glories of Athens. Document 5 supports Document 4’s statement. Document 5 talks about the details of the Athenian government. It tells the reader “No one remained in power long enough to entrench himself”
The Athenian City State objectives had two different strategies during the Peloponnesian War. The first strategy set forth by Pericles’ was to the use the powerful Athenian Navy to preserve all current resources in the empire and to protect Athens. The second strategy which the established by the assembly supported by Cleon and Nicias was an offensive strategy in order to expand the growth of the empire however, it drained resources and exposed Athens to significant risk. Each strategy presented significant risks and levied different requirements on means and ways as Athenian leaders tried to protect and enhance the empire.
Both “Pericles’ Funeral Oration” transcribed by Thucydides and “The Perils of Indifference” by Elie Wiesel demonstrate desire for a redefined culture: a culture geared towards a better societal attitude. Though both speeches address the need to honor peoples who have died (Pericles to those who have died in the Peloponnesian War; Wiesel to those who have died in the Holocaust) and invoke various feelings ranging from sorrow to pride, the manner in which both speeches present so differs slightly. The speeches use variations of tones that appeal to the audience in such a way that emphasizes their main idea. In “Pericles’ Funeral Oration”, Pericles praises Athens, especially its democracy, in contrast to Sparta’s.
Before the epidemic struck, the late ruler Pericles, who was killed by the plague, described Athens as “the school of Hellas, and that the individual Athenian in his own person seems to have the power of adapting himself in the most varied forms of action with the utmost versatility and grace…”. Pericles, who did not survive long enough to observe Athens at its fall, died with the memory of a thriving, strong, and free place. Unfortunately other sources claim that about a year later, life had taken an unexpected turn. Pericles preached that there was “It is true that we are called a democracy… again, our military training is in many respects superior to that of our adversaries.”. The ruler died with the idea that his empire had a strong government that thrived and was growing at a fast pace.
By doing that, he believed that they would win the Peloponnesian War. Pericles’ speech portrays Athens as a greater military power even though he exaggerates many elements of the war and Athenian society. Pericles’ funeral oration was written to raise Athenian morale during the Peloponnesian War. Athens suffered devastating losses during the first year of the war. Pericles’ and Thucydides
In this essay, I would like to answer and discuss the following questions: How did the people in Athens and Sparta obtain the right to participate in public life and make decisions affecting the community? Who held public office? What rules governed the selection of public office holders? How were two city-states similar in their governmental structures and how did they differ with each other? For the Spartans the right to participate and made important decisions from the entire community were only exercised by the adult and legitimate male citizens of Sparta.
Pericles reforms however, provided the masses the chance to be
One of these things is the Democratic party beliefs. I think that Pericles made some decisions that reflect that of the current day democrat. Pericles instituted those reforms of taking power away from the aristocrats and giving more power to the poor. This immediately made me think of Obama and how he takes money from the upper class and puts it towards the poor. He uses it for “government healthcare services” for those who cant afford it.
Athenian Society in the Time of Pericles, 461-428 BC Daily Life and Leisure Activities Tradition within ancient Athens occurred as soon as a child was born, the child would be presented to the father who would then have to decide whether or not they’d accept the child – by picking it up – or rejecting it, which would proceed with the newborn child being left outside. If the child were accepted, the family would decorate the doorway of their house with a wreath of wool (for a girl) or a wreath of olives (for a boy). Most evidence remaining from ancient Athens in the time of Pericles presents Historians with the information that Athens was a male dominated society and that there was little to no account of women This information must be taken
Introduction Athens and Sparta were two of the most significant city-states in ancient Greece, each with unique systems of government. Athenians and Spartans were both known for their dedication to their city-state and their participation in public life. However, the methods of participation and the nature of the governance were distinct. This paper will discuss how people in Athens and Sparta obtained the right to participate in public life and make decisions affecting the community, who held public office, the rules governing the selection of public office holders, and the similarities and differences between the two city-states' governmental structures. Participation in Public Life
Pericles was respected and liked in Athenian society, and Socrates was neither respected nor liked. Socrates questioned everything about the way people lived their lives and their beliefs. Pericles believed that Athens was the best and the way that they lived was the right way and there should be no other way of life. With the way that Pericles and Socrates lived they would clearly have different views of life. Pericles believed that Athens was superior to any other Greek city- state.
Two remarkably prominent individuals primitive to the Western Civilization era known to be Alexander the Great & Pericles who spearheaded their powerful empires through fortitude, sentiment, and ambition. Alexander the great ruled one of the most expansive empires that was known to have been the most protrusive of the ancient world, his father Phillip of Macedon, left him with a myriad of conquered kingdoms and consumed almost innumerable countries that became inherited by Alexander the Great. He went to dire extremes to take what he desired, with an almost manifest destiny sensibility. He achieved such great feats through marriage, conquest, battling alongside his warriors, overcoming personal issue while giving unexpected respect to his
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.
Athens, located in southern Greece, experienced an expansion in culture and education during the years between the Persian War and Peloponnesian War (477-431 BC) which set the stage for future expansions of culture in civilizations like Ancient Rome and Europe during the Renaissance. Although Athens was very prosperous, innovative and ruled by strong leaders during their Golden Age, they still didn’t have a perfect government or social structure which puts into question how successful this period actually was. 1st Paragraph (Outline) Pericles 's had great success in beautifying Athens and increasing its culture, through innovative art and architecture, as well advances in theater, which created a Golden Age because the people of Athens experienced