Pericles 2 Essay, Research Paper
Pericles, a Grecian Statesman, was the leader of the Athenian authorities for 30 old ages ( Age of Pericles ) . Pericles was born into a baronial household in Athens. His female parent was a niece of Cleisthenes, a solon who had made many democratic reforms in the Athenian authorities. After Cleisthenes decease Pericles was determined to go on the reforms of his granduncle and entered political relations with the democratic popular party led by Ephialtes. Pericles and Ephialtes worked together to restrict the power of the Areopagus. Pericles continued his reforms but found himself opposed by Cimon, the leader of the blue party. He managed to hold his challenger banished for prefering Spartans.
After Ephialtes died in about 460 BC Pericles became leader of the popular party and the most powerful adult male in the province. As caput of province Pericles made many alterations. One was that he introduced wages public functionaries. Harmonizing to Aristotle s Constitution of Athens, every bit many as 20,000 people were on the paysheet. Then in 547 BC Pericles made it so that common people were allowed to function in any province office. Pericles had a repute of back uping freedom, giving both the rich and the hapless the right to vote and take part in the authorities. Pericles besides used money from the exchequer to construct up the Athenian naval forces and to fancify Athens. He built the temple of Athena Nike, the Propylaea, the Parthenon, and many other constructions for the glorification of Athens.
Pericles was ever widening the influence of Athens. IN 455-454 BC, he formed the Delian League, an confederation with other Grecian metropolis provinces. Although P
ericles had bee at peace with the Spartans since 446 BC, leting Athinais influence to spread out, Sparta and its Alliess rapidly grew fearful and covetous of the power of Athens. In 449 BC, Pericles had successfully negotiated peace with the Persians, giving the Athenians more eupneic room. Besides, Pericles issued a edict that hindered the economic system of Cornith, Sparta s most of import ally. These actions caused the Spartans to assail Athens, which incited the Pelloponesian War. Pericles ordered all the state side citizens to fly to Athens, be aftering to transport nutrient supplies in from the port. He used the Athenian naval high quality while utilizing the Cities walls to support against the ground forces of Sparta. Although Pericles successfully defended Athens for a long clip, the overcrowding of the metropolis attracted a pestilence, which in bend caused Pericles to be tried, fined, and temporarily lose his influential place in the Athenian authorities. However, he was elected one of the Athenian Generals the following twelvemonth, yet died shortly after.
Pericles built many noteworthy memorials during his beautification of Athens. He was besides responsible for the Athenian Long Walls, a system of walls that enclosed the Athenian colonies and its port. He besides established the first true Democratic authorities. Pericles greatly influenced the development of the full universe. If it were non for him, most authoritiess in the universe would likely resemble the Roman Republic. Besides, the civilization of the universe would be less developed, for the Athenian civilization was developed greatly under the regulation of Pericles, as a consequence Athens was one of the chief cultural centres of the universe.
