Pericles Leadership

1128 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Martin luther king jr influence

In the present day, Barack Obama and many more inspirational individuals possess traits of leadership that influence a multitude of people. Going back even farther, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks were also leaders. In the Ancient World though, people like Alexander the Great, Ramses the Great, and Hammurabi were significant leaders. The one common similarity among all these leaders is that they all influenced their people and revolutionized the world. Pericles is also among this extravagant group. Pericles, leader of Greece in its Golden Age, revolutionized the city of Athens, its government and its people. The life of Pericles was by far very prominent. Born in 495 B.C.E., Pericles was not only a statesman, but also a general …show more content…

Pericles personally favored democracy, even in a time of universal tyranny. “He was a political genius in that he was about to provide leadership to the Athenian people without being led by them” (The Ancient World 622). Through this, Pericles was able to lead the Athenian government for more than 30 years. As leader of the Athenian government, Pericles achieved many goals. “Pericles’ main achievement as the leader of Athens was the conversion of the Delian League into an Athenian Empire” (The Ancient World 621). Along with this achievement, Pericles expanded the Athenian Empire. He built colonies all over Greece to stretch the influence of Athenian society. Pericles also crushed major rebellions against him as leader. Finally, Pericles opened Athenian democracy to the ordinary citizen (Axelrod and Phillips OL). Evidently, Pericles was a very accomplished leader at the helm of Athenian …show more content…

By enlarging the Delian League, Pericles was able to increase the power of Athens. He was able to do this because he controlled the Delian League. In the end, the Delian league grew tremendously under the control of Pericles. Through his career, Pericles achieved many goals that led him to be able to have plenty of respect from the Athenian people, but there were also some people who disrespected him. As leader, Pericles attained the confidence of the people. The Athenians respected him because he had proved to e a great leader. Thucydides, Athenian historian, also respected Pericles for his singular control of the Athenian democracy (Fornara OL). Although, Pericles did gain some disrespect from the Athenian citizens. At one point in his life, the Athenians believed of him having affairs with the mistress, Aspasia. As you can see, Pericles was one of the most prominent leaders of the Ancient World. “Pericles, c. 495-429 B.C.E., was the political leader of Athens from about 460 to 429, a time at which Athenian culture and military power were at their height” (Fornara OL). Like Barack Obama of today and Martin Luther King Jr. of the past, Pericles has made his mark on the world. From building the Parthenon, to using his extravagant brain and abilities to hook the Athenians to his plans, Pericles was revolutionary leader of the Ancient

Show More
Related

  • Pericles’ Funeral Oration: Athenian Exceptionalism

    1181 Words  | 3 Pages

    Pericles did not wish to simply reiterate what Athens had achieved, but rather he wanted to address how and why Athens achieved. He believed that Athenian politics, culture, and character were more relevant to the deceased soldiers than their ancestor’s military successes. Accordingly, he praised these elements of Athenian society and in the process justified the soldiers’ sacrifice. He spoke “but what was the road by which we reached our position, what the form of government under which our greatness grew, what the national habits out of which it sprang; these are the questions which I may try to solve before I proceed to my eulogy upon these men; since I think this to be a subject upon which on the present occasion a speaker may properly dwell, and to which the whole assemblage, whether citizens or foreigners, may listen with advantage.” (2.36.4).

    Read More

  • Pericles And Odysseus Similarities

    798 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the major difference that we notice between Pericles and Odysseus in their stories is that Pericles’s, whether it was before he found himself a castaway or after when he found his way back, fate was decided by a king, a mortal. This humanly relation between the characters help the reader to relate easily to the story. No one also intervened in his relationship with Thaisa, he is the one that worked hard to get her attention and he succeeded. I think this plays on the emotional appeal. The reader can relate to Pericles’s feelings and can understand how hard this might have

    Read More

  • Greek Pride in the Individual

    771 Words  | 2 Pages

    Like the various forms of Greek art, the government of ancient Greece appreciated the individual by creating an environment in which individuals were free to express themselves. Tyrants like Pisistratus and Cleisthenes came to power to try and make the polis a better place for the individual. These tyrants reformed the state in many ways; they helped make it possible for the rich and poor to have equal rights, and they created the conditions for the construction of the splendid monumental buildings ancient Greece is remembered for today. Although not all tyrants were good, they all had one thing in common: they were all citizens of Greece, and ruled to improve the lifestyle of the citizens of Greece. After the end of tyranny, Greece had a democracy; a government ruled by the people for the people.

    Read More

  • Propaganda and National Pride in Building the Parthenon

    2500 Words  | 5 Pages

    The oath of Plataea no longer seemed necessary, and a popular Athenian politician, Pericles, began advances to persuade the Athenians to rebuild the temples of Athens. Pericles wanted to discuss rebuilding the temples and guarding the oceans with the other states in the Delian League. Howeve... ... middle of paper ... ... after so many violent wars, their city was still here.

    Read More

  • William Bradford

    1270 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout history, there have been great leaders, some for the good of humanity, and some for the not-so good of humanity. The one element all leaders have in common is in some way, have changed the course of history. The one great leader I have found to be interesting and envision of a great leader is William Bradford, an original passenger on the Mayflower, and the first ever governor elected on what is to become, American Soil.

    Read More

  • Oedipus the King: Unrealistic or Realistic

    2005 Words  | 5 Pages

    Oedipus is a ‘good king,’ a father of his people, an honest and great ruler, while at the same time an outstanding intellect. . . . He even shares the thro...

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar

    1760 Words  | 4 Pages

    A powerful leader is needed to guide a country through tough times. Weak leaders are likely to crumble under the pressure. An example of a powerful leader was George Washington. After winning the Revolutionary War, he had total control over his army, who would obey his every command without question. He was so powerful he could have taken over the United States himself. Julius Caesar was another extremely powerful leader. Julius Caesar was a strong, persuasive political and military leader of ancient Rome who shaped Roman life and set the precedent for other Roman leaders who followed. An important primary source for understanding Julius Caesar is his speech “The Alternative of Exile.” It shows his fairness, pervasiveness, and power that led him to become such a powerful leader.

    Read More

  • Comparing Pericles's Funeral Oration

    1103 Words  | 3 Pages

    For Pericles, Athenian values are realized through culture and “daily devotion.” He claims that Athenian citizens obey both “the laws themselves” and “agreed-on social values (which need no specific legislation),” not requiring legislation to uphold their values. Accordingly, Pericles views exceptionalism as intrinsic to Athenians. Boasting about the city, Pericles questions “how else did she become great but by this genius in her citizens?” A recommitment to civic values, therefore, is simple to Pericles: Athenians are exceptional at the moment of his speech, and must simply continue their past conduct in order to achieve future

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast The Speech By Pericles Funeral Oration And The Plague

    533 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the first of the two texts, Pericles is making a very bold statement on the state of the Athens. “Our constitution does not copy the laws of neighbouring states; we are rather a pattern to others than imitators ourselves.” In his speech, Pericles is trying to rally the Athenians to support the new democracy and to make them feel important by being associated with

    Read More

  • The Peloponnesian War and the Decline of Leadership in Athens

    3378 Words  | 7 Pages

    Pericles ascended to power at the empire’s height and was, according to Thucydides, the city’s most capable politician, a man who understood fully the nature of his city and its political institutions and used his understanding to further its interests in tandem with his own. After Pericles, however, Thucydides notes a drastic decline in the quality of Athenian leaders, culminating in Alcibiades, the last major general to be described in The Peloponnesian War. While he is explicit in this conclusion, he is much more reticent regarding its cause. What changed in Athens to produce the decline in the quality of its leadership? The development of an empire is a change strongly emphasized in the Archeology as a radical departure from the Hellenic tradition, and consequently a major source of conflict among the Greeks.

    Read More

  • Athenian Democracy Essay

    1381 Words  | 3 Pages

    Before democracy, Athens was a city-state no different than any other. A few powerful, aristocratic families controlled all governing power. Most of the population held little or no role in the political life of the city. Athenians changed this, and created a system where participation was encouraged and opinions were valued. While some other Greek cities were also setting up democracies, none were as stable or well documented as that of Athens. The reason for why the Athenians moved toward a democratic society instead of an oligarchy or monarchy is still debated by historians. However, one common belief is that it rose due to a rapid population growth in their lower class, which may have caused them to have more power in the government compared to other Greek poleis during the Lyric Age. This time period took place between 800 and 500 B.C.; it represents a very vibrant, evolutionary stage in Greek history. The rise of the lower class in Athens probably did help spark ideas of democracy, yet the significant contributions of the political leadership of Solon, Cleisthenes, and Pericles can undisputedly be credited for the primary development of Athenian democracy. In 594 B.C., the first major political and economic reformer Solon came into power. The next reformer was Cleisthenes; he lived from 570 to 508 B.C. The final, and most revolutionary of the three was Pericles. Pericles is responsible for the last and most glorious stage of Athens. By expanding its power and building patriotic pride, he forever changed the system of democracy.

    Read More

  • Significance of Pericles' Death

    1280 Words  | 3 Pages

    The death of Pericles was a significant event in the course of the Peloponnesian War; however, even without Pericles' leadership the Athenian Assembly had countless opportunities to prevent their loss and chose not to take them. The fickleness and inefficiency of democracy ('the mob') allowed the Athenians to be easily influenced and therefore electing populists such as Cleon, Lysicles and Hyperbolus into dominant leadership roles. Election, via democratic means, of such populists, meant that the Athenians would take a much more aggressive approach to the war and therefore abandon the policies that Pericles had previously established. So in turn, democracy the institution for which the Athenians fought tirelessly to protect, rather than the death of Pericles, ironically became the dominant factor influencing the final outcome of this Ancient Greek civil war.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar Biography

    1402 Words  | 3 Pages

    During his early adult live, he worked as a personal aide for Marcus Thermus, who at that time was the governor of the Asian Province. He was then later sent to King called Bithynia by Thermus, to fetch a fleet. And was later suspected of having a false deal with the king of Bithynia. In his early political life he served for Serviliys Isaricus in Cilicia. His exposure to the military made him popular and made him...

    Read More

  • Athenian Democracy and Pericles

    3286 Words  | 7 Pages

    No one would deny that Pericles was the most prominent Greek statesman and spokesperson during the Golden Age. His contribution was largely felt during the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars having obtained power from his family link to the Alcmaeonid family. He commanded a lot of respect to from the Athenian citizens with Thucydides describing him as "the first citizen of Athens” . He was born at around 495 BC north of Athens in the ...

    Read More

  • Historical Views of Leadership: Plato and Aristotle

    1328 Words  | 3 Pages

    Both men lived in 4th century BCE Athens, so much of their background and experience was shared. Aristotle was the younger of the two, and he was Plato’s student. Where leadership is concerned, both philosophers agreed that the “best men” should rule, and that the purpose of leadership was the betterment of the State. They also agreed that education was paramount to forming these best men. They disagreed, however, on whether or not leaders were born with inherent qualities, or if these qualities depend solely on education. They also disagreed about whether or not a strict separation between leaders and followers is required, and what form of government the best State should take.

    Read More

More about Pericles Leadership

Open Document