Was Pericles A Good Leader

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Pericles

What does it mean to be a leader? According to Bill Owens, "True leadership lies in guiding others to success. In ensuring that everyone is performing at their best, doing the work they are pledged to do and doing it well." (Owens). Pericles' leadership was a near perfect representation of this. Born in Athens, Greece in 495 BCE, Pericles son of Xanthippus: Athenian general and member of an aristocratic family, was always expected to be a great statesman, and he delivered. Not only did he turn out to be a great statesman, his serious yet aloof leadership style lead ancient Athens to become the great country praised in the history books today. Although, things didn't go his way in the very end, Pericles' positive …show more content…

Although, Pericles was originally elected as a strategos and was only expected to serve one term his popularity led him to be re-elected multiple times. His take on the government brought new economic stability to Athens, and benefited its people. Some may have thought that he was greedy liar, but they hadn't considered the fact that unlike other leaders and politicians of the time he never excepted gifts from the aristocracy in exchange for favors. He made sure that all government officials were payed for their jobs. He also allowed all citizens of Athens which was about 20% of the population, to participate in the government and politics through voting, which was more than any other civilization in the ancient world. He spoke straight, in fact it was his talent as a speaker that impressed people the most. His talent as a speaker got people to agree to many of his proposals. One of these many proposals was to strengthen the Athenian military mainly its …show more content…

Pericles, like so many other Athenians, wanted Athens to once again be glorious. He created a massive building program designed to improve Athens and its reputation. During this period of time many important cultural buildings and places were reconstructed including the Acropolis which was the former home of many sacred temples. Among the new temple building projects was the Parthenon a huge temple that has since become a Greek staple and a major historical and cultural landmark. With a new age of creativity came newfound advances in the arts. These advances would give a foundation for the arts of today. Athens had reached the age of peace and prosperity one that it had never seen before and never would see

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