Pericles Essay

Pericles was an Athenian political leader mostly accountable for the complete growth of both the Empire and democracy of Athens during the 5th century. His policies contributed to the expanding power and influence of the Athenian Empire through the growth of the Athenian military, foreign policies with Sparta, political development, the introduction of an Athenian coin, and the beautification of Athens through a building program. As a result Athens became the political and social focus of Greece. Athens was at the peak of their power. Under the orders of Pericles they gained the control of many large states in the Delian League such as Megara and Euboea, making them subject states within the Empire. Ancient and modern sources including The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides, A History of Greece by Bury and Pericles by Plutarch support the argument that Pericles greatly contributed to the expanding power and influence of the Athenian empire throughout his reign. Other sources include archaeological evidence of the Athenian Coin.

Pericles political power came from being strategos. He was responsible for calling up citizens for naval and military service and maintaining the fleet. Pericles enhanced the Athenian democracy with the continuance of the persecution of the Areopagus in 461BC, where he removed the key roles and transferred there authority to the Heliaea, Boule and the Ecclesia. “Pericles...exerted himself all the more to lead his party in a campaign against the Areopagus” (Plutarch). The attack on the Areopagus and his promotion of citizens to undertake payed governmental roles throughout Athens increased his popularity resulting in the democratisation of the law courts. “The payment of state offices was the l...

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...gressively pursuing with Persia since 478BC

The Athenian empire, which was protected not by generosity or kindness, but through the threat of force, began to become less effective or successful. When Megara and her bordering state, Boeotia, rose up against the alliance, Athens no longer had an area of neutral territory between herself and the other Peloponnesian states allied with Sparta. Pericles diverted disaster in 445 by making a thirty year peace with Sparta. Both sides were happy with the outcome. Athens gave up political power over the states on the Greek mainland; and in return, Sparta accepted the Athenian Empire as a lawful political institution. The Athenian Empire, which had been constantly growing, was now official. In the 440s B.C. the Athenian Empire was at its peak, she was now composed of 172 tribute-paying states. Athens now controlled the Aegean.