Age of Pericles
The Age of Pericles was a very important time period because it had a major impact on life today. It was ran by a direct democracy which gives citizens direct part in day to day affairs of government. It can give people a little too much freedom in which they can take advantage. They were also very big in arts and architecture. Arts and architecture were done to nearly perfection when worked on. Pericles was born around 493 B.C. into a very wealthy and powerful family. He was related to the great reformer Cleisthenes and his father was a famous general. Pericles was a Great leader who made a difference to the past and the present culture of life today. (Ellis, Esler 112)
The Age of Pericles lasted from 460 B.C. to 429 B.C. and is also called the Golden Age. Pericles had a powerful family with a ruling back round which helped him develop a powerful stand as he grew older. Pericles’ father, Xanthippus, defeated the King of Persia’s general and played a major role in politics. His mother, Agariste, was the niece of Cleisthenes who was a great reformer. Pericles began leading, following three leaders before him. They were Themistocles, Cleisthenes and Solon. They kept Athens strong and handed the job to Pericles where Athens began to increase rapidly in many areas of everyday life. Aspasia was foreign born woman who was said to be like Pericles’ girlfriend. They were never officially married but very close. Aspasia came from a wealthy family and she was born in Miletus. Her and Pericles joined together to help turn Athens into the cultural center of Greece. Aspasia and Pericles built Athens with thinkers, artists and writers. They held building programs and public festivals to support arts. They worked together well to build Athens into the cultural center of Greece. This also had a big impact on cultural diffusion which spread culture around Athens. (Notes) (Henry 1) (Jowett 1)
The culture around Athens was very...