Athenian Democracy

The city of Athens in Ancient Greece went through various political structures that aided in governing the lives of its citizens. In the beginning of the sixth century, the city adapted elements of democracy in which power was given to the people as a whole and everyone was ruled under law. Under this political structure, one primary individual did not govern the city, but instead, many citizens took initiative to become political leaders and help maintain order in Athens. Citizens such as Pericles, son of Xanthippus, and Nicias, son of Niceratus became political leaders who rose awareness of problems occurring in their cities, contributed solutions, and helped provide protection from foreign states. However, it was not an easy task to assist in leading a city as grand as Athens; being an efficacious political leader at that time required various attributes and skills. In democratic Athens, a successful political leader such as Pericles and Nicias needed to be effective military leaders, establish an identity for themselves through constant involvement in their communities, and

The terms of the peace consisted of various democratic elements. As Thucydides describes the treaty in his book of the Peloponnesian War, some of the components included that “the Delphians shall be governed by their own laws,” to settle disputes through “ recourse to law and oath,” and “the inhabitants shall be allowed to go where they please and to take their property with them” (Thuc. 5.18). These terms granted sovereignty to the Delphians, emphasised the rule of law, and provided the freedom of mobility, all of which are elements of democracy. By supporting democracy and giving Athenians power and liberty, political leaders such as Pericles and Nicias were able to maintain their leadership for several years in the city of