What Is Pericles Praise For Athens

361 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: An essay on greek democracy

Pericles, the most important leader of Athens during the fifth century B.C.E delivered high praise for Athens. Pericles gave a speech called the “Funeral Oration” that was meant to honor his city of Athens and an Athenian citizen who died in conflict. The main virtues praised by Pericles include the Athenian form of government, public life, crime rates, food, immigration, and the military. The praise he gave for the Athenian government claimed, “Our form of government does not enter into rivalry with the institutions of others” (Pericles). It is revealed here of his immense pride for the government structure they currently posses and how he believes they are the city that every other place should be modeled after. Later, he talks about how

Show More
Related

  • Similarities Between Milean Dialogue And Pericles Funeral Oration

    586 Words  | 2 Pages

    Pericles’ Funeral Oration is a speech given by the Athenian leader Pericles, at a funeral, after the first battle of the Peloponnesian war. Pericles used this public funeral to make a statement and praise the Athenian people. “Our constitution does not copy the laws of neighboring states; we are rather a pattern to others than imitators ourselves”. Pericles believes Athens is original. They do not have to conform, they make the rules and other countries follow. “Its

    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

  • Evolution of Democracy and the Athenian Constitution

    4275 Words  | 9 Pages

    It is surprising indeed that Even today, tyrannies and dictatorships exist in the world when more than two and a half thousand years ago the ancient Athenians had developed a functional and direct form of democracy. What contributed to this remarkable achievement and how it changed the socio-political. scene in Athens is what will be considered in this paper. The paper will have three sections, each detailing the various stages. of political development from the kings of Attica to the time of Pericles when, in its golden age, Athens was at the height of its. imperial power.

    Read More

  • Power of Respect in Pericles' Leadership of Athens

    1598 Words  | 4 Pages

    Pomeroy, Sarah B. "Pericles and the Growth of Athenian Democracy." A Brief History of Ancient Greece: Politics, Society, and Culture. New York: Oxford UP, 2009. 164. Print.

    Read More

  • Athenian Democracy and Pericles

    3286 Words  | 7 Pages

    The march towards developing a democratic society is often obstructed with societal unrest due to the influence of the status quo on the instruments of power. Before the rule of Solon, Athens underwent this same rule, as there was much discontent among the social classes in Athens. The society suffered financial disparity that often was the trigger for the war among the rich and poor in the society. This was a major factor that forced Solon into power to institute policies that would see a reformed Athens. By so doing, the society was looking for an avenue that would guarantee democracy and a society that is fair for everyone. The city-state of Athens was the epicenter of the revolution for the Athenian democracy during the fifth century BC. In the Athenian democracy, the electorate voted for the legislation of bills instead of a direct democracy where the electorates are tasked with electing representatives who later developed the bill. Among the first people who made significant contributions to the development of the Athenian democracy were Solon (594 BC), Cleisthenes (508/7 BC), Pericles (495 – 429 BC) and Ephialtes (462 BC). Pericles was the longest serving democratic leader who contributed much development in democracy in the city. This paper will give an account of the age of the Pericles.

    Read More

  • Arête Excellence

    1957 Words  | 4 Pages

    However, Pericles, the Athenian politician who started the Golden Age of Athens, set out to give a less destructive option. Pericles devoted his life to make Athens great, and his passion for the city shows in his funeral oration given after the first battles of the Peloponnesian war. He showed that he deeply cared about Athens and its citizens: “When a man is gone, all are wont to praise him, and should your merit be ever so transcendent, you will still find it difficult not merely to overtake, but even to approach their renown. The living have envy to contend with, while those who are no longer in our path are honoured with a goodwill into which rivalry does not enter. On the other hand, if I must say anything on the subject of female excellence to those of you who will now be in widowhood, it will be all comprised in this brief exhortation. Great will be your glory in not falling short of your natural character; and greatest will be hers who is least talked of among the men, whether for good or for bad (Thucydides, page 117)”. Pericles restated the ideas of self-sacrifice for arête, but instead of focusing on that aspect, instead he chose to make sure that the Greek peoples did not deviate from who they were; they would not change themselves for anyone, they would remain Greek and proud until the day they die. In Pericles’ mind,

    Read More

  • Pericles Speech

    806 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...Funeral Oration of Pericles offers a glimpse into the progressive world of the ancient Greeks, an excerpt of the grandiloquence of a statesman, and one answer to the longstanding question, “Why do we fight?” While words of loftiness and excessive self-importance saunter throughout the speech, the value of democratic life is pristinely acclaimed in this inspirational debut. The intentions of a perfected city can be commended, as this state of excellence would consequently promote the quality of life for each and every inhabitant. Filled with rhetorical skills any politician could gleam from, even in the modern age, the speech reveals that patriotism is often a deep-rooted matter of the heart, not a mere governmental tool. With stunning persuasion, Pericles reminds audiences of every era to embrace their role in life for the uplifting of others, no matter their duty.

    Read More

  • Golden Age Of Pericles

    268 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Age of Pericles was the time in which Athens flourished under the rule of Pericles himself. During this era, Pericles’s influence allowed many great achievements for the empire and those living within it. The time period is also known as the Golden Age of Athens. This title was earned through the improvements made by the creation and installation of direct democracy and the knowledge gained through developments in philosophy.

    Read More

  • The Golden Age of Athens

    1160 Words  | 3 Pages

    Pericles’ The Funeral Oration allowed Athens to thrive in its Golden Age. It helped alter people’s mindsets in a positive manner. The people no longer focused simply on their wan...

    Read More

  • Pericles Uplifting Speech

    1588 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...to motivate his people to take an active role in society. Many of the thoughts and ideas stated in this piece have been used by other leaders throughout the world to stimulate interest within their societies as well. The Ancient Greek society, which Pericles was a part of, has had a large impact in the development of the United States. America's values are very similar to that of the Ancient Greece. They believe that freedom is an essential part of society and that the military can be a proper way to enforce this freedom. However, due to advancements within daily life, Americans are less politically active. Pericles would refer to these Americans as "useless," they obviously would not be rewarded in his society. Despite some differences, many of the values and personal responsibilities possessed in Ancient Greek society are similar to those in the US today.

    Read More

  • Ephialtes, Themistokles, And Pericles In Constitution Of Athens

    779 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 451 BCE, a growing population prompted Pericles to introduce and pass the proposal wherein citizenship should only be granted to a person whose parents were both citizens (AP, 26.4.) While Pericles never served as an Archon, he served as a popular stategos and won the ear of the people. Pericles enacted many measures popular with the public; he provided for allotments of lands to Athenian citizens that once belonged to those conquered and subjected by Athens, provided public funds for the people to attend the theater, and introduced payment for serving on a jury. Pericles’ policies arose in response to the generosity of his rival, Cimon, who gained popularity by using his wealth to regularly feed the poor in his deme and by opening his orchards for them to pick fruit (Plutarch, Cimon 9.) In response, Pericles created projects paid with public funds for the improvement and the glory of Athens, including the building of the Parthenon, which employed many citizens and tradesmen (Plutarch, Pericles 12.) In 463 BCE, Pericles charged Cimon with being pro-Spartan, and Cimon was ostracized (Plutarch, Pericles 9.) His rival gone, Pericles united the parties and became the leader and champion for democracy in Athens (Plutarch, Pericles15) and gained an even greater influence. Pericles was instrumental not only in the direction of democracy within Athens, but the direction of all aspects

    Read More

  • Who Is Pericles Praise Of Democracy?

    190 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the Funeral Speech of Pericles, from Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War, Pericles praises Athenian democracy for its contribution to the brilliance of Athens. He states that in a democratic government, “the administration is in the hands of the many and not of the few” (183). And each citizen can “benefit his country whatever be the obscurity of his condition” (183, 184). With this, Pericles explains that regardless of social class, every Athenian citizen is able to partake in social events and offer up their talents, thus letting them share in and administer to the prosperity of Athens. Without the freedom that democracy provides, the plebeians of Athens would

    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

  • Pericles Funeral Oration Essay

    712 Words  | 2 Pages

    The funeral oration of Pericles was a speech that Pericles gave about democracy. The speech was for those who had died during the first year of the war. Pericles tried to honor those who had fought for their city, those who had been brave enough to leave their souls and hearts in the battlefields and those who were proud of being Athenians. Pericles not only was the leader of Athens in that era (431/430 B.C.) but also a great supporter of democracy. He was very popular, many citizens followed him with loyalty and devotion. The period of governance of Pericles was one of the most envied moments in history and his speech is until now, one of the most influential and prominent discourse about democracy.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Collectivism In Western Civilization

    1047 Words  | 3 Pages

    The theme of acceptance of fully collectivistic societies remained constant, particularly in Athens with their system of democracy and general commitment to their city-state. Thucydides, an Athenian general, made collective allegiance to Athens an obvious priority of Athenian citizens in his speech at a funeral to Pericles, an Athenian statesman. During his oration, Thucydides talks solely to remind the people that in the end, Athens and the “we-perspective” remain most important. He says, “We are free and tolerant in our private lives; but in public affairs we keep to the law.” Thucydides reminds his audience of the theme that individualism and freedom are allowed in private in order that they remain orderly in public, follow the law and put their country first – the most important

    Read More

More about What Is Pericles Praise For Athens

Open Document