Era of Pericles

The Era of Pericles is very important in todays history because during his reign many brilliant people came along in Athens and created new ideas such as the person who figured out that the moon reflected the sun's rays. Also he was the leader of Athens during Athens's golden age which was constructed when he was in the process of creating a great empire.

"Pericles was also considered an eloquent speaker who "carried the thunder and lightning on his tongue". Although he was from an aristocratic family, he was the leader of the peoples' party. His mistress was the intelligent and beautiful Aspasia, whom he was to marry later on in life. Together the couple would host meetings of intellectuals and their wives in their home.

Pericles' rule as a statesman in Athens is called the Golden Age of Pericles, and he was an eager supporter of democracy. He wanted all citizens of Athens to take an active part in politics, and he was the first to pay servants to the state. Members of the council were chosen by all Athenians, and Pericles restored and built many temples and structures, such as the Parthenon on the Acropolis, employing the poorest citizens.

source

Shutt, Phillip. Foundations of Western Thought. Barnes and Noble Publishing/Audio. New York: 2004.

His building plan was enormous it cost Athens in modern day terms a couble billion dollars to create the structures that he created in the golden age of Athens. The building of the parthenon was so grand and needed such skill to create that it took many years to create.

The Parthenon of Athens was crafted by masters in Athens that if made a mistake would be severly punished. It use to enclose approximatley a 40ft solid gold and ivory statue of Athena the grey eyed one and was studded with jewels that held a 6ft statue of Nike.

"Pericles had such a profound influence on Athenian society that Thucydides, his contemporary historian, acclaimed him as "the first citizen of Athens". Pericles turned the Delian League into an Athenian empire and led his countrymen during the first two years of the Peloponnesian War. The period during which he led Athens, roughly from 461 to 429 BC, is sometimes known as the "Age of Pericles", though the period thus denoted can include times as early as the Persian Wars, or as late as the next century.

Pericles promoted the arts and literature; this was a chief reason Athens holds the reputation of being the educational and cultural centre of the ancient Greek world. He started an ambitious project that built most of the surviving structures on the Acropolis (including the Parthenon). This project beautified the city, exhibited its glory, and gave work to the people.[1] Furthermore, Pericles fostered Athenian democracy to such an extent that critics call him a populist.[2][3]"

source

Shutt, Phillip. Foundations of Western Thought. Barnes and Noble Publishing/Audio. New York: 2004.

Pericles was ruler of Athens for over 20 years and as you have read established a prominant empire and willingly continued the democracy that was established by Cleisthenes. This era when Pericles was ruler was significant mainly because of the things he built said and did. one of the things that lead to the downfall of Athens was that Pericles after being thrown from ruler of Athens told the people of Athens that going to war with the spartans would be an uter destruction for the Athenian people and for Athens. He knew that they had reached their apex he just didn't realize how rapid they would fall in such little time.