The 5th century BC was a remarkable time for Athens, a city-state in ancient Greece. This period is often called a golden age because of its tremendous cultural, political, and economic achievements. Athens not only shaped the Greek world but also laid the groundwork for Western civilization. During this era, Socrates began forming the ideas that would become the foundation of Western philosophy, with students like Plato and other thinkers such as Anaxagoras, Empedocles, and Democritus contributing to the intellectual landscape. Athenian theater also thrived, with playwrights like Euripides, Sophocles, Aristophanes, and Aeschylus gaining fame.
Phidias, a renowned sculptor, created the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Many famous buildings on the Acropolis, including the Parthenon, were built during this time. Historians like Herodotus, Thucydides, and Xenophon understood the importance of recording history for future generations. The architect Hippodamus of Miletus is credited with founding urban planning, while Hippocrates advanced Western medicine and established the Hippocratic Oath.
Pericles was a central figure during this golden age. He was a statesman, general, supporter of the arts, and an outstanding speaker. Under his leadership, Athens flourished, earning him the title of the “First Citizen of Athens.”
Pericles was born around 495 BC in Athens into a wealthy family. His father, Xanthippus, was a politician, and his mother, Agariste, came from one of the city’s oldest families. According to the historian Plutarch, Agariste had a dream of giving birth to a lion before Pericles was born. Despite his noble background, Pericles was often teased for his large head, earning him the nickname “Schinocephalus” or squill-head.
Initially, Pericles focused on a military career rather than public speaking, but he eventually became interested in politics. He received a well-rounded education from notable teachers, including Pythocleides in music and Anaxagoras in philosophy. Pericles experienced the ups and downs of political life when his father was temporarily exiled, causing a loss of family status. However, Xanthippus was later called back to help defend Athens during the Persian invasion, where he achieved a significant victory.
To understand Pericles’s rise to power, it’s essential to know about Athenian politics. The city was governed by two main groups: the archons, who were chief magistrates, and the strategoi, who were military leaders. Over time, the archons’ power decreased, and by Pericles’s era, the strategoi held significant authority, with ten strategoi elected each year.
Pericles entered politics in his early 20s, supporting a play by Aeschylus in 472 BC. This act symbolized his backing of Themistocles in a political struggle against Cimon. However, Themistocles was eventually exiled, and Pericles faced competition from Cimon, a popular military leader. Pericles cleverly weakened Cimon’s influence, leading to Cimon’s exile in 461 BC.
After Cimon’s exile, Pericles consolidated his power, especially after the assassination of his mentor Ephialtes, who had expanded democratic privileges. With his main rivals gone, Pericles became the most influential figure in Athens.
As Athens grew stronger, tensions with Sparta increased. The First Peloponnesian War began in 460 BC, mainly due to a border dispute involving Megara and Corinth. Pericles was cautious about directly confronting Sparta, focusing instead on protecting Athenian interests in the region.
Despite some initial successes, Athens faced challenges, including a failed military campaign in Egypt that weakened its naval power. The war ended with the Thirty Years Peace in 446 BC, but conflicts continued through smaller proxy wars.
The Thirty Years Peace did not last, and tensions rose again, leading to the Peloponnesian War in 431 BC. Pericles’s strategy was to avoid direct battles with Sparta while using Athenian naval strength. Unfortunately, he died from a plague in 429 BC, just two years into the war, marking a significant turning point for Athens.
The Peloponnesian War continued for another 25 years, ultimately resulting in a Spartan victory and the end of Athens’s Golden Age, known as the Age of Pericles.
Research and create a detailed timeline of Pericles’s life, highlighting key events and achievements. Use online resources and your textbook to gather information. Present your timeline on a poster or digitally, ensuring it is visually engaging. This will help you understand the chronological order of events and the impact Pericles had on Athens.
In groups, role-play a session of the Athenian Assembly during Pericles’s time. Assign roles such as Pericles, Cimon, and other strategoi. Debate key issues like military strategies against Sparta or the construction of the Parthenon. This activity will help you grasp the political dynamics and decision-making processes in ancient Athens.
Imagine you are an architect in ancient Athens tasked with designing a monument to honor Pericles. Sketch your design and write a brief description explaining its significance and how it reflects Pericles’s contributions to Athens. This will encourage you to think creatively about how historical figures are commemorated.
Read an excerpt from Thucydides’s “History of the Peloponnesian War” that discusses Pericles. Analyze the text in small groups, focusing on Thucydides’s portrayal of Pericles and his leadership style. Present your findings to the class. This will enhance your skills in interpreting historical texts and understanding different perspectives.
Write and deliver a speech as if you were Pericles addressing the citizens of Athens. Choose a topic such as the importance of democracy or the cultural achievements of Athens. Use persuasive language and historical context to make your speech compelling. This activity will help you practice public speaking and deepen your understanding of Pericles’s rhetoric.
The 5th century BC marked a significant period of cultural, political, and economic power for the city-state of Athens, often referred to as a golden age that greatly influenced not only the Greek world but also Western civilization as a whole. During this time, Socrates laid the foundations of Western philosophy, supported by students like Plato and other notable thinkers such as Anaxagoras, Empedocles, and Democritus. Athenian theater flourished, with playwrights like Euripides, Sophocles, Aristophanes, and Aeschylus gaining prominence.
Phidias emerged as a leading sculptor, creating the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Many iconic structures on the Acropolis, including the Parthenon, were constructed during this era. Historians such as Herodotus, Thucydides, and Xenophon recognized the importance of documenting history for future generations. The architect Hippodamus of Miletus is credited as one of the founders of urban planning, while Hippocrates advanced Western medicine and established the Hippocratic Oath.
Pericles, a key figure of this golden age, was a prominent statesman, general, patron of the arts, and exceptional orator. His leadership allowed Athens to thrive, earning him the title of the “First Citizen of Athens.”
**Early Years**
Pericles was born around 495 BC in Athens to a wealthy family. His father, Xanthippus, was a politician, and his mother, Agariste, belonged to one of the city’s oldest families. According to Plutarch, shortly before Pericles’s birth, his mother dreamed of giving birth to a lion. Despite his impressive lineage, Pericles faced ridicule due to his physical appearance, particularly his large head, which led to him being nicknamed “Schinocephalus” or squill-head.
Initially, Pericles focused on a military career rather than public speaking, but he eventually became interested in politics. He received a well-rounded education from notable teachers, including Pythocleides in music and Anaxagoras in philosophy. Pericles experienced the volatility of power firsthand when his father was ostracized, leading to a temporary loss of their family’s status. However, Xanthippus was later recalled to defend Athens during the Persian invasion, achieving a decisive victory.
**Athenian Politics**
Understanding the political landscape of Athens is crucial to grasping Pericles’s rise to power. The city was governed by two main groups: the archons, who were chief magistrates, and the strategoi, military leaders. Over time, the power of the archons diminished, and by Pericles’s time, the strategoi held significant authority, with ten strategoi elected annually.
Pericles entered politics in his early 20s, sponsoring a play by Aeschylus in 472 BC, which symbolized his support for Themistocles in a power struggle against Cimon. However, Themistocles was eventually ostracized, and Pericles faced competition from Cimon, a popular military leader. Pericles strategically undermined Cimon’s credibility, leading to Cimon’s eventual ostracism in 461 BC.
Following Cimon’s exile, Pericles consolidated power, especially after the assassination of his mentor Ephialtes, who had enacted reforms to expand democratic privileges. With his main rivals out of the way, Pericles became the most powerful figure in Athens.
**Athens vs. Sparta**
As Athens grew in power, tensions with Sparta escalated. The First Peloponnesian War broke out in 460 BC, primarily due to a border dispute involving Megara and Corinth. Pericles was cautious in engaging Sparta directly, focusing instead on maintaining Athenian interests in the region.
Despite initial successes, Athens faced setbacks, including a disastrous military campaign in Egypt that weakened its naval supremacy. The war concluded with the Thirty Years Peace in 446 BC, but hostilities continued through proxy conflicts.
**The Age of Pericles Ends**
The Thirty Years Peace did not last, and tensions flared again, leading to the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War in 431 BC. Pericles’s strategy involved avoiding direct confrontation with Sparta while leveraging Athenian naval power. Unfortunately, he succumbed to a plague in 429 BC, just two years into the war, marking a significant turning point for Athens.
The Peloponnesian War continued for another 25 years, ultimately resulting in a Spartan victory and the end of the Golden Age of Athens, known as the Age of Pericles.
Athens – A prominent city-state in ancient Greece known for its cultural, political, and intellectual achievements. – Athens was considered the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy.
Pericles – An influential Greek statesman and general during Athens’ Golden Age. – Pericles played a crucial role in developing Athenian democracy and expanding the Athenian empire.
Philosophy – The study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, and ethics. – Ancient Greek philosophy laid the groundwork for Western intellectual thought.
Democracy – A system of government where the citizens exercise power by voting. – The concept of democracy was first developed in Athens, where citizens could participate directly in decision-making.
War – A state of armed conflict between different countries or different groups within a country. – The Peloponnesian War was a significant conflict between Athens and Sparta that reshaped the ancient Greek world.
Culture – The social behavior, norms, and practices found in human societies, including art, beliefs, and institutions. – The culture of ancient Greece has had a profound influence on the development of Western civilization.
Politics – The activities associated with governance, including the debate and implementation of policies. – The politics of ancient Rome were marked by a complex system of checks and balances.
Theater – A form of performing arts that involves live performers, typically actors, presenting a real or imagined event before an audience. – Greek theater was an important part of ancient culture, with playwrights like Sophocles and Euripides creating enduring works.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Understanding history helps us learn from past mistakes and successes to better shape our future.
Sculpture – The art of creating three-dimensional works by carving, modeling, or assembling materials. – The sculpture of ancient Greece, such as the statues of gods and athletes, exemplifies the high level of skill and artistry achieved during that era.
