4.4 The Age of Pericles

Athens joined forces with other city-states to form the Delian League. The Delian League promised to defend its members against the Persians. Athens eventually gained control of the Delian League.

The Athenian Empire Athens had a direct democracy. In a direct democracy, people vote firsthand on laws and policies. What made this work in Athens was that ancient Athens was so small in numbers. Usually fewer than 6,000 people attended the meetings, which were held every ten days. Ten officials known as generals carried out the assembly’s laws and policies.

In a representative democracy, people select smaller groups to vote on behalf of the people.

The Achievements of Pericles A general named Pericles led Athens for more than 30 years. He promoted democracy by including more people in the government. The age of Pericles was a time of creativity and learning. Pericles built temples and statues in the city after the destruction of the Persian Wars.

He also supported artists, writers, architects, and philosophers. Philosophers are people who ponder questions about life.

Daily Life in Athens

Athenian farmers grew grain, vegetables, fruit, olives, and grapes. Because there was little farmland, Athens had to import grain from other places. Herders raised sheep and goats for wool, milk, and cheese. Athens became the trading center of the Greek world.

Merchants traded pottery, jewelry, leather goods, and other products. Athenian men worked in the morning and exercised or attended assembly meetings in the evening. Athenian women were responsible for caring for their children and their households. Poor women might work in the fields or sell goods.

Athenian women had no political rights and could not own property. Aspasia was a well-educated woman who influenced Plato and Pericles.. Although she could not vote or hold office, she was influential in politics.

The Peloponnesian War Other city-states along with Sparta became suspicious of Athens. These city-states joined together against Athens. The war that broke out is known as the Peloponnesian War. Pericles’s funeral oration reminded Athenians about democracy and gave them courage to continue fighting.

Athenians outside the city walls moved inside the city to protect themselves. In the second year of the war, a disease killed more than one-third of the people inside Athens’ walls, including Pericles. Sparta made a deal with the Persians and built a navy and attacked Athens. They destroyed the Athenian fleet. Athens surrendered and Sparta tore down the city walls.