Intro
Democracy in the context of Classical Greece, specifically in the Periclean society of 431BC, is unlike the modern interpretation of the word. Democracy in modern society means that all citizens are equal before the law, regardless of gender, age or creed. Conversely, democracy in Classical Greece is based on the ideology of a government governed by the people rather than the few, however this democracy was only available to male citizens, and male citizens only comprised of a small percentage of the population. Pericles was, “by any standards a great leader”[i], although he was not a dictator or a king, he was merely an ordinary member of radical democracy. His greatest movements during his time of influence where, “opposition to Persia, his independence of Sparta”, and his disposal of all the Areopagos. When his partner Ephialtes was murdered, Pericles, “found himself the leading radical democrat”[ii], in Athens which lasted from 461BC until his death in 429BC. Pericles’ principal reforms were his restrictions on citizenship and his constant policy of developing and asserting Athenian naval supremacy, with which he encompassed all of the demos who saw the benefits in his expansionist policies. Periclean society was the Athenian civilization during the time of his reign, specifically 431BCwhich was at the height of his influence after all the major reforms had been executed and before the plague that brought Pericles to his death.
