Pericles And The Acropolis In Context Essay

One of the major, and obvious, similarities between the two Athenians is that they come from the same lineage. Both Pericles’ and Alcibiades’ mothers were from the noble family Alcmaeonidae. The Alcmaeonidae were also heavy involved in politics. Their immediate families were also important to Athenian history as well. Pericles is the son of Xanthippus and Agariste. Xanthippus made a name for himself by “ [defeating] the Persian general of Mycale”. While his mother’s uncle, Cleisthenes ran out Hippias, son of Pisistratus, ending the tyranny in 510 BCE. Whereas, Alcibiades’ father is Cleinias and his mother is Deinomache. Cleinias

What qualities of Athenian life does Pericles mention? How do these contrast with those that Archidamus points out for Sparta? The qualities of the Athenian life that Pericles mentions are that they are far from practicing a jealous surveillance over each other because they do not feel like they should be angry with there neighbors for doing what they like, but all there private relations does not make them lawless as citizens. He also say’s that they provide plenty of means for there mind to refresh itself from the business, that they celebrate games and sacrifices all the year round. On the other hand Sparta is war-like, because they have self control and they honor bravery. They are also educated with the laws and with a self-control to

Pericles's speech first gave praise to the ancestors, for which they are the people who built the city from the ground up and fought for democracy. He speaks of the ancestors with great honor and valor and that it was them who gave birth to Athens. He perceives Athens as a city with virtue, modesty, and modernization. It is a city who doesn't isolate itself from other governing states. Pericles announce that they aren't afraid to show their culture to the world and any foreigners may come and learn or observe from them. He suggests Athens is a country that welcomes foreigners and they

Adolescence is an age where children began to find themselves or, in some cases, lose themselves, an idea clearly developed by Satrapi in her graphic novel “Persepolis”. Satrapi explores the challenges and difficulties experienced by a sheltered and naive girl during the tumultuous and uncertain years of the Iranian revolution and attempts to solve the oppression she witnesses by the Islamicist government. This is important to the whole text as it identifies the religious conservatism and Islamisation of the state causes distress and confusion in Marjane who consequently had to redefine herself, given that her freedom and personal liberties were denied them in schools, public places, and even her own home.

There are many ways a government can be run, and within a government how the society is and what concept the people believe in and follow also have many different views. All four theorists, Pericles, Socrates, Protagoras, and Machiavelli have very good points on authority and obligation, democracy, and freedom. Though the same concept, each has their own view on how society and government should approach it.

Pericles was born in 495 B.C. E in Cholargos north of Athens. Pericles was an influential orator, leader and general during Athens golden age between the Persian and Peloponnesian wars. Pericles popularized arts and literature and was the main reason Athens holds the reputation of being the educational and cultural center of the ancient Greek world. During Pericles rule, Athens developed its Acropolis, the elevated citadel that held the most important buildings and temples. These building where so architecturally

Pericles (C. 495-429 BC) was a very influential politician and general in Athens. He is said to have brought about a very important time in Athenian history known as ‘The Golden Age of Athens’ where he brought about or placed focus on certain things like art, which gave Athens the reputation as the cultural and educational centre of Ancient Greece, architecture, where he created a project to beautify the city and provide work for Athenians with most of its products like the Parthenon still surviving and giving us an idea of the glory of Athens. He also made valuable contributions to drama, the bringing about of democracy and the establishment of the Greek empire.

Pericles articulates a strong sense of pride for the Athenian self-image through praising their ancestors, fathers, and the fallen. Pericles stated, “I shall begin with our ancestors: it is both just and proper that they should have the honor of the first mention on and occasion like the present. They dwelt in the country without break in the succession from generation to generation, and handed it down free to the present time by their valor.” The Athenian’s ancestors allowed for the future greatness and the ultimate formation of the government through their great and honorable patriotism. Their ancestors passed down the empire to the fathers of Pericles and other citizens, who only further added greatness to the inherited empire and began forming national habits. However, this greatness was earned through military achievements allowing for the possessions enjoyed by the current citizens, who gained the city from their fathers. The current Athenians, both dead and alive, further progressed the Athenian control and greatness as their successors already did. Pericles stated, “There are few parts of our dominions that have not been augmented by those of us here, who are still more or less in the vigor of life; while the mother country has been furnished by us with everything that can enable her to

The freedom which we enjoy in our government extends also to our ordinary life” (Pericles’ Funeral Oration, Thucydides). In other words, it doesn’t matter what your social rank is, if you are a citizen of Athens, you have a right (and duty) to serve in the government. This is known as a direct democracy today, and it is where we, citizens of the United States, took inspiration for our current system of government. Pericles is right to praise the city-state in this regard, as its legacy still has effect on the world millenniums after its time.

Pericles’s funeral oration was given to honor the soldiers lost in war by commemorating the military accomplishments of the Athens government and to distinguish the roles of men and women in Athens society. Pericles’s speech was given in 430 B.C.E at the end of the first year of war. He then died a year late in 429 B.C.E. Pericles’ Funeral Oration is included in Thucydides’ writing titled History of the Peloponnesian War.

Pericles exercised political interest through giving speeches. He became very popular and earned his name in political arena by mastering oratory skills. His manner of speaking helped him to become the best of all speakers in Athens.

We can learn several things from the “Funeral Oration of Pericles“. Two of these things are, the Athenians respect for their warrior class and how the Athenians were exceedingly proud of their city and its customs. The Athenians respected the warrior class and placed them among the top members of their society. They were seen as the top portion of their classes. They are classified as heroes or idols. The Athenians are extremely proud of their city and its traditions. To the people of Athens their country was at the top and there was no other country that could top them off. The purpose of the funeral oration is not only to respect the departed but, but also to instill the citizen’s national pride and a passion to fight for Athens.

Pericles was hungry for power and with perseverance and sacrifice he made the city fall to him. Pericles, “finding himself come short of his competitor in wealth and money… turned to the distribution of the public moneys.” (Page 208) Since he was so determined to win the people over, the disadvantage of money did not stop him, which indicates that he would go to any measure to get what

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood is a book written by Marjane Satrapi with the intent of disproving the common beliefs of the western world about Iran. Many people of the western culture viewed Iran as a predominately terrorist nation with strong ties to fundamentalist. Marjane, at the age of ten, recounts her childhood memories of growing up in Iran during the 1979 cultural revolution. Her story is told from the ages of six to fourteen and includes the attitudes and realities of the overthrow of the Shah, the Islamic revolution and the devastation of war. Many of Marjane’s memories include imitation of world revolutionary power such as Che Guevara and Fidel Castro.

Over the years, the Acropolis of Athens, a large rock with a flat top that overlooks the city with an elevation of over 500 feet, served a variety of purposes to the people that lived on or near it. Any city built on an enormous hill can be considered an acropolis, but in today’s world, “The Acropolis” is associated with the ancient Acropolis of Athens. As stated in the New World Encyclopedia, to some, the Acropolis of Athens “was also known as Cecropia, after the legendary serpent-man, Kekrops or Cecrops, the first Athenian king” (“Acropolis”). Most people know the Acropolis of Athens as a place where ancient Greeks went to pray to their Gods. Although, during the height of Greece’s civilization, the Acropolis was also a meeting and marketplace for citizens to mingle to buy goods, to discuss politics, and to vote in the first democracy in the world.