• After the Persian Wars, the most important general in Athenian government was Pericles

• he ruled for more than 30 years

• Pericles made Athens more democratic

• he appointed people to positions based on their abilities, not on social class

• he brought more ordinary Athenians into government

• people like shopkeepers and laborers participated in government like nobles

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Pericles in Charge​

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• Under Pericles's rule, Athens became a center of learning and the arts

• The Persians had burnt down Athens during the Persian Wars, so Pericles had rebuilt Athens

• He built new temples, monuments, and statues throughout the city

• He also supported writers, artists, teachers, sculptors, and architects

• Philosophers, or thinkers who reflect on the meaning of life, thrived during Pericles's rule

• Athens became a great center for knowledge, which Pericles called the city "the school of Greece"

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Pericles in Charge​

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• ​Athenians took pride in their democratic system

• they practiced direct democracy where all citizens meet to debate and vote on government matters

• this worked because Athens has a small number of citizens

• the assembly consisted of 43, 000 male citizens over the age of 18

• Often, fewer than 6, 000 participated in meetings which were held every 10 days

• At those meetings, participating citizens pass laws, elected officials, and made policies on war

• the ten top officials elected each year were known as generals

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Democracy in Athens

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• ​Today in the United States, we practice representative democracy

• citizens elect a smaller group of people

• this group represents them, makes laws, and governs on their behalf

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How Is Our Democracy Different?

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