Athenian democracy reached its greatest height, under the leadership of Pericles. He was a great *** in politics. It was he who completed the work of laying the foundation for democracy in Athens. He deprived the ‘Areopagus’ of its political powers and transferred the same to the council of five hundred. This body suggested measures to the Acclesia- the assembly. It was freely discussed by all the citizens of Athens and laws were passed.
Another important feature of the Periclean age was jury system. Every year about 5000 jurors were elected for a term of one year. Being a great lover of democracy, he wanted even the poorest citizen to take interest in political affairs. This is what we call today, the Direct Democracy.
Athens which was destroyed during the Persian war was rebuilt by Pericles. Athens became a centre of progress in art and architecture. Very large public buildings were constructed, which beautified Athens. The famous Parthenon or the temple of ** was built of **** marble stones. It was the most beautiful temple.
Pericles also patronized music. To protect his beautiful city from foreign invaders, he built Tong walls’ connecting the city with the port Piraeus. The age of Pericles produced great Philosophers like Socrates and his pupil, Plato. Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides were the dramatists of Periclean age.
Hippocrates is regarded as the ‘Father of Medicine’. Herodotus is regarded as ‘The Father of History’. Thucycidides was another famous historian of the Periclean age. Sappho and Pindar lived duringthis **. Periclean age of Athens is regarded as the ‘School of Hellas’ and ‘The Golden Age’ .
