Pericles (494BC–429BC)

After defeating the Persians (490, 480/479BC), Athens became the leader of the Greek world and developed the first true democracy in history. Under the leadership of the orator, stateman and general Pericles, the Athenians took their democracy to its zenith. Fundamental to the Athenian Democracy were trial by jury, freedom of speech, a citizen army and other individual rights and responsibilities. In addition to democratic reforms, Pericles promoted the development of art and architecture, which saw the rebuilding of the Acropolis and building of the Parthenon.
Pericles’ Funeral Oration was delivered in 431/430 BC to commemorate the Athenians who died in the first year of the Peloponnesian War. In the speech, Pericles defined the values and ideals of Athenian democracy:
‘For famous men have the whole earth as their memorial: it is not only the inscriptions on their graves in their own country that mark them out; no, in foreign lands also, not in any visible form but in people's hearts, their memory abides and grows. It is for you to try to be like them. Make up your minds that happiness depends on being free, and freedom depends on being courageous.’