8.3 Periclean Athens: politics, society, and culture

Athenian democracy was a groundbreaking system that gave citizens direct power in decision-making. The Assembly, Council of 500, and courts allowed male citizens to shape laws and policies, while ostracism helped protect the system from potential threats.

Athens' social structure was complex, with citizens at the top, followed by metics and slaves. Women had limited rights. This hierarchy influenced the city's cultural achievements, which flourished under Pericles' leadership and left a lasting impact on Western civilization.

Athenian Democracy and Society

Features of Athenian democracy

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• Assembly (Ekklesia) primary decision-making body where all male citizens could attend and vote met regularly to discuss and vote on laws, policies, and other important matters
• Council of 500 (Boule) prepared agenda for the Assembly composed of 500 male citizens chosen by lot who served one-year terms
• Courts (Dikasteria) had juries composed of male citizens handled legal cases and trials with jurors chosen by lot
• Direct democracy meant citizens were directly involved in decision-making with no elected representatives
• Ostracism process to exile a citizen deemed a threat to democracy required 6,000 votes in the Assembly

Social structure in Athens

• Citizens were adult male Athenians who participated in politics and military and owned property
• Metics foreign residents engaged in trade and crafts paid taxes but had no political rights
• Slaves owned by citizens or the state performed manual labor and domestic work with no legal rights or freedoms
• Women had no political rights managed households with limited public roles mainly religious
• Social hierarchy placed citizens at the top followed by metics then slaves with women's status dependent on their male relatives

Cultural Achievements and Legacy

Cultural achievements of Periclean Athens

• Acropolis featured iconic buildings like the Parthenon (temple dedicated to Athena) Propylaea (monumental gateway) and Erechtheion (temple housing ancient cults)
• Art flourished with sculptors like Phidias (responsible for Parthenon frieze and statues) and Polykleitos (known for the Canon a treatise on ideal proportions)
• Literature included tragedies by Aeschylus Sophocles Euripides and comedies by Aristophanes
• Philosophy emphasized reason and ethics with Socrates and Plato (founded the Academy wrote philosophical dialogues)
• History was advanced by Herodotus ("Father of History" wrote about Persian Wars) and Thucydides (wrote History of the Peloponnesian War)

Legacy of Pericles

• Pericles' leadership guided Athens at its height promoted democracy and cultural achievements
• Building program beautified Athens provided employment for citizens asserted Athenian wealth and power
• Delian League solidified Athens' dominant position with funds used for Athenian projects
• Peloponnesian War strategy by Pericles to avoid land battles and rely on navy and walls plague in Athens weakened city and led to Pericles' death
• Cultural legacy of the Golden Age of Athens had lasting influence on art architecture literature and philosophy