Pericles + Acropolis

Question 1

Limitations of Thucydides and Plutarch’s accounts of Pericles

Answer 1

Thucydides: was around during war so is biased and his work on the Peloponnesian war is arguably unfinished; it finished abruptly

Plutarch: was not around during the time of Pericles, and had a very idealised view of him

Question 2

How Pericles’ leadership boost Athens (1)

Answer 2

Under his leadership, Athens increasingly dominated the Delian league, with other member states becoming subjects to Athens (e.g Thasos & Naxos revolted against this)

Member states began rebelling against Athenian hegemony, this is documented by Thucydides

Question 3

How did Pericles leadership boost Athens (2)

Answer 3

PLUTARCH: Pericles’ enemies accused him of using money from the joint treasury of those in the Delian league to finance public building works on the acropolis (the Periclean building program)

Question 4

Name the 4 main works on the acropolis

Answer 4

1. Parthenon
2. Erechtheion
3. Propylaea
4. Temple of Athena Nike

Question 5

How did Pericles’ Funeral Oration boost Athenian values ?

Answer 5

Promoted sense pride in undertaking of civic duty (citizens fighting to protecting the polis and the demos they were a part of)

By remembering all of the dead who had died fighting for Athens, Pericles was promoting democratic values as all citizens were equal in the eyes of the poleis and they all had a collective identity as Athenians

Question 6

What value did Pericles’ citizenship law promote ?

Answer 6

Autochthony - people who are from/ belong to the land from where they reside

Question 7

How did Pericles justify the use of tribute money from the members of the Delian league

Answer 7

Pericles as detailed by Plutarch, said that the Athenians didn’t have to justify the use of joint finance for Athenian public works as long as they defended the members of the Delian league against foreign threats