Introduction
The story of Pericles, the 5th-century BC Athenian leader, is one of personal magnetism and a matchless cultural legacy, and also a warning. Democracy should give us the freedom to demand more of ourselves. If we use it merely to demand more from politicians, we corrupt ourselves and them too.
EVER since the reforms of Solon, Athenian politics had been moving towards greater participation for ordinary people.
Some such as Cimon, veteran of Salamis, thought this had gone far enough; but early in the 460s Ephialtes launched an audacious bid to cut Cimon and the Areopagus, the aristocratic council of Athens, down to size.
It was a rising orator named Pericles who ended Cimon’s career, and a rapturous Athenian public took the shy and scholarly young man to their hearts.
With the Areopagus no longer serving as a brake on Athenian government, they eagerly accepted at his hands free theatre tickets, subsidised wages, wider suffrage, and a lavish building programme that included the Parthenon itself.
Athens could not afford all this spending, but Pericles simply brought the treasury of the Delian League home and raided it.
Athens now rivalled Sparta in glory, and the intoxicated Athenians followed him confidently into Peloponnesian War against their old enemy.
That was when the gloss began to fade.
Précis
As 5th-century BC Athens moved further towards democracy, a young orator named Pericles captured the hearts of the people in part by sheer charisma, and in part by lavish public spending. At length, they would follow him even into war with Sparta; but he was about to learn that popularity can vanish as quickly as it comes. (57 / 60 words)
As 5th-century BC Athens moved further towards democracy, a young orator named Pericles captured the hearts of the people in part by sheer charisma, and in part by lavish public spending. At length, they would follow him even into war with Sparta; but he was about to learn that popularity can vanish as quickly as it comes.
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Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, because, besides, just, may, not, ought, whether.
Word Games
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Pericles was shy and studious. He was a great orator. The people of Athens loved him.