Question

Pericles was a leader and lawmaker in ancient Athens. While Athens was fighting the Peloponnesian War, he gave a famous speech called the Funeral Oration. In his speech, he talked about Athenian democracy. Read the following excerpt from Pericles’s speech: Our constitution does not copy the laws of neighboring states; we are rather a pattern to others than imitators ourselves. Its administration favors the many instead of the few. . . . If we look to the laws, they afford equal justice to all in their private differences…class considerations not being allowed to interfere with merit; nor again does poverty bar the way, if a man is able to serve the state, he is not hindered by the obscurity of his condition. Based on the excerpt above, how does Pericles feel about Athenian democracy?

Answer 1

In his speech, we can see that Pericles is praising Athenian democracy, and is proud of being an Athenian himself.

He is highlighting the values of Athenian democracy in the speech, specially that of egalitarianism, which he sees as its most important quality.

He also claims that other states look up to Athens and Athenian democracy, meaning tthat Athens is "rather a pattern to others".