How did pericles become king?

Answer 1

In today's terms he was a consummate politician, using popular support to become First Citizen, even though there was no such official position. The Athenian democracy selected its magistrates by lot, but were clever enough to select generals on merit, and so when an important action had to take place, whether military or civil, gave execution of it 'to the generals'. So Pericles, as a general, fixed things, including using the anti-Persian funds (tribute paid by the cities) to bankroll half the Athenian citizens on the public payroll, the beautification of the city, and the maintenance of 100 warships on line to enforce collection of the tribute. And he had his chief political opponent ostracised (exiled) to avoid competition in the power game.

Unfortunately he over-fixed things. Relying on Athens' Long Walls and unchallenged naval superiority with which to threaten all the coastal cities (most were) he allowed Athens to be drawn into a war with Sparta and its allies (well, virtually forced the Spartan alliance into war by Athens' aggressive approach and actions). Successes, then catastrophes followed, ending after 27 years in Athens' defeat and loss of its empire. Pericles died early in the war, so it is unknown whether he could have steered the Athenian alliance to victory. Unlikely, after Presia intervened and gave the Spartan alliance the money to build and crew a war fleet that could compete with Athenian alliance fleet.

Answer 2

It was in the family. His father was Xanthippus, who defeated the Persians at Mycale in 479 BCE, his mother a niece of the political reformer Kleisthenes who began democratic reforms of Athens a generation before.

In these footsteps as an adult he followed Ephialtes who broke the power of the aristocracy and was assassinated for it. Pericles was a general who led in the wars between the city-states in the mid-5th Century BCE, and led the populist political faction in the Athenian political contests of the 440s. Winning this by getting his conservative adversary Thucydides son of Melisias exiled, he became 'first man' and guided Athens into converting the anti-Persian

Delian League into a virtual empire and using its war funds to beautify Athens and put half the population on the public payroll - both moves which cemented public support.

He pushed the City into the Peloponnesian War in a show of overconfidence, not foreseeing it would last for 27 years and devastate Greece. He did not have to eat the fruits of his folly as he was taken off by the plague which hit Athens in the third year of the war.

Answer 3

Each city-state had its own government. Sparta had two kings and a oligarchical ruling council. Athens had a city council called the assembly, open to all voters, from whom nominations were made and officials were elected.

Answer 4

he made a living by helping rome conquer many countries at the bc time in the 200 bc

Answer 5

hey ! pericles was not a king he was a leader

Answer 6

Pericles came from an aristocratic family. His father Xanthippus was a famous general, and Pericles followed in his footsteps. His own military successes gave him strong influence.

Answer 7

Leaders were chosen by the people.