PericlesPericles

Research Project

PowerPoint Presentation

TEMPLATEMr. Laipply

Spring 2010

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Table of Contentsρ Photo GalleryΨ Maps of Ancient GreeceΔ IntroductionΣ Early Lifeβ Rise to Powerπ Peloponnesian WarΓ ConclusionΠ Works Cited Ω About the Presenter

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Photo Gallery

PericlesPericles

AcropolisParthenon

The Long Walls

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Maps of Ancient Athens and Greece

Cholargos, just north of Athens,

the birthplace of Pericles

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Introduction

Have you ever imagined being the great leader of a country, making important decisions and giving powerful speeches? Nobody knows if Pericles ever did so as a child, but we do know that he grew up to become an outstanding leader of the ancient world. His leadership was so impressive that instead of calling his lifetime the Golden Age of Athens, people commonly call it the Age of Pericles.

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Early Life Pericles was born into the Alcmaeonidae family,

around 495 BC, just north of Athens in Cholargos (That’s Greece).

His name means “surrounded by glory” (“Pericles”).

He spent most of his time studying and tried to avoid public appearances (That’s Greece).

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Rise to Power He led Athens for 32 years, from 461 to 429 BC,

during what some people call The Age of Pericles (That’s Greece).

He promoted arts and literature (“Pericles”).

Pericles sponsored the projects that built many of the temples and buildings on the Acropolis, including the Parthenon (That’s Greece).

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Peloponnesian War Pericles helped Athens dominate the group of

“independent” Greek city-states called the Delian League and become a strong imperial power (“Pericles”).

He organized the defense of Athens and led the early fight against Sparta and its allies in the Peloponnesian War (Frey).

His most famous defensive strategy was to build the long walls leading from Athens to the Aegean Sea so that the city-state could still get supplies during a siege by enemy forces (That’s Greece).

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Death of Pericles Pericles died of the plague in 429 BC at the age of 66

after only two years of the war against Sparta (Frey).

Following his death, Athens made mistakes that helped their archenemy Sparta win the Peloponnesian War. Some say Athens may have won if Pericles had lived on to be its leader (“Pericles”).

Pericles’s legacy is the time period of unique building and improved living standards sometimes called the Age of Pericles (That’s Greece).

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Conclusion (tie-in with Intro)

The next time you pretend to be the leader of a great city-state or country, consider being Pericles. He made important decisions, gave powerful speeches, and helped build an amazing city. You could imagine yourself as one of the greatest leaders of the ancient world and receive the incredible honor of having your lifetime called The Age of Pericles.

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Works Cited

Frey, Wendy. History Alive! The Ancient World. Palo Alto, California: TCI, 2004.

“Pericles.” That’s Greece. 25 Feb. 2008. www.thatsgreece.com/online/article.asp?returnPage=SECTION&group=4&section=4&articleid=42>.

“Pericles.” World Book Encyclopedia. 2002 ed.

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About the Presenter

Mr Laipply is a 6th-grade Social Studies teacher at Talent Middle School. He enjoys teaching, spending time with his family, traveling, hiking, and camping.