Re: Topic II -- Early World History, Level I

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Date Posted: 08:54:17 02/26/02 Tue
Author: Marie Grunbeck
Subject: Re: Topic II
In reply to: Anoush Essajanian 's message, "Re: Topic II" on 18:12:49 02/24/02 Sun

I believe that Pericles did have the right to feel proud of Athens because it is his country. I also think that what Pericles says about Athens is partially true, but some parts of his oration are embellished. The fact that he made Athens sound better than it really was is a result of him being a citizen of Athens.
One aspect of Athens that I think Pericles stretched the truth about is when he says that "...our [Athens] military training is in many respects superior to that of our adversaries". It may be true that the Athenians had a very strict system of military training. However although they were good fighters, they were not the best. For example, the Persians destroyed Athens in 480 B.C. because Athens couldn't match the Persian's army. Therefore proving that they had a better army than Athens.
Another example of Pericle's embellishment of the truth can be found in this line: "It is true we are called a democracy, for the administration is in the hands of the many and not of the few." Although Pericles says that this is true, the real truth is the complete opposite of this statement. The reality is that nobles, which only made up a very small percentage of the total population, mainly controlled the Athenian government. Since Pericles says that the government "is in the hands of the many and not the few", he is trying to convince his readers that there are more people who belong to the upper class than the lower. However, the truth is really that the majority of people in Athens were peasants and artisans, who belonged to the lower class. This situation caused a great in balance in Athenian society. Consequently, Pericles oration said the exact opposite of what was really true. He probably did this on purpose, in an attempt to relieve himself of his own guilty conscience because he, himself, was a wealthy noble in Athens.
Finally, although Pericles exaggerated some parts of the life in Athens, other parts are true. I believe that Pericles and other Athenians do have the right to believe the truths about their country. However I don't believe that they have the right to stretch the truth to make their country sound better than it actually is.

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