<P> Pericles had such a profound influence on Athenian society that Thucydides , a contemporary historian , acclaimed him as `` the first citizen of Athens '' . Pericles turned the Delian League into an Athenian empire , and led his countrymen during the first two years of the Peloponnesian War . The period during which he led Athens , roughly from 461 to 429 BC , is sometimes known as the `` Age of Pericles '' , though the period thus denoted can include times as early as the Persian Wars , or as late as the next century . Pericles promoted the arts and literature ; it is principally through his efforts that Athens holds the reputation of being the educational and cultural center of the ancient Greek world . He started an ambitious project that generated most of the surviving structures on the Acropolis ( including the Parthenon ) . This project beautified and protected the city , exhibited its glory , and gave work to the people . Pericles also fostered Athenian democracy to such an extent that critics call him a populist . </P>
<P> Pericles had such a profound influence on Athenian society that Thucydides , a contemporary historian , acclaimed him as `` the first citizen of Athens '' . Pericles turned the Delian League into an Athenian empire , and led his countrymen during the first two years of the Peloponnesian War . The period during which he led Athens , roughly from 461 to 429 BC , is sometimes known as the `` Age of Pericles '' , though the period thus denoted can include times as early as the Persian Wars , or as late as the next century . Pericles promoted the arts and literature ; it is principally through his efforts that Athens holds the reputation of being the educational and cultural center of the ancient Greek world . He started an ambitious project that generated most of the surviving structures on the Acropolis ( including the Parthenon ) . This project beautified and protected the city , exhibited its glory , and gave work to the people . Pericles also fostered Athenian democracy to such an extent that critics call him a populist . </P>
who ruled athens for 30 years and made it a world famous center of learning art and culture
who ruled athens for 30 years and made it a world famous center of learning art and culture
Pericles
Pericles