What Is Pericles View On War

Nathaniel Trujillo
Prof. Hertzoff
Govt. 118
September 16, 2017
Pericles’ View on War Growth had become a necessary objective for the Athenians as fear of another powerful threat like the Persians invading their lands. With no one to oppose their growth the Athenians became innovators and expanded by whatever means necessary, using supplied soldiers to strengthen their army and financial contributions from league members. The relocation of the Delian League’s treasury from Delos to Athens was a crucial power move by Athens giving them control of the League’s finances. Pericles used these newfound riches to develop Athens and construct some of the most well-known Greek structures such as the Parthenon. Pericles’ ravenous spending caused distrust
Pericles calls on his people to focus their anger on the true enemy, for he is the same man that he was at the beginning of the war. Athenians want to surrender now that their backs are against the wall, but when they were on top and had no quarrel they wished to fight. Pericles believes that the people are not in the right state of mind to be making such rash claims against him, “now that this great reversal has come upon you in so short a time you are too low in your minds to stand by your decisions, for it makes your thoughts slavish when something unexpected happens suddenly and defies your best-laid plans” (Woodruff, 53).He does not want the Athenians to be so dismissive of their greatness, they are still great and should in the face of disaster remain great without giving up. Pericles reassures the assembly that their navy is still their greatest advantage and that no one, not even the King of Persia, could stop their navy. For this was key in gaining back what they had lost, “what you should remember is that it is more shameful to lose what you have than to fail in an attempt to get more” (Woodruff,54). He continues that the only unexpected setback they had suffered was the plague, their refusal to submit to the Lacedemonians would prompt a war as they expected along with the casualties and destruction. They cannot end their support for him because of their anger or their hatred towards him, “What heaven sends we must bear with courage –for that is the custom in our city; that is how it used to be, and that custom should not end with you” (Woodruff, 55). In this time of need the Athenians needed to keep themselves calm and collected, if the enemy found out of their distrust and displeasure with their situation trouble could