What do you think of Pericles?

Pericles was undeniably a force to be reckoned with in ancient Athens. But there are not good primary sources for him. What we know about him comes primarily from brief references in Athenian plays and from Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War. For your initial post, please tell us what you think of Pericles. What was his political agenda? What did he want for himself and for his city state? Why was he both loved and hated and how did he get to be so influential? In your answer, please incorporate and cite at least 2 specific passages from this week’s assigned readings (excluding lecture materials). Please note that the initial post this week should be 500-600 words. Make sure that you clearly demonstrate that you are constructing your post on the basis of this week’s assigned readings: there is no credit awarded for outside sources; there will be point deductions for the incorporation of lower-tier sources. Reading Material: Tracy, Stephen V., Pericles: A Sourcebook and Reader, the sections entitled “Introduction” and “The Primary Sources” (in our APU library) Navigating the Thucydides Reading Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, 1.1.1; 1.21-22; 1.139-146; 2.1-65 Tracy, Stephen V., Pericles: A Sourcebook, the section entitled, “Aristophanes and Old Comedy: Caricature and Personal Attack” (in our APU library)