Pericles claimed that the Athenian government, unlike other Greek city-states,
favored its wealthy citizens.
kept poor people from serving the state.
imitated the laws of its neighbors.
treated all its people fairly regardless of class
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is: treated all its people fairly regardless of class.
Explanation:
Pericles, a prominent Athenian statesman during the Golden Age of Athens (circa 5th century BCE), delivered a famous funeral oration, which is recorded by the historian Thucydides. In this speech, Pericles praises the Athenian form of democracy, emphasizing its inclusiveness and fairness, particularly the equal treatment of citizens regardless of their wealth or social standing. He asserted that Athens was unique among Greek city-states in that it did not favor the rich over the poor.
The core idea of Athenian democracy, as championed by Pericles, was that all citizens—whether wealthy or poor—could participate in the governance of the city. Citizens were allowed to engage in public life and hold positions of power, with the only real distinction being citizenship itself. Athenian democracy allowed even the poorest citizens to serve in public office, especially through practices like paying stipends to citizens who participated in the Assembly, juries, and other state functions. This meant that the ability to serve in government was not restricted to the wealthy, a stark contrast to many other city-states in the Greek world, where political power was often in the hands of the aristocracy.
Furthermore, Pericles’ assertion that Athens treated all its people fairly reflects the broader ethos of the democratic system that had developed in the city-state. Citizens could contribute to the state, regardless of their personal wealth, and they were judged based on their abilities and merits rather than their social class. This was part of what made Athens’ democracy revolutionary for its time.
In contrast, many other Greek city-states, such as Sparta, had oligarchic or aristocratic systems where the wealthy or elite had greater influence and power, making Pericles’ claim about Athenian equality especially significant in historical context.