1) Why had Athens been destroyed?

2) How was Athens able to afford rebuilding itself?

3) How does Pericles' actions with the Delian League compare to how he improved Athens' democracy?

4) Why was the Parthenon so important for Athens?

5) Finally, do you think Pericles was a good leader for Athens? Explain your opinion

1 Because of the Persian invasion of Greece (480 BC), led by Xerxes I who looted and burned central Greece before invading Attica, the home of Athens.

2 The Persian invasion made the separated city-states aware that, if they wanted to survive, they should organize as Greeks against the common enemy. This association of Greek city states was called the Delian League (478). Shortly after, Athens began to use the funds of the League for its own purposes.

3 The using of the Delian League funds had no direct influence on Athens' democracy. But it sure came in handy turning the city of Athens into the welthiest state. This, however, made other city-states, such as Sparta jealous.

4 The Parthenon was the most important symbol and temple to the goddess Athena, the protector of the city state.

5 I believe Pericles was a good leader for Athens because he emphasized the greatness of the worlds first real democrary in the city state Athens. His cultural legacy is impressive. But I have my doubts about his goodness for the Greeks, i. e. the different city-states in Greece.

Explanation:

Nr. 5 The golden age of Greece (Athens particularly) ended all too soon by the devastating war between Sparta & Athens. This made Greece vulnerable and was an invitation for Alexander the Great to conquer it.