Pericles and the Golden Age: How Athens Ruled an Empire

The History of Greece: Philosophy, Empire, and Endless Reinvention — Fexingo History · Apr 25, 2026 · 5m

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the era of Pericles, the towering statesman who led Athens during its most powerful decades. They discuss how the Delian League, originally a defensive alliance against Persia, was transformed into an Athenian empire through force and tribute. Lucas recounts Pericles' ambitious building program — the Parthenon and the Long Walls — and the radical democracy that paid citizens for public service. They also examine the controversial 'Megarian Decree' that helped trigger the Peloponnesian War, and Pericles' famous Funeral Oration, which…