The reader is invited to a book by the famous Russian historian V.P. Buzeskul, dedicated to the life and work of the outstanding statesman of Ancient Greece, orator and commander Pericles. The author describes the life path in a vivid and accessible language, shows the internal and external policies of Pericles, as well as the general course of the history of Athens and the conditions under which Athenian democracy reached its heyday.

The book will be of interest to both professional historians and the general public circle of readers interested in the history of Antiquity.

Contents:I. The general course of Athenian history before Pericles 5II. The beginning of the activity of Pericles 17III. Time of struggle for hegemony on land 27IV. Personality of Pericles 41V. "The Rule of the First Citizen" (Pericles' reforms) 53VI. Periclean Athens 67VII. Foreign policy of Pericles, attitude towards allies and the rebellion of Samos 78VIII. Pericles and the origin of the Peloponnesian War 89IX. The first years of the Peloponnesian War and the death of Pericles 106X. The meaning of Pericles 118