The book is the second part of a series of biographies of outstanding political figures of archaic and classical Greece, this time Aristides, Themistocles, Cimon, Pericles. Based on data from ancient sources and the results of the work of modern researchers, the author reconstructs the main events of the bright, often contradictory and full of various twists and turns in the life path of these politicians. Particular attention is paid to the historical context and key issues related to the development of ancient Greek civilization, primarily to the problems of classical Athenian democracy in the 5th century. BC e. - during the period of greatest power and prosperity of democratic Athens. For classical historians, teachers, students of humanities universities and everyone interested in the history of Ancient Greece. Contents: From the author Chapter I. Athenian democracy in the 5th century. BC Chapter II. Aristide: politician outside the factionsChapter III. Themistocles: homo novus in the circle of the old nobilityChapter IV. Cimon: an aristocrat, but not an oligarchChapter V. Pericles: the man who gave the name to the eraAfterwordBibliographyList of abbreviations