After reading the Funeral Oration of Pericles, the Athenian leaders were proud and can be a bit arrogant. They believed they were distinct from other cultures because they brought freedom, security, and prosperity to all the lands under Athenian suzerainty. They prized intelligence and learning, they had citizens who achieved notability in the arts, medicine, philosophy, and mathematics.
Pericles was a leader and lawmaker of Athens. He is speaking at a funeral held in honor of the soldiers who fought for Athens in the Peloponnesian War.
