at even without the continental territory, the Athenians were a major threat to Sparta and its influence.
             Pericles, who was the great Athenian leader of this age, was swept into power in a popular democratic movement. Pericles had been the leader of the democratic faction of Athenian politics since 462 BC. He quickly brought forward legislation that let anyone serve as the archon (one of the nine central leaders of the country) despite birth or wealth. The Assembly became the central power of the state. The Assembly was not a representative government, but instead consisted of every male citizen. In terms of numbers, this still was not a democratic state: women weren't included, nor we
             ...