Internally, he takes strengthening democratic politics as the core. Pericles represented the interests of the industrial and commercial slave owners and the lower-middle-class freemen in Athens. In 462 BC, Pericles implemented a series of reform policies to improve the democracy of slave owners, such as: transferring state power from the parliament of the God of War Mountain to the citizens' assembly, the meeting of 500 people and the jury court; Official posts at all levels are open to ordinary people, and all male citizens in Athens can get the opportunity to hold official posts through lottery, election and rotation. Implement an open salary system; It is stipulated that only those whose parents are Athenian citizens can obtain Athenian citizenship.
Externally, in order to expand Athens' sphere of influence and gain benefits, Pericles strengthened its control over the Tyrol League and actively strived for Athens' land and sea superiority and hegemony in the Greek world. Therefore, the Peloponnesian League led by Athens and Sparta became enemies. Under the auspices of Pericles, Athens won successive military victories, and in 454 BC, it extended its naval power to the area around the Peloponnesian Peninsula. Athens' power in the Greek peninsula reached its peak.
Persia, another strong enemy of Athens, was also defeated, and the two sides signed a peace treaty in 449 BC.
Pericles turned the Tyrol Alliance under his control into an "Athenian maritime empire" and moved the treasury of the alliance from Tyrol Island to Athens, where gold became a "tribute" and Athens became a "monarchy" that gave orders in the alliance.
However, Pericles's "imperial" rule caused dissatisfaction among some allies. Therefore, his political opponents took the opportunity to rally conservative forces and confronted him on major issues such as Smada, Tyrol League and Acropolis construction. However, Pericles won the support of most Athenian citizens. He defeated his opponent and was elected as the most important official position in Athens-the chief general, and completely mastered the state power. At this time, the slave economy, democratic politics, maritime hegemony and classical culture in Athens reached their peak and were brilliant for a while, which was called the "golden age".