What did Pericles do for the democracy?

Answer 1

The Greeks were not under Pericles. The Greek world comprised hundreds of independent city-states with different forms of government. Pericles became First Citizen of the city-state of Athens. Pericles consolidated direct democracy in Athens, that is all the citizens of whatever property class were able to attend the meetings of the Assembly held a couple of times a month to vote on laws and policy decisions (as opposed to representative democracy, where citizens elect representatives to a parliament which enacts laws). Also, persons for public office were selected by lot, which meant that any citizen could hold the highest offices in the state (appointment of generals was excluded from this - the people weren't that suicidal, they wanted real talent there). In addition, the judges at trials were large juries (typically 400, but up to 2,000), also chosen by lot. In addition Pericles made sure of his popularity be putting nearly a third of the citizenry on the public payroll, so that they would share in the prosperity of the state (this prosperity came to a large degree by hi-jacking the funds of the Anti-Persian league which Athens led and collected the funds for, and held on the Parthenon). Athens encouraged the allied and subject cities in the Anti-Persian league (read Athenian empire in its later stages) to adopt radical democracy as had Athens.

Answer 2

He introduced a radical democracy where the citizens in fortnightly assembly made the decisions, with the council of 500 carrying them out. He also put half the citizens on the public payroll. And all councillors and magistrates were selected by lot, so all classes got good jobs. The exception was the 10 generals who were selected by the tribal assemblies - they didn't want to be led battle by a blind draw.

Answer 3

He converted it into radical democracy where the citizens voted in fortnightly assembly and the council carried out the decisions between meetings.