Pericles was born in Athens to an aristocratic family approximately 493 BC (Lewis). His father, Xanthippus, was a military leader at the Battle of Mycale in 479 BC where the last vestiges of Xerxes' (Halsall) fleet were defeated. Pericles' mother, Agariste, was a member of the Alcmaeonidae (Lewis) family. Since he was of aristocratic birth, Pericles obtained his education from some of the greatest minds of Greece (Lewis). He was educated musically by Damon and philosophically by Zeno of Elea and Anaxagoras (Pericles (c. 495-429)). His companions were great intellectuals such as Sophocles, Herodotus and Socrates (Pericles (c. 495-429)). One of the major influences in his life was Anaxagoras under whose tutelage Pericles learned to remain composed in all situations, never allowing his opponent to perceive what Pericles was really thinking (Halsall). Pericles married when he was twenty, but his wife's name is unknown, which was common for this period of Greece as it was a male-dominated culture (PBS). Together they had two children and later divorced (PBS). Pericles entered politics after the Persian War, where he played a crucial role in the renewal of the judicial system. Pericles led the Delian League, a cooperative agreement between various Greek city-states. Furthermore, Pericles was responsible for the reconstruction of the monuments destroyed by Xerxes and the Persians during times of war, as well as conveying an innovative focus in both artistic and cultural spheres. Pericles' final political maneuver, declaring war on Sparta to strengthen Athens, proved to be his undoing. Pericles' first venture into the political arena occurred in 463 BC (Pericles). The war with Persia was over and a politician named Cimon attempted to highlight a new co...... middle of paper ......ebster.com. November 1, 2011 .PBS. "The Crucible of Greek Civilization: Pericles 493 BC – 429 BC". PBS. September 22, 2011 ."Pericles." Historic world leaders. Gale, 1994. Gale biography in context. Network. November 6, 2011. “Pericles (c. 495-429).” In 2 Greece. November 2, 2011 .University Press, Inc. "Pericles." 2008. Ancient Greece. November 1st 2011 .