DETERMINING CENTRAL IDEAS The excerpt was written by the ancient Greek historian Thucydides. Thucydides is paraphrasing a speech given by Pericles during the Peloponnesian War. Pericles is honoring the dead by praising the virtues of Athenian democracy. Read the excerpt and complete the activities that follow. Enter the phrase that explains how the Athenian government was a democracy. read Enter the phrase that explains how the Athenian government was a democracy.​