The Senate actually ran Athens, Pericles was a statesmen, general and admiral who was the grandfather of democracy, who advocated on behalf of the citizens and military. However seeing as the question is phrased inaccurately considering Pericles was never the ruler of Athens, and Athens not being under his control, no it was not. If the question was phrased correctly, the answer would be yes. Modern democracy has the Athenians and Pericles to thank for bringing the ideas to fruition.
