Who was pericles?

a.
a greek speaker whose fame eventually spread far and wide

b.
the leader who developed the strategies leading to greek naval success

c.
the leader of athens for whom its golden age is named

d.
a greek general who became the first elected president of the ten generals

The best and only answer to your question is the leader of Athens for whom its golden age is named.  
Pericles (495-429 B.C.), is a brilliant general, orator, patron of the arts and politician—”the first citizen” of democratic Athens, according to the historian Thucydides.

Hope my answer would be a great help for you.

The growth of the empire continued to increase their confidence.