Philip of Macedon unifies Greece | World History | Khan Academy

Khan Academy

22 Nov 201606:53

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TLDRThe video script narrates the significant events of the fourth century in Greece, highlighting the rise of Thebes and the eventual dominance of the Macedonians, particularly Philip of Macedon. Philip, who became king in 359 BCE, is credited with unifying most Greek city-states, except for Sparta, through strategic conquests and political marriages. His establishment of the League of Corinth in 337 BCE marked a pivotal moment in Greek history, as city-states pledged allegiance to him as the Hegemon. However, Philip's assassination in 336 BCE paved the way for his son, Alexander the Great, to continue his father's legacy. Alexander successfully subjugated Sparta and embarked on a legendary conquest of the Persian Empire and beyond, further unifying the Greeks and solidifying his place in history.

Takeaways

🏺 The fifth century in Greece concluded with the Peloponnesian War and transitioned into the fourth century with Thebes as the dominant city-state.
🌟 By the mid-fourth century, Greece was dominated and unified by the Macedonians, with Philip of Macedon as the first unifier.
👑 Philip II came to power in 359 BCE as a regent for his infant nephew and later became the king of Macedon.
📈 Philip expanded his empire by conquering most of the Greek city-states, including Thessaly and Thrace, and established the League of Corinth in 337 BCE.
🤝 Through strategic marriage, Philip secured an alliance with the Molossian king by marrying his daughter, Olympias, who was Alexander the Great's mother.
🐍 Olympias was a fascinating figure, associated with a cult that worshipped snakes, and was rumored to have slept with them.
🏙️ Philip subjugated most Greek city-states except for Sparta, which was later conquered by his son, Alexander the Great.
🛡️ The League of Corinth oath bound the city-states to peace and allegiance to Philip, with severe penalties for breaking the agreement.
🔪 In 336 BCE, Philip was assassinated by his bodyguard Pausanias during his daughter's wedding, leading to a power struggle.
🧐 There are various theories regarding Pausanias's motives, including jealousy, a personal affront, and possible orchestration by Olympias.
👑 Following Philip's assassination, Alexander the Great ascended to power and further unified Greece, eventually conquering the Persian Empire.

Q & A

What significant event marked the beginning of the fifth century in Greece?
-The beginning of the fifth century in Greece was marked by the Persian invasions.
Which city-state was dominant in Greece as the fourth century began?
-Thebes was the dominant city-state in Greece as the fourth century began.
Who was the first unifier of the Greek city-states in the mid-fourth century?
-The first unifier of the Greek city-states in the mid-fourth century was Philip of Macedon.
In what year did Philip of Macedon come to power?
-Philip of Macedon came to power in 359 BCE.
What was the significance of the city of Corinth in the unification of the Greek city-states?
-The city of Corinth was significant because it was the location where the leaders of the significant city-states gathered and swore their oath to Philip, leading to the formation of the League of Corinth.
Who was Alexander the Great's mother?
-Alexander the Great's mother was Olympias, the daughter of the king of Molossia.
What was the name of the organization established by Philip in 337 BCE to unify the Greek city-states?
-The organization established by Philip in 337 BCE to unify the Greek city-states was called the League of Corinth.
What was the title given to Philip by the members of the League of Corinth?
-The title given to Philip by the members of the League of Corinth was Hegemon.
Which Greek city-state remained outside of Philip's control?
-Sparta remained outside of Philip's control.
Who assassinated Philip of Macedon, and in what year did this occur?
-Philip of Macedon was assassinated by his bodyguard, Pausanias, in 336 BCE.
What was the role of Alexander the Great in the continuation of Philip's efforts to unify Greece?
-Alexander the Great continued Philip's efforts by subjugating Sparta and further unifying the Greeks. He also went on to conquer the Persian Empire and beyond.
What was the nature of the oath that the city-states had to commit to as part of the League of Corinth?
-The oath committed the city-states to a common peace, not to break the agreement with Philip, not to take up arms against any of the participants, not to depose the kingship of Philip or his descendants, and to support and fight against any transgressors of the common peace as decided by the council and the Hegemon.

Outlines

00:00

🏺 Philip of Macedon's Rise to Power and Unification of Greece

The first paragraph discusses the historical context of Greece transitioning from the fifth to the fourth century BCE, marked by the Persian invasions and the Peloponnesian War. It highlights Thebes' dominance initially, but the narrative shifts to the rise of the Macedonians, particularly Philip of Macedon. Philip's ascension to power in 359 BCE, following his father's death and his older brothers' demise, is detailed. As regent to his infant nephew, he eventually seizes full control and becomes king. His conquests, including Thessaly and Thrace, and strategic marriage to the daughter of the king of Molossia, are outlined. This union leads to the birth of Alexander the Great. Philip's efforts to unify Greek city-states, except for Sparta, culminate in the establishment of the League of Corinth in 337 BCE, where city-states pledge loyalty to Philip as the Hegemon. The paragraph concludes with the oath sworn by the city-states and Philip's assassination in 336 BCE during his daughter's wedding.

05:02

🛡️ Alexander the Great's Ascension and Expansion

The second paragraph begins with the aftermath of Philip's assassination, which leads to a power struggle. Alexander the Great, initially known as Alexander the Third, rises to prominence following his father's death. Despite being only 20 years old at the time of his ascension, he is portrayed as a capable leader who continues his father's work. Alexander not only unifies the remaining Greek city-states, including Sparta, but also embarks on a monumental campaign to conquer the Persian Empire and beyond. The paragraph suggests that future videos will delve into the extent of Alexander's conquests and his impact on the known world.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Persian invasions

The Persian invasions refer to the military campaigns launched by the Persian Empire against the Greek city-states in the 5th century BCE. This is significant as it marks the beginning of the historical period being discussed in the video, setting the stage for the subsequent events that unfold in ancient Greece.

💡Peloponnesian War

The Peloponnesian War was a conflict between the major Greek city-states of Athens and Sparta that took place in the 5th century BCE. It is a key event as it signifies the end of the 5th century in Greece and leads into the power dynamics that are altered in the following century.

💡Thebes

Thebes was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, known for its dominance at the beginning of the 4th century BCE. The city-state's mention highlights the shifting power structures within Greece before the rise of Macedon.

💡Macedon(ians)

Macedon, also known as Macedonia, was an ancient kingdom in the north of Greece. The Macedonians, under the leadership of Philip II, eventually unify the Greek city-states, which is a central theme in the video as it leads to the rise of Alexander the Great.

💡Philip of Macedon

Philip II was the king of Macedon who came to power in 359 BCE and is known for his strategic conquests and the unification of most Greek city-states. His actions set the foundation for the empire that his son, Alexander the Great, would later expand.

💡League of Corinth

The League of Corinth was an alliance formed in 337 BCE under the leadership of Philip of Macedon. It included most Greek city-states, with the exception of Sparta, and was a significant step towards the unification of Greece, as it swore allegiance to Philip, who was named the Hegemon.

💡Hegemon

In the context of the video, the term 'Hegemon' refers to the leader of the League of Corinth, who was Philip of Macedon. The title signifies both political and military dominance and is central to understanding how Philip unified the Greek city-states.

💡Alexander the Great

Alexander III, known as Alexander the Great, was the son of Philip of Macedon. He succeeded his father and is renowned for his conquests, including the subjugation of Sparta and the expansion of his empire to include the entirety of the Persian Empire and beyond. His role is pivotal to the narrative of the video as it discusses the culmination of Greek unification and the expansion of the Macedonian Empire.

💡Molossia

Molossia was a region in ancient Greece, and its king's daughter, Olympias, married Philip II, making her the mother of Alexander the Great. The mention of Molossia is important as it ties into the personal and political alliances that contributed to the rise of the Macedonian Empire.

💡Olympias

Olympias, the mother of Alexander the Great, was a figure of intrigue and controversy. Her marriage to Philip II and her alleged involvement in various political and personal affairs, including the possible orchestration of Philip's assassination, make her a key character in the story of the Macedonian rise to power.

💡Pausanias

Pausanias was the bodyguard of Philip II who assassinated him in 336 BCE during his daughter's wedding. The assassination is a critical event in the video's narrative as it leads to a power vacuum and ultimately allows Alexander the Great to ascend to the throne.

Highlights

The fifth century in Greece began with the Persian invasions and ended with the Peloponnesian War.

Thebes was the dominant city-state in Greece as the fourth century began.

Philip of Macedon became the first unifier of Greece in the mid-fourth century.

Philip came to power in 359 BCE after his older brothers' death and became regent for his infant nephew.

He took full control and became king of Macedon in 359 BCE, subsequently conquering most Greek city-states.

Philip expanded his empire into Thessaly in 352 BCE and later into Thrace and Molossia in the 340s.

Olympius, the king of Molossia's daughter and Alexander the Great's mother, married Philip and was part of a snake-worshipping cult.

Philip was able to subjugate most Greek city-states except for Sparta by 337 BCE.

The League of Corinth was established in 337 BCE, uniting Greek city-states under Philip's leadership.

Leaders of city-states swore an oath to Philip, acknowledging him as the Hegemon.

The oath sworn at the League of Corinth included a commitment to peace and not to harm any oath-abiding party.

Alexander the Great, Philip's son, was set up to continue the unification of Greece and eventually conquered the Persian Empire.

The oath also prohibited deposing Philip or his descendants and required support against any treaty breaches.

Philip was assassinated in 336 BCE by his bodyguard Pausanias during his daughter's wedding.

There are various accounts of the motive behind Philip's assassination, including jealousy and political intrigue.

After Philip's death, Alexander the Great became the Hegemon and further unified the Greeks, conquering the Persian Empire.

Alexander was only 20 years old when he became king and embarked on his conquests.

Transcripts

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Takeaways

Q & A

What significant event marked the beginning of the fifth century in Greece?

Which city-state was dominant in Greece as the fourth century began?

Who was the first unifier of the Greek city-states in the mid-fourth century?

In what year did Philip of Macedon come to power?

What was the significance of the city of Corinth in the unification of the Greek city-states?

Who was Alexander the Great's mother?

What was the name of the organization established by Philip in 337 BCE to unify the Greek city-states?

What was the title given to Philip by the members of the League of Corinth?

Which Greek city-state remained outside of Philip's control?

Who assassinated Philip of Macedon, and in what year did this occur?

What was the role of Alexander the Great in the continuation of Philip's efforts to unify Greece?

What was the nature of the oath that the city-states had to commit to as part of the League of Corinth?