E.H. Gombrich 'A Little History of the World' 12. The Greatest Adventure of All' part one

Kent Kently

7 Jan 201714:28

EducationalLearning

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TLDRIn 'A Little History of the World' by Gaborik, Chapter 12 narrates the rise and fall of Greece's splendor, culminating in the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. The conflict led to Athens' defeat and the subsequent Macedonian intervention under King Philip, who aimed to unite Greece and conquer Persia. His son, Alexander, inherited this vision and embarked on a legendary conquest, overcoming the Gordian Knot, and expanding his empire from Greece to Egypt and Persia. Alexander's military genius and cultural respect won him admiration, and he founded Alexandria, a city that flourished for centuries. Despite his desire to explore further east, his soldiers' fatigue forced a retreat. Alexander's story is a testament to ambition, military strategy, and the human cost of empire-building.

Takeaways

🏺 The Greek city-states, particularly Athens and Sparta, were unable to coexist peacefully, leading to the Peloponnesian War.
🗺️ The Peloponnesian War resulted in significant devastation for Athens and the rest of Greece, with Sparta emerging victorious.
🏰 King Philip II of Macedon, a cunning and cultured leader, sought to unite Greece under his rule and used the Delphi crisis as a pretext to intervene.
🗣️ Demosthenes, an Athenian orator, warned against Philip's ambitions in his speeches, known as Philippics, but Greece's division hindered a unified defense.
⚔️ At the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC, Philip defeated the Greek forces and ended their freedom, paving the way for Macedonian dominance.
👑 Philip's son, Alexander the Great, inherited his father's ambitions and Greece, and at a young age, displayed a strong desire to conquer and rule.
📚 Alexander was tutored by Aristotle, who would become a highly influential philosopher, covering a wide range of subjects from natural sciences to ethics.
🏋️‍♂️ Alexander was not just a scholar; he was an exceptional horseman and athlete, famously taming the horse Bucephalus.
🤴 He was well-received by the Greek leaders in Corinth, except for the philosopher Diogenes, with whom Alexander had a notable exchange about simplicity and contentment.
💰 Alexander's generosity was such that he gave away his possessions to his friends before his conquests, demonstrating his confidence and ambition.
🌍 His military campaigns led to the creation of one of the largest empires in the ancient world, stretching from Greece to Egypt and into Persia and India.

Q & A

What was the main reason for the conflict between Athens and Sparta?
-The main reason for the conflict between Athens and Sparta was their inability to live in peace with one another. This led to the Peloponnesian War, a long and bitter conflict between the two states.
What was the impact of the Peloponnesian War on Greece?
-The Peloponnesian War had a devastating impact on Greece. It exhausted the whole country, with Athens losing the war and having its city walls torn down. The conflict also led to a period of instability and division among the Greek states.
Who was King Philip of Macedonia and what was his aim?
-King Philip of Macedonia was a cunning and ambitious ruler who was related to the Greeks but considered barbarous and warlike. His aim was to become the king of all Greece and to create a great army made up of Greeks and Macedonians to invade and conquer Persia.
What was the significance of the Gordian Knot?
-The Gordian Knot was a prophecy that stated whoever could untie it would become the master of the world. Alexander the Great, instead of trying to untie it, simply cut through the knot with his sword, symbolizing his determination to conquer the world and fulfilling the prophecy.
How did Alexander the Great's education influence his reign?
-Alexander the Great was tutored by Aristotle, one of the most famous philosophers of the time. His education covered a wide range of subjects, including natural sciences, politics, logic, ethics, and poetry. This broad knowledge base likely influenced his approach to ruling and his understanding of the world.
What was the reaction of the Greek leaders to Alexander the Great when he summoned them to Corinth?
-The Greek leaders greeted Alexander the Great warmly and lavished him with compliments when he summoned them to Corinth to discuss the Persian campaign. However, one philosopher, Diogenes, asked Alexander to move so that he was not blocking his sunlight, demonstrating a different perspective on life and leadership.
Why did Alexander the Great decide to conquer Egypt before attacking Persia directly?
-Alexander the Great decided to conquer Egypt before attacking Persia directly to avoid the risk of an attack from the rear by the Persian provinces of Phoenicia and Egypt. This strategic move allowed him to secure his flank before engaging in the main conflict.
How did Alexander the Great treat the captured family members of the Persian king?
-Alexander the Great treated the captured family members of the Persian king, including the king's wife and sisters, with the utmost respect and courtesy, demonstrating his adherence to certain principles of chivalry and respect for royalty.
What was the name of the city Alexander the Great founded in Egypt?
-Alexander the Great founded a city in Egypt and named it Alexandria. The city remained one of the richest and most powerful cities in the world for a long time.
What was the reaction of Alexander's soldiers when he wanted to continue his campaign further east?
-When Alexander the Great expressed his desire to continue his campaign further east, his soldiers had had enough. They did not want to march on to the end of the world and wanted to go home. Despite Alexander's pleas, threats, and even a three-day refusal to come out of his tent, the soldiers insisted on turning back.
Why did Alexander the Great's soldiers refuse to continue the campaign into India?
-Alexander the Great's soldiers refused to continue the campaign into India because they were exhausted and homesick. They had been on a long and arduous campaign and wanted to return home, which eventually forced Alexander to abandon his plans to further expand his empire.

Outlines

00:00

🏺 The Peloponnesian War and the Rise of Macedonia

This paragraph covers the decline of Greek unity and the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, which led to the exhaustion of both states. The conflict resulted in the tearing down of Athens' city walls and a weakened Greece. The Macedonians, led by the cunning King Philip, capitalized on this weakness, and despite the warnings of the Athenian orator Demosthenes, the Greeks were unable to mount a defense. By 338 BC, King Philip had conquered Greece, ending its era of freedom. However, Philip's ambitions were not to enslave Greece but to unite it with Macedonia to conquer Persia. His plans were cut short by his assassination, leaving his son, Alexander, to inherit his vision and the preparation for a grand campaign.

05:01

📜 Alexander's Education, Ascendancy, and the Conquest of Asia Minor

The second paragraph delves into Alexander's education under the renowned philosopher Aristotle, covering a wide range of subjects from natural sciences to ethics. Alexander's love for Homer's heroic tales is highlighted, as is his prowess in sports and horse riding, exemplified by his taming of the horse Bucephalus. His diplomatic skills and popularity among the Greek and Macedonian soldiers are noted, setting the stage for his conquests. Alexander's first major military campaign is described, as he successfully invades Asia Minor, overcoming a disorganized Persian army and famously cutting the Gordian Knot, symbolizing his destiny to rule and his straightforward approach to problems. His respect for the captured Persian royal family is also mentioned, showcasing his character.

10:01

🏰 The Siege of Tyre, Conquest of Egypt, and the Battle of Gaugamela

The third paragraph details Alexander's military campaigns as he continues his conquests. The siege of the Phoenician city of Tyre is described, highlighting its brutality after a seven-month struggle. In contrast, the Egyptians quickly surrender to Alexander, who is proclaimed the son of the Sun God, reinforcing his legitimacy as Pharaoh. He founds the city of Alexandria, which becomes a significant center of power. Alexander's march into Persia leads to the Battle of Gaugamela, where he decisively defeats the Persian king's massive army, leading to the king's assassination and Alexander's ascension as the ruler of an empire stretching from Egypt to Persia.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Peloponnesian War

The Peloponnesian War was a long and bitter conflict between the city-states of Athens and Sparta that took place from 431 to 404 BC. It was a significant event in ancient Greece that led to the decline of Athenian supremacy and the weakening of the Greek city-states. In the video, this war is mentioned as a key factor that contributed to the exhaustion of Greece and the subsequent rise of Macedonian influence under King Philip.

💡King Philip of Macedon

King Philip II was the father of Alexander the Great and the ruler of Macedon who played a crucial role in the unification of Greece. He was known for his cunning and strategic prowess. In the video, King Philip is depicted as a key figure who capitalized on the disunity of the Greek city-states, leading to the defeat of the Greeks at Chaeronea in 338 BC, and thus ending their freedom.

💡Aristotle

Aristotle was a renowned Greek philosopher and polymath who became the tutor of Alexander the Great. He is known for his comprehensive works that covered a wide range of subjects, including ethics, politics, logic, natural sciences, and aesthetics. In the video, Aristotle is highlighted as a pivotal influence on Alexander's education and worldview, providing him with a broad knowledge base that he later applied in his conquests.

💡Gordian Knot

The Gordian Knot was a legendary knot that was said to be untied by Alexander the Great by cutting it with his sword, symbolizing his decisive and unconventional approach to problem-solving. The act was seen as fulfilling a prophecy that the one who undid the knot would rule Asia. In the video, the story of the Gordian Knot is used to illustrate Alexander's determination and his belief in his destiny to conquer the known world.

💡Persian Empire

The Persian Empire was one of the largest and most powerful empires of the ancient world, stretching from the Mediterranean to the Indus River. In the video, the Persian Empire is depicted as the primary target of Alexander's conquests, showing the ambition and military prowess of Alexander as he defeats the Persian armies and eventually takes control of the empire.

💡Battle of Gaugamela

The Battle of Gaugamela was a pivotal battle fought in 331 BC between Alexander the Great and the Persian king Darius III. Alexander's victory in this battle led to the fall of the Persian Empire and his establishment as the ruler of a vast empire. In the video, this battle is mentioned as a significant moment in Alexander's conquests, demonstrating his military genius and the culmination of his ambition to rule over the known world.

💡Diogenes

Diogenes of Sinope was a Greek philosopher and one of the founders of Cynic philosophy, known for his ascetic lifestyle and rejection of conventional values. In the video, Diogenes is portrayed as a figure who influenced Alexander with his philosophy of minimalism and self-sufficiency, as illustrated by the anecdote where Alexander offers to fulfill a wish, to which Diogenes requests that Alexander move so he can get more sunlight.

💡Bactria

Bactria was a historical region in Central Asia that was part of the Achaemenid Persian Empire and later conquered by Alexander the Great. It is mentioned in the video as one of the regions that Alexander subdued, showcasing his military campaigns in Asia Minor and his expansionist ambitions.

💡Indus Valley

The Indus Valley refers to the region where the Indus River flows, which was part of ancient India. In the video, Alexander's campaign into the Indus Valley is described as a perilous adventure, highlighting the challenges he faced in his conquest of India, including the resistance from local Indian kings and the difficult terrain.

💡King Porus

King Porus was an Indian ruler who fought against Alexander the Great in the Battle of the Hydaspes. Despite being defeated, Porus was treated with respect by Alexander and was allowed to continue ruling his kingdom. In the video, King Porus is depicted as a formidable opponent whose bravery and kingly demeanor earned him Alexander's admiration and respect.

💡Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great was the king of Macedon who created one of the largest empires in the ancient world through a series of military conquests. In the video, Alexander is portrayed as a charismatic and ambitious leader, whose military campaigns and thirst for conquest led to the creation of an empire that spanned from Greece to India.

Highlights

Greece's age of splendor was short-lived due to internal conflicts, particularly between Athens and Sparta.

The Peloponnesian War (430 BC) was a long and bitter conflict between Athens and Sparta.

Spartans caused significant damage to Athens, including the destruction of olive trees which had long-term economic effects.

Athenians retaliated by attacking Spartan colonies in Syracuse and Sicily.

A terrible plague in Athens claimed the life of Pericles.

Athens ultimately lost the war, leading to the tearing down of the city walls and exhaustion of the country.

The Macedonians, led by King Philip, took advantage of Greece's disarray and aimed to unite Greece under his rule.

The orator Demosthenes warned against King Philip's ambitions but was not heeded due to Greece's division.

In 338 BC, the Greeks were defeated by King Philip, marking the end of their freedom.

King Philip planned to create a great army of Greeks and Macedonians to conquer Persia.

King Philip was assassinated, and his son Alexander inherited the throne at a young age.

Alexander was tutored by the famous philosopher Aristotle, who had a profound influence on him.

Alexander was an exceptional horseman, famously taming the horse Bucephalus.

Alexander was well-received by the Greek leaders in Corinth, except for the philosopher Diogenes.

Alexander's conquests began with Asia Minor, where he famously cut the Gordian Knot, symbolizing his destined world conquest.

Alexander's respect for the captured Persian royal family demonstrated his diplomatic skills.

The Siege of Tyre lasted seven months and showcased Alexander's military prowess.

Egypt willingly surrendered to Alexander, who was proclaimed the son of the Sun God and founded the city of Alexandria.

Alexander decisively defeated the Persian King's army at Gaugamela, leading to his rule over Persia.

Alexander's ambition led him to India, where he faced resistance from the Indian King Porus and the local population.

Despite Alexander's desire to continue eastward, his soldiers' fatigue forced a retreat, marking the end of his expansion.

Transcripts

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E.H. Gombrich 'A Little History of the World' 12. 'The Greatest Adventure of All' concluded

Alexander the Great

E.H. Gombrich 'A Little History of the World' 12. The Greatest Adventure of All' part one

Takeaways

Q & A

What was the main reason for the conflict between Athens and Sparta?

What was the impact of the Peloponnesian War on Greece?

Who was King Philip of Macedonia and what was his aim?

What was the significance of the Gordian Knot?

How did Alexander the Great's education influence his reign?

What was the reaction of the Greek leaders to Alexander the Great when he summoned them to Corinth?

Why did Alexander the Great decide to conquer Egypt before attacking Persia directly?

How did Alexander the Great treat the captured family members of the Persian king?

What was the name of the city Alexander the Great founded in Egypt?

What was the reaction of Alexander's soldiers when he wanted to continue his campaign further east?

Why did Alexander the Great's soldiers refuse to continue the campaign into India?