The Destruction of Thebes (335 to 334 B.C.E.)

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  • Опубликовано: 19 мар 2018
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    Sources:
    “Anabasis of Alexander,” by Arrian: amzn.to/2u0x1EF
    “Library of History,” by Diodorus Siculus: amzn.to/2HLMNW2
    “Parallel Lives: The Life of Alexander,” by Plutarch: amzn.to/2HIT1Wu
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Комментарии • 1,7 тыс.

  • @Omnipotentmonkey
    @Omnipotentmonkey 5 лет назад +3492

    Thebes: "Hey, Athens... are you guys coming? situation's getting a bit sketchy here."
    ✔ Seen 334 BCE

  • @justafaniv1097
    @justafaniv1097 6 лет назад +1647

    "We'll hand over our leaders when you hand over your tyrant", sounds like the Thebans picked up some of that classic Spartan wit.

  • @CareerKnight
    @CareerKnight 6 лет назад +2986

    Poor Thebes, well I'm sure something like this will never happen again, right Corinth? Corinth? Rome what happened to Corinth?

    • @yayjuiws4224
      @yayjuiws4224 6 лет назад +505

      CareerKnight
      Rome: Wait who? what? what Corinth? I remember something named Carth.... wait, what am I saying again?

    • @Anaris10
      @Anaris10 6 лет назад +310

      Corinth, Carthage.....same fate..

    • @aramhalamech4204
      @aramhalamech4204 6 лет назад +108

      Anaris10 when you ask the romans what happened to the carthaginian means of production...

    • @grunt2926
      @grunt2926 5 лет назад +100

      Carthage? Who? What's Carthage?

    • @newjones1754
      @newjones1754 5 лет назад +9

      ​@@grunt2926 You kidding right you should know hannibal and where did he came from
      ? Btw the Mongols are the king in destroying city's. Rome could learn something from them.

  • @CunkGungler
    @CunkGungler 6 лет назад +1882

    Whenever Historia Civilis uploads it's like saturnalia has come early

  • @maxis2k
    @maxis2k 5 лет назад +365

    Olympias: "Son, I just wanted to tell you...I slept with a snake."
    Alexander: "So, you're saying I'm a god!"
    Olympias: "....yeah. Let's go with that."

    • @barbatvs8959
      @barbatvs8959 4 года назад +9

      David Icke the shill would have something to say about those Reptilians.

    • @Matthew-Anthony
      @Matthew-Anthony 3 года назад +1

      When did Olympias say that she "slept with a snake"?

    • @1Phase1
      @1Phase1 3 года назад +32

      @@Matthew-Anthony I believe that it's a joke based on the famous sexual life of Zeus, who was also known to often shapeshift. You combine shapeshifting with hyper-promiscuity, and uh...it can cause some very weird situations involving mortal women and how exactly their demigod children were conceived. At least he shifts back into his man form in most of the stories, but I do believe there was one specific tale where Zeus impregnated a woman while being a bull, so...yeah. Hence the, "slept with a snake" joke.

    • @Matthew-Anthony
      @Matthew-Anthony 3 года назад +1

      @@1Phase1 I thought Zeus seduced a woman as a swan, not a snake or bull.

    • @Samtember
      @Samtember 3 года назад +4

      @@Matthew-Anthony Olympias was known to sleep with snakes in her bed. It was one of the things that made her so intimidating.

  • @frankhorrigan6950
    @frankhorrigan6950 4 года назад +686

    Fun fact: While Alexander was in Troy he took sacred shield from the Trojan temple of Athena, that shield would later save his life while fighting the fearsome Mallians in the distant Indus Valley.

    • @wankawanka3053
      @wankawanka3053 2 года назад +5

      Who said that

    • @piza.3232
      @piza.3232 2 года назад +29

      @@wankawanka3053 Sun Tzu said that!

    • @alanpennie8013
      @alanpennie8013 2 года назад +5

      @@capablanc
      Sacred shields especially.

    • @horuslupercalaurelian1569
      @horuslupercalaurelian1569 2 года назад +5

      That's cool! Is it true or just myth?

    • @qwertygirl334675
      @qwertygirl334675 2 года назад +13

      @@horuslupercalaurelian1569 Likely mythical, however there is mounting evidence that the city of Troy did exist at one point. Haven't heard anything about the shield, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's written somewhere.

  • @KTChamberlain
    @KTChamberlain 5 лет назад +372

    Alexander: "Read my lips: No more taxes!" (one season later) "I need loans and quick."

    •  2 года назад +3

      A loan is way better than taxes, only the loaners (rich people) can be affected

    • @Prodigi50
      @Prodigi50 Год назад +3

      @ How do you think the rich got their money back then?

    •  Год назад

      @@Prodigi50 goods and services, harvesting their lands and giving out loans. Tax was used mainly for armies and it was paid mostly by the rich. Only high government officials earned well from taxes, but they were already rich from other means because that’s basically a requirement to get to that position.

    • @infidelheretic923
      @infidelheretic923 14 дней назад

      Essentially he set up his financial system to rely on conquest.
      A risky move.

  • @guts7179
    @guts7179 6 лет назад +795

    Me for 2 months: Caesar crosses the Rubicon and then? And then??
    HC: Ayy lmao, let's just go back to greek history
    Still like it tho

    • @Braila2000
      @Braila2000 6 лет назад +19

      I understand how you feel bro. Now, Caesar Ilerda campaign is next. I always read about it, but never fully understood it (english is not my native language)...so you imagine for how long i wait. He really needs a partner to make videos more frequently

    • @Usammityduzntafraidofanythin
      @Usammityduzntafraidofanythin 6 лет назад +2

      Just read Rubicon by Tom Holland.

    • @nomooon
      @nomooon 5 лет назад +7

      @@Usammityduzntafraidofanythin The Spiderman is well learned!

    • @Usammityduzntafraidofanythin
      @Usammityduzntafraidofanythin 5 лет назад +1

      @@nomooon Wait, is spiderman played by Tom Holland too?
      EDIT: It's a different Tom Holland, obviously. Yah jerk.

    • @nomooon
      @nomooon 5 лет назад +1

      @@Usammityduzntafraidofanythin was just kidding :)

  • @5chr4pn3ll
    @5chr4pn3ll 6 лет назад +208

    Time to feel bad for tiny squares again!

    • @geekzombie8795
      @geekzombie8795 10 месяцев назад

      True, I still remember the joy of seeing Caesar and Cicero greet each other at the coast (especially the animation), and feeling sad when Cicero was murdered.

  • @cia5791
    @cia5791 6 лет назад +641

    I just want to give a VERY big thank you to the person behind this channel. I have been watching this channel for 2 years now and it is by far my favorite channel. Everytime i see you uploading a video it makes my day, as a history junk( especially for the time period you mostly cover) i want to thank you this way since I do not have any spare money for patreon( I'm a student so broke AF)

    • @Usammityduzntafraidofanythin
      @Usammityduzntafraidofanythin 6 лет назад +41

      Historia Civil changed my fucking life. My dog died, my GF left me, and I was fired from my job for being autistic, but now watching these videos has made me want to MOVE ORN WITH MY LOIFE, and I'm very thankful. Because of HC, I found a new job, mortgaged an apt and turned my life around.
      Thank you HC, it's all because of you.

    • @paulryan2128
      @paulryan2128 2 года назад +5

      @@Usammityduzntafraidofanythin You forgot to mention that you're dyslexic and your pick-up truck broke down on the highway.

    • @General12th
      @General12th Год назад

      @@paulryan2128 My self-driving pickup truck ran away with my husband and now I don't know WHAT to do!

    • @bioemiliano
      @bioemiliano 5 месяцев назад

      His video on the assassination of Caesar got me into history

  • @MrVlogman101
    @MrVlogman101 6 лет назад +2008

    The more I learn about Athenian democracy the less Im convinced by it

    • @GerryBolger
      @GerryBolger 6 лет назад +374

      Daniel Gazizov I think the Romans ironed out a lot of wrinkles in the Athenian form of democracy. Neither Athens or Rome ever really practiced the form of democracy they held in such high regard.

    • @timothymclean
      @timothymclean 6 лет назад +430

      To be fair, do Americans really practice the form of democracy we hold in such high regard?

    • @VineFynn
      @VineFynn 6 лет назад +92

      Athenian democracy was pretty awful. We don't take much from it in modern systems.

    • @GerryBolger
      @GerryBolger 6 лет назад +171

      Timothy McLean I'm not American but from looking at American democracy from the outside I'd say that right now, it's no better than Athenian democracy. Just a little less bloody.

    • @praiza1481
      @praiza1481 6 лет назад +65

      This is exactly why many Greeks, including Athenians, looked favorably upon monarchy. Way before the time of Philip and Alexander, during the golden age of Athenian power, there were some, like Xenophon, who would say out loud that their political system was broken.

  • @CrimsonDragon15
    @CrimsonDragon15 5 лет назад +291

    Alexander: "We are invading Persia to liberate the Greeks!"
    Also Alexander: "Enslave the population of Thebes and sell them!"

    • @Matthew-Anthony
      @Matthew-Anthony 3 года назад +3

      That you for explaining that, Aung.

    • @dimitrisg45
      @dimitrisg45 2 года назад +5

      Well Thebes collsborsted with Persia during the Greco Persian wars . So I don't mind 😘

    • @dimitrisg45
      @dimitrisg45 2 года назад +1

      @Hernando Malinche and they were also paid by Persians to delay any attack or formation of the hellenic league 🤡🤡🤡 . Basically they were asses cuz of the Persian coin even in Philip's and Alexander's hegemony

    • @user-kf8mt5sm3x
      @user-kf8mt5sm3x 2 года назад +1

      @Hernando Malinche there was a lot of bad blood between the kingdom of Macedonia and Thebes, although the city of Thebes had a lot of respect among the cities of ancient Greece (Cadmus, house of Lavdakus etc.), its decisions as well as its acts were questionable the least, always on the side of Persians never on the side of Greeks became leaders of the greek world as soon as the Spartans grew fat and lazy following their victory over Athens in the 30 year Peloponnese war. The Thebans of course, even afterwards Leuktra, never dared to throw their weight around Athens or Sparta, instead they did it to Macedonia... Alexander's father himself, Philip II lived as "hostage" in Thebes most of his teens and early adolescent life...Even after Alexander's star was starting not just to shine but to blind, they were the first and fiercest questioners of his rule. Alexander being the practical man that he was, had to set an example...noone gave him wrong, I bet the ppl of Plataiea even applaud him...

    • @SpartanLeonidas1821
      @SpartanLeonidas1821 2 года назад +7

      @Hernando Malinche
      "...do not forget *Greece, Alexander* ..It was for *her sake* that you launched your whole expedition, *to add Asia to Greece* ..."
      *-Arrian [Anabasis of Alexander 4.11.7]*
      ----------------------------------------
      «...καὶ ἐγὼ τῆς *Ἑλλάδος* μεμνῆσθαί σε ἀξιῶ, ὦ *Αλέξανδρε* ἧς ἕνεκα ὁ *πᾶς στόλος σοι* ἐγένετο, *προσθεῖναι τὴν Ἀσίαν τῇ Ἑλλάδι* ..»
      *-Ἀρριανός [Ἀλεξάνδρου Ἀνάβασις 4.11.7]*

  • @HistoryMarche
    @HistoryMarche 6 лет назад +310

    I would say that point 1. was definitely the reason why Alexander sucked up to Parmenion. Although he managed to rally support to stabilize the realm, keeping it long-term is a whole new ball game and he needed powerful and influential people by his side, and who better than Parmenion. Fascinating video, rich with information. Thank you!

    • @saeedvazirian
      @saeedvazirian 3 года назад +2

      lmao stabilize and long-term. Those are 2 things Macedonians utterly sucked at. You['re so ddamn confused.

    • @Pro_Butcher_Amateur_Human
      @Pro_Butcher_Amateur_Human 3 года назад +3

      I wouldn't imagine it's so clear cut, it rarely is. People's motivations are usually much more nebulous.
      Likely, all these considerations crossed Alexander's mind, although certainly one or two would have been more prominent reasons.

    • @itarry4
      @itarry4 3 года назад

      Have you read the David Gemmell books about Parmenion? They aren't actually real history but they use the real history to create 2 amazing fantasy books.

    • @serban031
      @serban031 2 года назад +1

      @@saeedvazirian What are you on about? Macedonia under both Philip and Alexander were quite stable, and both kings maintained a view toward long-term growth and stability. Philip's entire strategy in growing Macedonia was explicitly playing toward the long-term. Kings and Generals made a phenomenal video talking exactly about this topic. Alexander treated his conquered people well, understanding that Cyrus's strategy of integration was a far better ticket to stability and success than to treat all conquered peoples as slaves. More so, he even aided his new subject kings. Quite famously he allowed Porus to retain his kingdom and even expanded it after defeating him at the Hydaspes. His policy of integrating the native Persians as full citizens and soldiers of equal pay, both in their own regiments but also mixed in with preexisting Macedonian ones, while creating some discontent among the Macedonians at first, actually helped maintain a cohesive force in loyalty and eagerness to him. Alexander's greatest failure as a king was not having an heir sooner. The whole "to the strongest" thing rings of revisionism but it's hard to fathom the potential future of his empire had he a son shortly after ascending to the throne of Macedon in 336 BCE, instead of 323 BCE after his death.

    • @TheSuperappelflap
      @TheSuperappelflap Год назад +1

      Why not all 3? Theyre all valid reasons. More generally, there is a pretty obvious reason why Alexander wanted to maintain good relations with his fathers supporters and the Macedonian aristocracy and generals. They had clearly been very succesful with Phillip, and they supported Alexander as his heir, and they had more experience than he did in war and governance, so why change a winning team? He inherited a very powerful and effective support system.

  • @javierkumar2513
    @javierkumar2513 4 года назад +59

    Theban 1: I thought you were guarding the seventh gate
    Theban 2: weren’t you meant to do that?
    Theban 1: ....

  • @Knowledgia
    @Knowledgia 6 лет назад +394

    A very informative video! Keep it up buddy!

    • @ngolokante7805
      @ngolokante7805 3 года назад +1

      .bhtjhbbxxybxf&66&5-+-&-+-&

    • @luc-405
      @luc-405 3 года назад +16

      He's not your buddy, pal

    • @Madwy-ml6qb
      @Madwy-ml6qb 3 года назад +19

      @@luc-405 he’s not your pal, guy.

    • @jamescusack6511
      @jamescusack6511 3 года назад +10

      @@Madwy-ml6qb he’s not your guy, friend-o

    • @kaiservoldemort4385
      @kaiservoldemort4385 3 года назад +7

      @@jamescusack6511 He's not your friend, person.

  • @reddishcat1
    @reddishcat1 6 лет назад +619

    For anyone who though Thebes was in in Egypt like me. you are right there was a city there with the same name

    • @nikofloros
      @nikofloros 6 лет назад +37

      Wander Milder Yep, there are/have been Thebes all over the place! That's what you get when your a merchancent society.

    • @franzluggin398
      @franzluggin398 6 лет назад +109

      It's mainly that the Greeks just didn't bother to learn local names and gave all the other places they went to or traded with Greek names instead of their own indigeous ones. In Egyptian, the city was called "Wa-set" or something along those lines.

    • @nikofloros
      @nikofloros 6 лет назад +81

      I mean it's not a Greek specific thing. All traveling peoples name where they go after where they're from. Greeks aren't lazy or something, they're just normal sentimental humans.

    • @feynstein1004
      @feynstein1004 6 лет назад +1

      Lol I got that from The Mummy animated series. Good times.

    • @afoytopathsa9129
      @afoytopathsa9129 6 лет назад +27

      Dont forget about Alexandria .. there are many cities in Asia :D

  • @njstuckey
    @njstuckey 6 лет назад +229

    This channel has mastered the right frequency of content. Not so much that it gets watered down and crappy, but often enough that we don't forget about it or get frustrated waiting. I've seen many good channels go one way or the other, here's hoping historia civilis stays this way as long as the creator can do it :D

  • @Life4Metalcore
    @Life4Metalcore 6 лет назад +486

    But but but... what about the Julio-Pompeian War? Can’t leave us hanging like that!

    • @Braila2000
      @Braila2000 6 лет назад +37

      I dont know why he keeps us waiting for that. It's not like he have many series to cover, like other chanells. I am waiting for months to see another battle of Caesar

    • @Life4Metalcore
      @Life4Metalcore 6 лет назад +48

      Helios Sphere I’ve read the books doesn’t mean I don’t like seeing the show

    • @Braila2000
      @Braila2000 6 лет назад +2

      Helios Sphere, stop being a troll

    • @MrVlogman101
      @MrVlogman101 6 лет назад +13

      He commented on Patreon that there is a video on that coming soonish

    • @Braila2000
      @Braila2000 6 лет назад +3

      Soon = a few months after he makes other boring videos about politics LOL

  • @oWallis
    @oWallis 6 лет назад +567

    Nothing makes me happier than seeing the email for early access to the next video. Squares are love, squares are life.

    • @Jesse__H
      @Jesse__H 6 лет назад +16

      At the end of these videos I always get kinda frustrated that they're not triple or quadruple the length!

    • @floydlooney6837
      @floydlooney6837 5 лет назад +2

      You should check out a game called Mini-Metro. You'll see squares differently as well as circles and triangles.

  • @timothymclean
    @timothymclean 6 лет назад +1372

    It never fails to shock me how reliant ancient armies were on looting. I'm glad that we have a more civilized system in the modern era (paying for armies with taxes, and getting the money back by exploiting the country once we've forced it to be friendly towards the army's patron).

    • @HateTaxesWASt
      @HateTaxesWASt 6 лет назад +247

      It also makes the soldiers more allied to the nation and not the general.

    • @SeresTheZocker
      @SeresTheZocker 6 лет назад +79

      The more things change the more they stay the same

    • @HateTaxesWASt
      @HateTaxesWASt 6 лет назад +95

      DarkPriest Play there is a such thing as a "more" civilized war.

    • @GorinRedspear
      @GorinRedspear 6 лет назад +63

      Sorry to disagree. What was the 'oil for freedom' program again? Putting a front on it doesn't change the fact that Iraqi oil revenue was being sent to the US.

    • @dardo1201
      @dardo1201 6 лет назад +116

      You could almost argue that war ... war never changes.

  • @pontuslidekil6840
    @pontuslidekil6840 6 лет назад +69

    I love the episode. My best part was when the 6 orange cubes killed another orange cube on the orders of a dark red cube. :p

    • @sleazymeezy
      @sleazymeezy 4 года назад +4

      My favourite part was when the sports team member sports actioned the sports object all the way to the end of the sports arena. Go team!

    • @dotmashrc
      @dotmashrc 2 года назад +2

      square*

  • @casparcoaster1936
    @casparcoaster1936 4 года назад +29

    these videos have helped me (an old yank who had a US public education) understand why a UK "classical education", Greek & Latin, et al. was worthwhile, or at least interesting. These are great stories, I am grateful to the people producing this stuff, I didn't expect to ever read much of Greek & Roman history, cuz I am too lazy. But I LOVE listening to this stuff, and the artwork doesn't distract or detract from the story, really does help the story line, it's a unique way to go, I hope they use this in other forms of educational videos. Alright, I have to get out my checkbook (atm card), after I have a medium bong hit, I will I will, well, I should (shall) will.

    • @TheSuperappelflap
      @TheSuperappelflap Год назад +2

      Just being able to read Latin and/or Greek is worthwhile for its own sake. Not only can you translate books that people wrote 2000 or 3000 years ago, which is fascinating and quite a bit of fun, it also gives a good basis for an understanding of the etymology of many words that are used in modern English, and in other European languages, which is also a lot of fun if you have any interest in understanding your own native tongue.
      Additionally, having a basic understanding of Latin makes it much easier to learn most modern European languages. English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, even Romanian, Russian, and the Baltic languages borrow heavily from Latin and Greek vocabulary and grammar. I dont speak more than 5 words of Italian but in written form I can understand a significant portion of the words just from the Latin words they are derived from. Modern German grammar and declensions are nearly an exact copy of the Latin grammatical system, down to the order of verbs in a sentence.

  • @fuzzydunlop7928
    @fuzzydunlop7928 6 лет назад +56

    "Thebes? More like DWEEBS! Ahuhuhuhuh. Right mom!?" - Alexander of Macedon - 335 B.C.E

  • @nikofloros
    @nikofloros 6 лет назад +19

    The story telling aspect of this episode is especially fantastic... Including the non military context for a lot of the stuff going on is a really wonderful touch.

  • @thedisturbedpreist
    @thedisturbedpreist 3 года назад +16

    The simplistic animation appeals to me and calms me, his accent is smooth and silky. The history he is teaching is genuinely interesting when he’s teaching it.

  • @EdeYOlorDSZs
    @EdeYOlorDSZs 6 лет назад +16

    It's fascinating how young Alexander actually is during all of his conquests.

  • @marcoc4253
    @marcoc4253 5 лет назад +2

    I have seen many , many, videos on war and tactics etc. Hands down!!! This is the most entertaining and best description, on any video , so well put together, the music, the quotes, the whole lot of it. Thank you. More please on all of your work. Truly stimulating.

  • @warpedreality7988
    @warpedreality7988 6 лет назад +24

    It's the best time of the month when a new Historia Civilis video comes out

  • @TathD
    @TathD 5 лет назад +8

    I hope you continue this series someday! You explain lucidly, without glossing over too many of the complexities.

  • @all7ofthem716
    @all7ofthem716 6 лет назад +51

    Historia Civilis uploading is like Christmas but better and more often

  • @MrSupergingerman
    @MrSupergingerman 6 лет назад +2

    I'm always so happy to see these! Favorite channel on RUclips for sure.

  • @TheBehemothGod
    @TheBehemothGod 6 лет назад

    Your videos always get uploaded in the middle of my night shifts and they always make my night better. Thankyou HC keep up the amazing work.

  • @maxxxstrong4577
    @maxxxstrong4577 6 лет назад +3

    Love this channel, love the comments from the community. Keep it up boys.

  • @M_Chen333
    @M_Chen333 6 лет назад +28

    6:05 "We are told that Alexander lost about 500 men, which was Alexander's heaviest losses to date." 500 men. Heaviest losses. Damn, this Alexander guy was pretty good, wasn't he?

    • @LuizAlexPhoenix
      @LuizAlexPhoenix 3 года назад +2

      If your phallanx doesn't turn and flee, it's gonna be tough to kill them.

    • @PugnaciousProductions
      @PugnaciousProductions 2 года назад +2

      @@LuizAlexPhoenix There is a reason why phalanxes are infamous.

    • @user-kf8mt5sm3x
      @user-kf8mt5sm3x 2 года назад +1

      He was brilliant in all aspects of life...a bit megalomaniac though

    • @nehankaranch2149
      @nehankaranch2149 2 года назад

      500 was a huge number at that time

  • @TheWeis
    @TheWeis 6 лет назад

    I watch all of your videos twice. Once during the early access, then again when they go live! Favorite channel

  • @kriosatimoss6562
    @kriosatimoss6562 6 лет назад +1

    Awesome video man, you always keep such a high level of quality on all your work. Please do more Alexander videos, and try and get in some stuff on the successor kingdoms as well, if possible. It's amazing how much this period of history is glossed over by most historians considering it is in my opinion arguably the most drama rich and epic time period in all antiquity. Keep up the amazing work.

  • @justindowning3845
    @justindowning3845 6 лет назад +9

    You have such great content. Please never stop =)

  • @fedorawearingscrublord1735
    @fedorawearingscrublord1735 6 лет назад +64

    Your videos make my day.

  • @justhere4comment
    @justhere4comment 6 лет назад

    Thanks for posting this on my birthday. You're my favorite channel!

  • @aslunku
    @aslunku 6 лет назад

    Seriously can’t thank you enough for how happy these videos make me!

  • @GorinRedspear
    @GorinRedspear 6 лет назад +47

    12:30 Another way of looking at it is that he rewarded the men his father depended on during his reign (and who would have known Alexanders since he was a baby) to signify that he was not going to change everything. He did not just flatter people for politics alone, Antipater and Parmenion were not only highly influential on the political level, they were also highly capable at their jobs. Antipater would later crush the Spartans when they revolted and Parmenion would conquer Anatolia on his own (well, with an army of course).

    • @Braila2000
      @Braila2000 6 лет назад

      Before Alexander died, the tentions between Alexander and Antipater grew. Alexander quite hated Philip old guard, but at the beginning of his campaign he needed it

    • @jamesthebearbear6563
      @jamesthebearbear6563 5 лет назад

      Well said! Excellent additional info...

    • @Alizudo
      @Alizudo 5 лет назад +1

      Does it bother anyone else that "Antipater" translated into English means "Not-Father"? Was he castrated at birth? Why were his parents so confident that he wouldn't have kids that they named him that? Did he name himself that? Is it a nickname? So many questions

    • @jasondoe2596
      @jasondoe2596 4 года назад +2

      Unknown name, more like "opposing-father" than "not-father"... Maybe he had *really* bad relationships with his parents? :P

  • @Adamsauce99
    @Adamsauce99 6 лет назад +12

    it's a good day when Historia Civilis uploads :D

  • @gilsileiamariadias307
    @gilsileiamariadias307 6 лет назад

    A Hello from Brazil! Keep doing what you're doing because its an excellent job.
    Strenght and Honor!

  • @AcolyteFlo
    @AcolyteFlo 6 лет назад

    Dude I saw all your videos and I love them!!! Don't you ever abandon doing this!! You're really good!

  • @serban031
    @serban031 2 года назад +12

    It is interesting how Arrian relates this battle. Instead of being a more proper battle as you depict it here, he narrates that it was a siege in which the Thebans were holding relatively forward positions at the defensive works in front of the walls, but not so much on the walls themselves. According to Arrian, Perdiccas initiated the battle but was injured as he was breaking through the palisades. There was a bit of a back and forth before Alexander engaged his phalanx which put the Thebans to flight. In their retreat, they were very closely followed by the Macedonians who made it through the gates before they could be shut. Some joined the garrison in the Cadmea, one of the hills and fortifications inside the city (in Arrian's version, the Macedonian garrison in Thebes was essentially being besieged by the Thebans before Alexander came), and together took over the city, after which the Phocians, Plateans, and other Boetians began the slaughter and destruction of the city in retaliation for Thebes's long history of screwing people over (the Plateans especially during the Second Peloponnesian War).
    This is where Arrian's account of this becomes rather interesting. He makes it sound as if it wasn't Alexander's idea to destroy the city, but that he did it since so much slaughter and damage had been done, and that he believed, at least at the time, that Thebes deserved it as punishment for its past transgressions. This is a common theme in Greek history and mythology, that Thebes is in general the city of greatest misfortune (Oedipus and post-Oedipus events) and the ones usually committing the greatest transgressions. Alexander does regret his actions, according to Arrian, but that's something that's very common to Arrian. He's an apologist, so with very few exceptions, the more monstrous things Alexander did or allowed to happen are either someone else's fault, or glossed over.
    it is very fascinating that there are multiple, quite various versions of this battle. I think some of the elements of Arrian's narrative seem more plausible. The soldiers pushing into the city before the gates are closed during the Theban retreat makes more sense to me than the Thebans forgetting a gate open. It does make more sense that the Thebans would be fighting tenaciously given that they were one of the most powerful Greek cities at this time, and the Sacred Band had only been killed a few years earlier, and some of that experience likely still persisted in their military. As a final note, Arrian's account attributes fewer losses, but it was the trend setter (along with a previous battle) of the commanders of the archers dying in battle.

    • @Mentorship4A
      @Mentorship4A Год назад

      Great summary.

    • @TheSuperappelflap
      @TheSuperappelflap Год назад

      The reason to have the city destroyed from Alexanders perspective is simple; he could on the short term sell the people into slavery for some quick cash and placate the local Greek cities by allowing them to plunder the city long term, deconstruct its buildings and haul off all that precious marble, so theyd be busy with that for a while instead of fighting each other to fill the power vacuum which would require Alexander to post a garrison or periodically send armies around to teach them some manners.

  • @Aravaganthus
    @Aravaganthus 6 лет назад +31

    So... was there a secret suicide pact between the Theban leadership or something? It sounds like they went out of their way to get Alexandered into oblivion-.

    • @tylerdurden3722
      @tylerdurden3722 5 лет назад +12

      Nah...It's how they got rid of the Spartans. They thought it would work twice.
      Thebes was one of the oldest cities and is prominent in lots of mythological stories. So it's sentimental to Greet culture. Alexander sent a huge message when he erased that specific city. Sentiment won't save them if they step out of line.

  • @santaca
    @santaca 6 лет назад

    Thank you for this amazing Alexander video. I didn't know about most of the info you gave.
    Keep them up !

  • @demondeacon69
    @demondeacon69 6 лет назад

    love your channel. Its a true gem and your format is great. Please upload as much as you can because we all love your content.

  • @vincentholden3896
    @vincentholden3896 6 лет назад +4

    Out of all the historical channels, you are definitely the best one. Keep doing what you're doing, dude!

  • @ieuanhunt552
    @ieuanhunt552 6 лет назад +249

    I just realised that this guy has a Canadian accent.

    • @Strideo1
      @Strideo1 6 лет назад +71

      How did you figure that oot?

    • @nkl7345
      @nkl7345 6 лет назад +58

      Never noticed despite being Canadian myself, guess we don't really see ourselves having accents

    • @kelamullah1999
      @kelamullah1999 6 лет назад +45

      He's one of our own
      He's one of our own
      Historia Civilis
      He's one of our own

    • @stipicaradic
      @stipicaradic 6 лет назад +11

      He pronounces Attalus as Addalus.

    • @merrittanimation7721
      @merrittanimation7721 6 лет назад +3

      He does?

  • @grahamhill9461
    @grahamhill9461 4 года назад

    I am really enjoying these. Great voice and delivery easy listening and educational. I feel smarter already. Thank you.

  • @harmony.enforcer
    @harmony.enforcer 6 лет назад +1

    Your videos always get me completely immersed in the history of these people

  • @THEJaManes
    @THEJaManes 6 лет назад +80

    Ye there will be some more Roman SPQRposting!

    • @timothymclean
      @timothymclean 6 лет назад +4

      Nope, today it's Greek.

    • @dardo1201
      @dardo1201 6 лет назад +1

      And Carthaginian.

    • @petro_sino
      @petro_sino 6 лет назад +1

      Today is Eurekaposting day

    • @TheMrFu
      @TheMrFu 6 лет назад

      Alexander wasn't greek :-)

    • @qaiser648
      @qaiser648 6 лет назад +2

      Snafu Macedon back then was basically Greek.

  • @Macieks300
    @Macieks300 6 лет назад +13

    These cliffhangers are killing me. And I have the ability to know what happened next in seconds by using google.

  • @iqwrjwqioprwjriopqrjpqowir
    @iqwrjwqioprwjriopqrjpqowir Месяц назад

    You do a every good job at balancing a delicate act. Of balancing both education and narration, without succumbing to making it distractingly "comedic", simplifying the topic and delivering a compelling account on top of all that. I just want to say keep doing what you're doing.

  • @tonyzhu1687
    @tonyzhu1687 6 лет назад

    Thanks so much for the good work mate
    Always happy to see a new upload from this channel

  • @StumpfForFreedom
    @StumpfForFreedom 5 лет назад +52

    "3 Explanations for Alexander giving Parmenion such power"
    4th possible explanation: The guy had shown himself loyal to Alexander's father and loyal to Alexander himself.
    Uh, yeah, if one of my Dad's friends had just saved my ass and was already in the perfect position for my next venture I'd want him right by my side too. If he had a bunch of sons and friends who were competent in the matter at hand, yes, I'd ask them to be on the leadership team.

    • @marcospatricio7455
      @marcospatricio7455 4 года назад +2

      Parmenides was killed like, 6 months later..? Cos one of his sons (Filota, if I remember it correctly) didn't warn Alexander about a coup against his life. The fact that Alexander ordered his death out of sheer fear of revengeful retaliation makes this one very unlikely. Not impossible, but REALLY unlikely.

    • @ErugoPurakushi
      @ErugoPurakushi 4 года назад +9

      @@marcospatricio7455 It was six years later, and Parmenion's son and heir Philotas was convicted of being part of a conspiracy to murder Alexander. Parmenion would also be a possible threat to Alexander if he had learned of his son's execution, since he was commanding an army in Mesopotamia. By current moral standards, Alexander's order to assassinate Parmenion is pretty heinous, but the responsibility of a father for his son's actions was very different in that society. Besides, Alexander had gone fairly crazy by that point.
      My point is, Alexander really did seem to trust and need Parmenion when he appointed him and his family members to their positions. Time passes, circumstances change, and with them so do people's views and character.

    • @marcospatricio7455
      @marcospatricio7455 4 года назад

      @@ErugoPurakushi I'm deeply sorry for the cronology mistake, and really apologise. As a matter of fact, I know but the basics of greek history, and until I learn more (and It will take some time, as the roman republic is complex as fuck), I'll assume you're right.
      However, I'd like to point out that the different relations between father and son in ancient macedon no not go against what I said. If Parmenides was indeed such a trusted figure for Alexander, Filota could've been spared. We don't know much of macedonian law, but we do know that exile was a thing, and that the king had the final word in such things. But once again, it was 6 years later. A lot happened there.
      Also, would you mind telling me where you found written that Filota was directly involved in the murder attempt?

  • @alexanderledvina8743
    @alexanderledvina8743 4 года назад +24

    When you going to continue this series? Nobody goes into as much detail as you do and covers the political and military events to fully understand the period. Your Julius Caesar series is exactly how I'd lime to see you do Alexander. Would love it too if you did the same thing with the important Diodachi (Seleucus, Ptolomy, Antigonus, Eumenes, Perdiccas, Cassander, Lysimachus, ect.)

    • @cube8754
      @cube8754 4 года назад +3

      100 likes plz

  • @Kiaos91
    @Kiaos91 5 лет назад

    Great job! I like the way how you provide background knowledge. Most other channels just focus on battles.

  • @RyanLynch1
    @RyanLynch1 5 лет назад

    when this video started with that music, I knew I was in for something good. I love how you use these motifs throughout your videos!!! I really like the little songs you use :)

  • @ThePoliticalAv
    @ThePoliticalAv 5 лет назад +34

    Where's going to be the continuation of this series on Alexander?

    • @Alex-jd2yx
      @Alex-jd2yx 5 лет назад +2

      There's tons of others on RUclips already but your right different perspectives are good too as well as more detailed versions

    • @brettsnyder5858
      @brettsnyder5858 5 лет назад +5

      i second this. would love to see more alexander the great videos. Dude was an incredible conqueror.

    • @onetwothreefourfive12345
      @onetwothreefourfive12345 4 года назад +1

      ThePoliticalAv watch epic history tv video on alexander. Great stuff. Better than this if im being honest. And im not just talking graphically because honestly it doesnt matter much to me

    • @saeedvazirian
      @saeedvazirian 4 года назад +1

      @@brettsnyder5858 so incredible he killed civilians. yeah.

    • @joeroganstrtshots881
      @joeroganstrtshots881 2 года назад

      @@saeedvazirian delusional Persian nationalist mad because Alexander the Great made his name absolutely wrecking the largest Persian Empire

  • @kohi2919
    @kohi2919 4 года назад +8

    I just discovered historia civilis a day ago and its safe to say that I'm now addicted to colored squares fighting each other

  • @dhue7463
    @dhue7463 6 лет назад

    I love your videos, man! Keep it up! They’re so entertaining and interesting to watch. I’m on a marathon on your channel currently. Thanks!

  • @IcedSynergy
    @IcedSynergy 6 лет назад +1

    Your animations just get better and better! Keep it up

  • @UncleMerlin
    @UncleMerlin 6 лет назад +29

    "macedonia lost 500 men, the most that they have ever lost..." wtf

    • @alexpsaraftis6380
      @alexpsaraftis6380 6 лет назад +3

      Tet Kagamine Until then !!not after the persian invasion

    • @UncleMerlin
      @UncleMerlin 6 лет назад +9

      jesus fucking christ, what was alexander's army? were they using nukes or something?

    • @akSeR2010
      @akSeR2010 5 лет назад +19

      Macedonian army under Philip and Alexander was the best army the world had ever seen until then.

    • @alejandropinedarojas48
      @alejandropinedarojas48 5 лет назад +13

      @@UncleMerlin phalanx, that was like a tank back then.

    • @proudhellene5874
      @proudhellene5874 4 года назад +1

      Jd Pv You do know that Plutarch says everywhere that Alexander was Greek right?

  • @stonem0013
    @stonem0013 4 года назад +9

    Fun fact: Theban women were known for their beauty, which is why the Theban slaves went for such a high price

  • @nikgau
    @nikgau 6 лет назад

    I've been waiting too long for a new video! thank you!!

  • @fulminatus6241
    @fulminatus6241 6 лет назад

    I really enjoyed this video. The details of Alexanders reign from before the campaign are often neglected, but key to the whole thing even getting started.

  • @64standardtrickyness
    @64standardtrickyness 6 лет назад +35

    Can you talk about how is Alexander so extremely lucky?

    • @tajrasti
      @tajrasti 6 лет назад +2

      Destiny. Altho he was not "lucky" enough to escape death.

    • @Braila2000
      @Braila2000 6 лет назад +21

      He escaped death many times

    • @Strideo1
      @Strideo1 6 лет назад +3

      Ibn Muhammad
      No one has been yet.

    • @Zamolxes77
      @Zamolxes77 5 лет назад

      @@Strideo1 Uhm ... one has ....

    • @eddiesid1149
      @eddiesid1149 4 года назад

      He died at age 32

  • @DroidC
    @DroidC 6 лет назад +5

    I kinda forget how brutal the world was not that long ago, thanks for reminding me. (Awesome video!)

    • @hebanker3372
      @hebanker3372 6 лет назад +1

      Things like that happened 70 years ago(you know what i'm talking about).Shit,things like that happened roughly 30 years ago.

    • @pira707
      @pira707 5 лет назад +1

      This type of shit still happens.

  • @cariri12
    @cariri12 6 лет назад

    I love your videos. But this is the best one so far. Just amazing. My first time ever commenting on RUclips because of you. Thank you

  • @RoyalAnarchist
    @RoyalAnarchist 6 лет назад

    Thank you for making these videos!

  • @ahmedbassam400
    @ahmedbassam400 6 лет назад +3

    Omg did you just upload?

  • @DarthVader-wl9kk
    @DarthVader-wl9kk 4 года назад +5

    please continue your alexander the great series

  • @MrSkitlesFiddles
    @MrSkitlesFiddles 6 лет назад

    thank you for blessing me with another video

  • @Aricade111
    @Aricade111 6 лет назад

    Always a pleasure to watch your videos. Thank you for what you do

  • @MRFlackAttack1
    @MRFlackAttack1 4 года назад +6

    You really need to revisit this series and finish it.

  • @bradenatkinson6401
    @bradenatkinson6401 6 лет назад +24

    Im supposed to be working!

    • @l.sandrin1156
      @l.sandrin1156 6 лет назад +2

      Braden Atkinson lol we are in the same situation

  • @Disparanoia
    @Disparanoia 6 лет назад

    I cant thank the gods enough, this is the best channel in all of youtube. Love it.

  • @prula
    @prula Год назад

    Amazing how you manage to play with voice and music in combination!! You are a star!

  • @17Watman
    @17Watman 4 года назад +3

    Please do more videos on Alexander.

  • @DonutKop
    @DonutKop 6 лет назад +3

    That moment when historia civilis posts a video on your birthday :)

  • @AlmightyAjax
    @AlmightyAjax 5 лет назад

    Thanks for all your great videos!!

  • @dannyscott14
    @dannyscott14 6 лет назад

    Great stuff. Always love your videos, this is the best history channel on to my eyes.

  • @kristadisgumundsdottir3658
    @kristadisgumundsdottir3658 6 лет назад +86

    The boxes reached level 2 ? Now with weapons.

  • @matthewdavid6134
    @matthewdavid6134 6 лет назад +8

    Fuck yeah day immediately improved

  • @Epok317
    @Epok317 6 лет назад

    I like how you fit so much information in so little time. It keeps it interesting.

  • @Tom-lr1if
    @Tom-lr1if 6 лет назад

    It always makes my day whenever I see Historia Civilis has posted a video!

  • @Nozdormu1982
    @Nozdormu1982 3 года назад +3

    Maybe the reason Alexander wanted Parmeneon as his 2ic in command is what you explained later about the loans. Alexander foresaw his money issues and needed Parmeneon's support. In fact Parmeneon might have been in on it and either leveraged it himself or demanded positions for his family as levarage in return and therefore create a good opportunity for both himself as well as Alexander.

  • @Ivan2294
    @Ivan2294 6 лет назад +144

    I *had* to look up that bit about Alexander and Hephaestion, and this is what Wikipedia(obviously the best source) said:
    "Apart from Diogenes of Sinope's alleged letter quoted below, heavily hinting at Alexander's yielding to Hephaestion's thighs, ancient sources do not generally mention that Hephaestion and Alexander may have been lovers, as some modern scholars have theorized. Overall direct evidence is non-existent and, at least according to Thomas R. Martin, this was a practice which was uncommon by majority Greek standards of their time.[36]"

    • @Ivan2294
      @Ivan2294 6 лет назад +17

      I guess you never really know though, plus love is a weird thing in different cultures, so it's not that crazy of an idea.

    • @SomethingSeemsOff
      @SomethingSeemsOff 6 лет назад +28

      i wonder if alexander swallows

    • @mysticonthehill
      @mysticonthehill 6 лет назад +1

      Remember though Alexander wasn't a Greek but a Macedonian so perhaps things were different with them.

    • @RedBrigade82
      @RedBrigade82 6 лет назад +12

      I generally agree with Martin, for the most part we have to infer that the Ancient commentators were suggesting their relationship as lovers... although I wonder what the Scholiasts have to say on it and whether he's checked them... I'd have to try to get hold of his book. Two things though: Aelian clearly believes Hephaestion was his eromenos - this is the younger (generally) submissive, but actively seductive partner in the institutionalised male erastes-eromenos relationship. These relationships are expected to be finite. Also, Martin appeals to Homer (who doesn't mention an erotic Patroclus-Achilles relationship) to show that the comparison of Alexander and Hephaestion meant nothing. An appeal to Homer is fine, and it was done in antiquity too... however Homer was not the limit of mythic history. There were a great many epic traditions which have not survived, but which the ancients were well familiar with. Plato (rather Phaedrus) was certain of their relationship (as was Aeschylus) and the issue he wished to discuss was where the two fit in terms of the erastes-eromenos paradigm. Plato, Aeschylus, and Aeschines had access to more oral and written testimonies than we do, so their accounts cannot be discounted. So it must be asked whether there is no mention in Homer because he wasn't aware of the relationship, or didn't like it, or it wasn't an accepted tradition.

    • @RedBrigade82
      @RedBrigade82 6 лет назад +6

      Christos G. Careful! My doctoral advisor has been dragged in front of the human rights tribunal for pointing out such blasphemies! XD

  • @orlandogarcia-gz5mn
    @orlandogarcia-gz5mn 6 лет назад

    Music at the end gets me every time!!! Easily one of my favorite channels!

  • @lodevijk
    @lodevijk 6 лет назад

    I love your videos. Thank you for delivering this awesome stuff to us.

  • @Nevermind301
    @Nevermind301 6 лет назад +4

    I dont think Patroklos is the lover of Achilles. I am currently reading the Iliad and there is no mention of such a relationship.
    I plan to read Arrian in the future but still I can't find any credible evidence that Alexander and Hephestion were a thing.

  • @trygveplaustrum4634
    @trygveplaustrum4634 6 лет назад +3

    3:04 Just a note, Strategy is plural. Each of them would have been a "Strategos."

  • @masonperry9178
    @masonperry9178 6 лет назад

    Excellent series! Thank you for your hard work on it

  • @vanmichael6517
    @vanmichael6517 4 года назад

    Your videos are top of the line! Dont stop you're killing it

  • @giannisd.6587
    @giannisd.6587 5 лет назад +8

    Thebes was my favorite city of the entire antiquity of Greece even though I am an Athenian...

    • @user-kf8mt5sm3x
      @user-kf8mt5sm3x 2 года назад

      Ήταν η ντροπή της αρχαίας Ελλάδας...ρώτα τους Πλαταιεις, τους Βοιωτους ή και τους Ορχωμενιους ακόμα...για να σηκώσουν κεφάλι έπρεπε πρώτα οι Σπαρτιάτες να φτιάξουν "παχύ έντερο" νικώντας τους Αθηναίους στον πελοποννησιακο...

  • @connormcmurphy4276
    @connormcmurphy4276 4 года назад +3

    Is there a video detailing Alexander's expeditions beyond this? I can't find any from historia civilis

    • @cube8754
      @cube8754 4 года назад

      There's a new vid u should see it

  • @Jdp-rl6zy
    @Jdp-rl6zy 6 лет назад

    Just wanted to say I love your videos. And your graphics make it a lot easier to understand. You are incredible! 😀😀😀😀

  • @unwatchabletrash
    @unwatchabletrash 6 лет назад

    I love your video format so much. You are great at storytelling.