The Conquering Father Who Made an Empire-Building Son

The Conquering Father Who Made an Empire-Building Son

If asked to think about the greatest generals of the ancient world, one name is likely to come to mind first: Alexander the Great — the incomparable military commander who amassed the world's largest empire by the time he was but thirty years old. A name that probably won't come to mind, however, is that of Philip the II, Alexander's father.


But my guest today argues that if Philip hadn't done all that he did, Alexander wouldn't have been able to do all that he did. His name is Adrian Goldsworthy, and he's a classical historian and the author of numerous books on antiquity, including Philip and Alexander: Kings and Conquerors. Adrian first surveys the state of the Macedonians before Philip assumed the throne, sharing how they differed from other Greeks, who actually weren’t sure Macedonians even counted as fellow Greeks, and how Macedon was burdened with political instability, a deficient army, and a palace full of deadly intrigue. Adrian then explains how Philip, despite having little political or military experience, was able to take control and turn his army and kingdom around, including the innovations in weaponry and tactics that allowed him to achieve domination in Greece. We then talk about the relationship between Philip and his son Alexander, and how Alexander inherited many things from his father that set him up for his own success, including the plan to invade the Persian Empire. We end our conversation exploring the question of whether Philip, if he had lived longer, could have achieved what Alexander did.


After the show is over, check out the show notes at aom.is/philipandalexander

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jaksot(1158)

#255: The Joy of Missing Out - Getting Control of Your Digital Life

#255: The Joy of Missing Out - Getting Control of Your Digital Life

Do you feel overwhelmed by your digital devices? Do you constantly have an itch to check your phone even when you’re trying to focus on important work or interacting with your loved ones? Do you find ...

25 Marras 201640min

#254: The Fall of Rome

#254: The Fall of Rome

The fall of the Roman Empire has been a cultural touchstone in the West for centuries. It’s been used as a warning of what can happen to a society that gets off track. While lots of ink has been spilt...

22 Marras 201652min

#253: Why Men Hate Going to Church

#253: Why Men Hate Going to Church

Earlier this year we published an in-depth series about masculinity and the Christian religion — in particular, why it is that in nearly all Christian churches the world over, women outnumber men. One...

17 Marras 201648min

#252: Deadly Survival Skills From a Navy SEAL

#252: Deadly Survival Skills From a Navy SEAL

Last year I had a fella by the name of Clint Emerson on the podcast. He’s a retired Navy SEAL and he came on the show to talk about his first book, "100 Deadly Skills: The SEAL Operative’s Guide to El...

16 Marras 201644min

#251: Be an Entrepreneur Without Quitting Your Day Job

#251: Be an Entrepreneur Without Quitting Your Day Job

The popular idea of the entrepreneur is that he’s a renegade risk-taker who goes all in with following his passion so that he can get out of the 9-5 rat race.But what if you enjoy your day job at the ...

11 Marras 201639min

#250: The Art of Strategy

#250: The Art of Strategy

Whether you’re a businessman, a statesman, a general, or a parent, you’re strategizing on a daily basis. So how do you do it better?My guest today will provide some insights. His name is Barry Nalebuf...

9 Marras 201653min

#249: The Benefits of Pride

#249: The Benefits of Pride

Pride. It’s been called one of the deadly sins.But what if pride holds the key to human success and flourishing?Well, that’s the argument my guest makes in her book, "Take Pride." Her name is Jessica ...

5 Marras 201650min

#248: Why Football Matters

#248: Why Football Matters

Football is often used as a metaphor for life.What is it about football that makes it so adept at providing lessons on living, what specific lessons can we gleam from the sport, and are those lessons ...

31 Loka 201638min

Suosittua kategoriassa Koulutus

rss-murhan-anatomia
psykopodiaa-podcast
voi-hyvin-meditaatiot-2
rss-narsisti
adhd-podi
rss-rahamania
psykologia
kesken
ihminen-tavattavissa-tommy-hellsten-instituutti
rss-valo-minussa-2
rss-vapaudu-voimaasi
leikitaanko-laakaria
jari-sarasvuo-podcast
rss-duodecim-lehti
rss-tietoinen-yhteys-podcast-2
mielipaivakirja
rss-turun-yliopisto
rahapuhetta
rss-niinku-asia-on
rss-liian-kuuma-peruna