Alexander the Great: Crash Course World History #8

Summary

In this Crash Course World History episode, John Green explores the concept of greatness through the life of Alexander the Great, questioning traditional historical narratives that celebrate 'Great Men'. Green humorously contrasts modern celebrities like Kim Kardashian and 'The Situation' with historical figures, highlighting the desire for legacy over wealth. He examines Alexander's military achievements, cultural impact, and the myths that surround his legacy, ultimately arguing that greatness is a construct shaped by societal admiration and emulation.

Takeaways

• 🏆 Alexander the Great is a historical figure often celebrated for his military conquests and the establishment of a vast empire, but the concept of 'greatness' is subjective and can vary depending on one's perspective.
• 🤷‍♂️ The script challenges the traditional narrative of history focusing on 'Great Men', pointing out the misogynistic implications and the exclusion of women's contributions.
• 🎓 Alexander was tutored by Aristotle and is known for taming Bucephalus, a horse that no one else could ride, which was an early sign of his exceptional abilities.
• ⚔️ Despite never losing a battle, Alexander's empire was short-lived and fragmented into Hellenistic Kingdoms after his death, indicating his strength in conquest but weakness in statecraft.
• 🏙️ Alexander's legacy includes the establishment of cities like Alexandria in Egypt, which became a major center of learning, showcasing his impact on culture and knowledge.
• 🌍 The spread of the Greek language through Alexander's conquests facilitated communication and commerce, contributing to a more interconnected world.
• 📚 The script humorously suggests that history's focus on 'greatness' has been misguided, comparing the achievements of historical figures to modern celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Mike 'The Situation'.
• 💡 The video posits that Alexander's greatness may be more a result of the legend and stories that have been built around him rather than solely his accomplishments.
• 🔍 The script encourages a reevaluation of what constitutes 'greatness' in history, suggesting that it is not solely the domain of men or those in positions of power.
• 📖 It highlights the importance of considering a broader range of historical actors and their contributions, advocating for a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of the past.
• 🎬 The video's creator, John Green, uses humor and pop culture references to engage viewers and provoke thought about the narratives we choose to celebrate and remember.

Q & A

Who is the presenter of the Crash Course World History series?

The presenter of the Crash Course World History series is John Green.

What is the main topic of the video script provided?

The main topic of the video script is Alexander the Great, exploring his life, achievements, and the concept of greatness in historical context.

Why does John Green mention Kim Kardashian and the Situation in the context of Alexander the Great?

John Green mentions Kim Kardashian and the Situation to contrast the modern-day obsession with celebrities and fame with the historical concept of greatness exemplified by figures like Alexander the Great.

What is the significance of the horse Bucephalus in Alexander's early life?

Bucephalus was a horse that no one else could ride, and Alexander tamed it at the age of 13, impressing his father and symbolizing his destined greatness.

What is the historical criticism regarding the use of the term 'the Great'?

The term 'the Great' has been criticized for being misogynistic and Eurocentric, as it is predominantly used for men and often overlooks the achievements of women and non-Western historical figures.

How did Alexander's military tactics contribute to his reputation as a great general?

Alexander's military tactics, which included the use of long spears called sarissas, contributed to his undefeated record in battles, though some historians debate whether it was his tactics or superior technology that led to his victories.

What was the fate of Alexander's empire after his death?

After Alexander's death, his empire fragmented into three Hellenistic Kingdoms ruled by his generals: the Antigonids in Greece and Macedonia, the Ptolemies in Egypt, and the Seleucids in Persia.

What is the significance of the city of Alexandria in Egypt in relation to Alexander the Great?

Alexandria in Egypt, named after Alexander, became a major center of learning in the classical world and was home to one of the most famous libraries of the time.

How did Alexander's conquests impact the cultural and linguistic landscape of the regions he conquered?

Alexander's conquests spread the Greek language throughout the conquered regions, facilitating communication and commerce and leading to the widespread use of Greek as a common language.

What is the 'Open Letter to the Ladies' and why is it included in the script?

The 'Open Letter to the Ladies' is a segment where John Green addresses the historical marginalization of women in world history narratives and promises to challenge this as the series progresses.

What is the final message of the script regarding the concept of greatness and its implications for society?

The final message is that the concept of greatness is subjective and historically contingent, and that society's focus on certain figures as 'great' can be problematic, as it often overlooks the contributions of many others and reinforces certain values that may not be universally beneficial.

Outlines

00:00

🏆 The Pursuit of Greatness and Celebrity Culture

In the first paragraph, John Green introduces the topic of Alexander the Great and the concept of 'greatness' in history. He humorously contrasts the fame of contemporary celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Mike 'The Situation' with the historical legacy of figures like Alexander, questioning why society craves fame and how it defines greatness. Green also touches on the historical bias towards recognizing 'Great Men' and the evolving perspective of historians on this issue, including the recognition of the misogynistic implications of the term 'the Great.' The paragraph sets the stage for a deeper exploration of Alexander's life and the different ways his greatness can be interpreted.

05:05

🌍 Alexander's Empire and Cultural Impact

The second paragraph delves into Alexander the Great's accomplishments, his conquests, and the impact he had on the world after his death. Green discusses Alexander's military prowess, his expansion of the Macedonian empire, and the cultural and linguistic unification he brought about by spreading Greek language and culture throughout his conquered territories. The paragraph also highlights the establishment of cities named after Alexander, such as Alexandria in Egypt, which became a significant center of learning. Additionally, Green ponders the indirect effects of Alexander's conquests, such as facilitating trade and communication, and questions the attribution of these developments to his actions.

10:07

📚 The Legend of Alexander and the Idea of Greatness

In the final paragraph, Green examines the legend of Alexander the Great and how it has been shaped over time, suggesting that Alexander's greatness may be more a product of historical narrative than objective fact. He points out the lack of contemporary accounts of Alexander's life, allowing for later embellishments that contributed to his legendary status. Green also reflects on the cultural and historical figures who have admired and emulated Alexander, arguing that it is this emulation that has made him 'Great.' The paragraph concludes with a critique of the traditional focus on 'Great Men' in history and a call to question what society chooses to celebrate and admire.

Keywords

💡Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great, also known as Alexander of Macedon, was an ancient Greek king who created one of the largest empires in the ancient world through a series of unprecedented military campaigns. In the script, he is discussed as a historical figure whose legacy is examined under different definitions of greatness, including his military accomplishments, cultural impact, and the legends that have grown around his life and death.

💡Masculinity

The concept of masculinity in the script refers to traditional male qualities such as strength, courage, and heroism. It is mentioned in the context of discussing modern celebrities and contrasts with the ideals of heroism that were attributed to historical figures like Alexander the Great, who was known for his military prowess and conquests.

💡Celebrity Culture

Celebrity culture is a modern phenomenon where individuals become famous for various reasons, often unrelated to traditional achievements in fields like politics, science, or the arts. The script uses the examples of Kim Kardashian and 'The Situation' to explore the public's fascination with fame and the desire to be remembered, which is also a theme in the discussion of Alexander the Great's legacy.

💡Hellenistic Kingdoms

After Alexander the Great's death, his empire fragmented into what are known as the Hellenistic Kingdoms. These were ruled by his former generals and included the Antigonids in Greece and Macedonia, the Ptolemies in Egypt, and the Seleucids in Persia. The script mentions these kingdoms to illustrate the lack of enduring institutional legacy left by Alexander compared to the dynasties that outlasted his own empire.

💡Empire-building

Empire-building refers to the process of expanding a nation's power and influence, typically through conquest and the establishment of political control over other territories. In the script, it is noted that Alexander excelled at conquest but was less effective at building the institutions necessary for a stable and lasting empire.

💡Cultural Impact

Cultural impact is the influence that a person, event, or phenomenon has on the cultural aspects of society, such as language, art, and social norms. The script discusses Alexander's cultural impact through the spread of the Greek language and the establishment of cities like Alexandria, which became a center of learning.

💡Greatness

The term 'greatness' in the script is explored in various contexts, including the traditional historical view of 'Great Men' and the modern understanding that greatness is subjective and can be attributed to different types of achievements. It is used to question the criteria by which we judge historical figures and modern celebrities.

💡Emulation

Emulation refers to the act of imitating or striving to equal or surpass another, often in terms of achievements or status. In the script, emulation is discussed as a factor in Alexander's posthumous reputation, with figures like Napoleon and Roman generals admiring and trying to emulate his military strategies and conquests.

💡Historical Legacy

Historical legacy is the lasting impact or influence that a person, event, or period has on subsequent generations. The script examines Alexander's legacy in terms of his military conquests, cultural influence, and the myths and legends that have grown around his life, suggesting that his legacy is a complex mix of actual achievements and later embellishments.

💡Fame

Fame is the state of being known and talked about by many people, often associated with celebrity status. The script discusses the desire for fame as a motivation for historical figures and modern celebrities alike, suggesting that the quest for legacy and remembrance is a common human aspiration.

💡Cultural Homogenization

Cultural homogenization refers to the process by which diverse cultures become more similar, often due to the spread of a dominant culture. The script implies that Alexander's conquests led to a more interconnected world where Greek language and culture spread, facilitating communication and trade, but also potentially leading to a loss of cultural diversity.

Highlights

Introduction to the concept of 'greatness' and its historical and contemporary implications.

Discussion on the modern reluctance to label individuals as 'the Great' due to its potential for bias and misrepresentation.

Humoristic critique of the gender bias in the historical labeling of 'greatness', with a mention of Catherine the Great.

Biographical overview of Alexander the Great, including his early life and military achievements.

Analysis of Alexander's military tactics and the debate over their brilliance versus the advantages of his army's technology.

Critique of Alexander's empire-building skills and the subsequent division of his empire into Hellenistic Kingdoms.

Exploration of Alexander's posthumous influence on military strategy and the concept of absolute monarchy.

Description of the cultural impact of Alexander's conquests, including the spread of the Greek language and the establishment of Alexandria.

Reflection on the role of storytelling and legend in shaping Alexander's perceived greatness.

Critique of the modern celebrity culture and its parallels with historical notions of greatness.

Open Letter to the Ladies, addressing the underrepresentation of women in historical narratives.

Discussion on the emulation of historical figures like Alexander by later leaders, such as Napoleon.

Final thoughts on the constructed nature of 'greatness' and the societal decisions that define it.

Acknowledgment of the production team behind Crash Course World History.

Invitation for audience engagement through comments for questions and suggestions.

Closing remarks with a humorous call to action to 'Don't Forget To Be Awesome'.

Transcripts

Hi there my name’s John Green; this is Crash Course World History, and today we’re gonna

talk about Alexander the Great, but to do that we’re going to begin by talking about

ideals of masculinity and heroism and Kim Kardashian and the Situation.

Mr Green, Mr Green, Mr. Green! Which Situation?

Oh, Me from the Past, I forgot you wanted to go to Columbia. Me from the Present regrets

to inform you that you do not get in.

But since you live in the past, you have no way of knowing who I’m talking about, and

it occurs to me that this video may be watched in some glorious future when Kim Kardashian

and the Situation have mercifully disappeared from public life, and the supermarket tabloids,

instead of talking about celebrities, talk about Foucault and the Higgs-Boson particle,

so Kim Kardashian is a professional famous person who rose to notoriety by skoodilypooping

with someone named Ray Jay, and Mike “The Situation” I forgot his last name is a professional

stupid person with big muscles. They’re both known by millions, lives in luxury, and

people literally pay to own their odors.

Why do these people crave fame? Why do any of us? Well, I’d argue it’s not about

money. If it were, our tabloids would be devoted to the lives and times of bankers. I think

we all want to leave a legacy. We want to be remembered. We want to be Great.

[theme music]

For a long time, history was all about the Study of Great Men, and it was common to call

people as “the Great,” but these days historians are less likely to do that, because

they recognize that one man’s Great is generally another man’s Terrible.

And also “the Great” has some misogynistic implications, like, it’s almost always men

who are called "the Great". You never hear about Cleopatra the Great or Elizabeth the

Great. There was, of course, Catherine the Great of Russia, but for her masculine Greatness

she was saddled with the completely untrue rumor that she died trying to skoodilypoop

with a horse. Saddled? Get it? Anybody? Saddled with the rumor?

Anyway, they could’ve soiled Catherine the Great’s name just by telling the truth:

which is that like so many other Great men and women, she died on the toilet. Get it?

soiled? Toilet? Yes? Yes!

So, quick biography of Alexander of Macedon, born in 356 BCE, died in 323 BCE at the ripe

old age of 32. Alexander was the son of King Philip the 2nd, and when just 13 years old

he tamed a horse no one else could ride named Bucephalus, which impressed his father so

much he said: “Oh thy son, look thee at a kingdom equal to and worthy of thyself,

for Macedonia is too little for thee.”

By that time, he was already an accomplished general, but over the next decade he expanded

his empire with unprecedented speed and he is famous for having never lost a battle. Today we’re

going to look at Alexander of Macedon’s story by examining three possible definitions of greatness.

First, maybe Alexander was great because of his accomplishments. This is an extension

of the idea that history is the record of the deeds of great men. Now, of course, that’s

ridiculous. For one thing, half of people are women; for another, and this is important,

there are lots of historic events that no one can take responsibility for, like for instance the Black Plague.

But still, Alexander was accomplished. I mean, he conquered a lot of territory. Like, a lot.

His father, Philip, had conquered all of Greece, but Alexander did what the Spartans and Athenians

had failed to do: He destroyed the Persian Empire. He conquered all the land the Persians

had held including Egypt, and then marched toward India, stopping at the Indus River

only because his army was like, “Hey, Alexander, you know what would be awesome? Not marching.”

Also, Alexander was a really good general, although historians disagree over whether

his tactics were truly brilliant or if his army just happened to have better technology,

specifically these extra long spears called sarissas. Much of his reputation as a general,

and his reputation in general, anybody? Puns? Maybe I should stop? OK. Is because of Napoleon.

Napoleon, like many other generals through the Millennia, was obsessed with Alexander

the Great, but more on that in a moment.

That said, Alexander wasn’t very good at what we might now call empire-building. Alexander’s

empire was definitely visually impressive, but it wasn’t actually much of an empire.

Like, Alexander specialized in the tearing down of things, but he wasn’t so great at

the building up of institutions to replace the things he’d torn down. And that’s

why, pretty soon after his death, his Empire broke into three empires, called the Hellenistic

Kingdoms. Each was ruled by one of Alexander’s generals, and they became important dynasties.

The Antigones in Greece and Macedonia, the Ptolemies in Egypt, the Seleucids in Persia,

all of which lasted longer than Alexander’s empire itself.

A Second Greatness: Maybe Alexander was Great because he had an enormous impact on the world

after his death. Like King Tut, Alexander the Great was amazingly good at being a dead

person. Let’s go to the Thought Bubble.

So, After Alexander of Macedon died, everyone from the Romans to Napoleon to Oliver Stone

loved him, and he was an important military model for many generals throughout history.

But his main post-death legacy may be that he introduced the Persian idea of Absolute

Monarchy to the Greco-Roman world, which would become a pretty big deal.

Alexander also built a number of cities on his route that became big deals after his

death, and it’s easy to spot them because he named most of them after himself and one

after his horse. The Alexandria in Egypt became a major center of learning in the classical

world, and was home to the most amazing library ever, which Julius Caesar probably “accidentally”

burned down while trying to conquer a bunch of land to emulate his hero, Alexander the Great.

Plus, the dead Alexander had a huge impact on culture. He gave the region its common

language, Greek, which facilitated conversations and commerce. Greek was so widespread that

archaeologists have found coins in what is now Afghanistan with pictures of their kings

and the word “king” written beneath the pictures — in Greek. This is also why, incidentally,

the New Testament was eventually written in Greek.

Although Alexander was mostly just conquering territory for the glory and heroism and greatness

of it all, in his wake emerged a more closely connected world that could trade and communicate

with more people more efficiently than ever before. Alexander didn’t make those things

happen, but they probably wouldn’t have happened without him.

But here’s a question: If you’re watching Jersey Shore and get so involved in The Situations

romantic conquest that you leave the bath water running, thereby flooding your apartment,

and you have to call a plumber, and the plumber comes over and you fall in love with him and

get married and live happily ever after, does that make The Situation responsible for your

marriage? Thanks, Thought Bubble.

Okay, a third definition of greatness: Maybe Alexander is great because of his legend:

Since no accounts of his life were written while he lived, embellishment was easy, and

maybe that’s where true greatness lies. I mean the guy died at 32, before he ever

had a chance to get old and lose battles. He was tutored by Aristotle, for God’s sakes.

Then there’s Alexander’s single-minded Ahab-esque pursuit of the Persian King Darius,

who he chased across modern-day Iraq and Iran for no real reason except he desperately wanted

to kill him, and when Bessus, one of Darius’s generals, assassinated him before Alexander

had the chance, Alexander chased Bessus around until he could at least kill him.

These almost-comical pursuits of glory and heroism are accompanied in classical histories

by stories of Alexander walking through the desert, and then suddenly raining, and these

ravens coming to lead him to the army he’s supposed to fight, and stories of his hot

Persian wife Roxana, who supposedly while still a teenager engineered the assassinations

of many of Alexander’s fellow wives.

And even at his death, people tried to make Alexander live up to this heroic ideal. Like,

Plutarch tells us that he died of a fever, but that’s no way for a masculine, empire-building,

awesome person to die! So rumors persist that he died either of alcohol poisoning or else

of assassination-y poisoning. I mean, no great man can die of a fever. Speaking of Great

Men, it’s time to strip down for the Open Letter.

So elegant. But first let’s see what’s in the Secret Compartment today. Oh. It’s

Kim Kardashian’s perfume. Thanks Stan. I’ll wear this. I’ll check it out, I’ll give

it a try. C’ah. Wow. That is... mmm... it’s like all the worst parts of baby powder and

all the worst parts of cat pee. An Open Letter to the Ladies.

Hello, Ladies,

You’ve really been unfairly neglected in Crash Course World History and also in World

History textbooks everywhere. Like, there will be a whole chapter exploring the exploits

of great men and then at the end there will be one sentence that’s like “also women

were doing stuff at the time and it was important, but we don’t really know what it was, so

back to Alexander the Great…”

History has been very good at marginalizing and demeaning women and we’re going to fight

against that as we move forward in the story of human civilization. Ladies, I have to go

now because my eyes are stinging from the biological weapon known as Kim Kardashian’s

Gold. Seriously, don’t wear it.

Best wishes, John Green

So in Alexander the Great we have a story about a man who united the world while riding

a magical horse only he could tame across deserts where it magically rained for him

so that he could chase down his mortal enemy and then leave in his wake a more enlightened

world and a gorgeous, murderous wife.

But of course it’s not just Assassin’s Creed and Call of Duty that celebrate the

idea that ennobled violence can lead to a better world. And that takes us to my opinion

of how Alexander really came to be Great. Millennia after his death in 1798, Napoleon

invaded Egypt, not because he particularly needed to invade Egypt but because he wanted

to do what Alexander had done.

And long before Napoleon, the Romans really worshipped Alexander, particularly the Roman

General Pompey, AKA Pompeius Magnus, AKA Pompey the Great. Pompey was so obsessed with Alexander

that he literally tried to emulate Alexander’s boyishly disheveled hair style.

In short, Alexander was Great because others decided he was Great. Because they chose to

admire and emulate him. Yes, Alexander was a great general. Yes, he conquered a lot of

land. The Situation is also really good at picking up girls... of a certain type. And

Kim Kardashian is good at- Stan, what is Kim Kardashian good at?

We made Alexander Great, just as today we make people great when we admire them and

try to emulate them. History has traditionally been in the business of finding and celebrating

great men, and only occasionally great women, but this obsession with Greatness is troubling

to me. It wrongly implies, first, history is made primarily by men and secondly, that

history is made primarily by celebrated people, which of course makes us all want to be celebrities.

Thankfully, we’ve left behind the idea that the best way to become an icon is to butcher

people and conquer a lot of land, but the ideals that we’ve embraced instead aren’t

necessarily worth celebrating either. All of which is to say we decide what to worship

and what to care about and what to pay attention to. We decide whether to care about The Situation.

Alexander couldn’t make history in a vacuum, and neither can anyone else. Thanks for watching.

I’ll see you next week.

Crash Course is produced and directed by Stan Muller; the show is written by my high school

history teacher Raoul Meyer and myself. Our script supervisor is Danica Johnson, and our

graphics team is Thought Bubble.

Last week’s phrase of the week was "Thinly Sliced Trees". If you want to take a guess

at this week’s phrase or suggest new ones you can do so in comments. If you have questions about

today’s video you can also ask those in comments and our team of historians will attempt to answer them.

Thanks for watching Crash Course and as they say in my hometown, Don't Forget To Be Awesome.