117 - Alexander's Sack of Thebes, w/ Victor Davis Hanson

About this episode

The episode features a discussion with Victor Davis Hanson about the historical significance of Epaminondas and the events surrounding the liberation of Thebes.

A conversation with American classicist, military historian, and conservative political commentator Victor Davis Hanson. We discuss: Why Epaminondas remains one of the most underrated commanders in Greek history, and how the loss of Plutarch's Life of Epaminondas has obscured his legacy The pivotal liberation of Thebes in 378 BC: how a small band of conspirators overthrew the Spartan-backed oligarchy and sparked a democratic revolution Epaminondas's strategic masterstroke at Leuctra — the deep oblique phalanx on the left — and how it shattered 200 years of Spartan military supremacy How freeing the Messenian Helots and building Megalopolis, Mantinea, and Messene permanently encircled and emasculated Sparta as a great power The fatal miscalculation of 335 BC: why Thebes revolted against Alexander on the basis of a false rumor, and how every potential ally abandoned them The recurring pattern of doomed civilizations — from Thebes to Carthage to Constantinople — that share delusions about allies, enemies, and their own decline What ancient history reveals about America's current strengths and vulnerabilities, from demographic pressures to the China threat Subscribe to the Cost of…

People in this episode

Host: Alex Petkas

Guest: Victor Davis Hanson

Topics covered

• Greek history
• military strategy
• democratic revolution
• Spartan supremacy
• ancient civilizations
• modern parallels

Keywords

• Epaminondas
• Thebes
• Sparta
• military history
• democracy
• Alexander
• Carthage
• Constantinople
• America

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Life of Epaminondas

Places: Thebes, Sparta, Megalopolis, Mantinea, Messene, Carthage, Constantinople, America

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