N.G.L Hammond's speech with a brief history of Macedonia

[Ptolemy]

Speech of Nicholas Hammond in the Academy of Athens.

[Ptolemy]

[Ptolemy]

Quotes of Interest:

Ancient Macedonian language was a special dialect of Greek that wasnt used anywhere else.

In those cities, local people learned greek language and this way they acquired Macedonian education

In 338 BC Philip defeated the alliance of Thebans, Atheneans and some other city-states. He didnt chase the defeated ones. He buried the dead of Theban sacred band with honours given to heroes and raised a monument - the Lion of Chaeronea.

Philip didnt wish the war, but to unite peacefully all Greeks. To the representatives of cities he offered the plan of unification in order to create the "Common of the Greeks"

Greek community declared war against Persia and chose Philip as leader of the united Greek forces.

This way [Alexander] came to Asia as the liberator not only of Greeks but all of the nations subjected to Persians

Another problem was the co-existance of Macedonians and Asians. The solution was Macedonian city. Alexander founded 70 new cities with mixed population - ie 3,000 Greeks and 7,000 Asians. The authorities of these cities were Greek with Greek language and Greek-speaking were the higher classes who taught the chosen ones Greek language and Macedonian arms.

Philip and Alexander together made reality the greatest change in the history of the world. They opened East Europe, Egypt, Asia in the influence of Greek civilization and founded mixed cities with Greek philosophy and Greek education. Those cities were the centres of financial life and the base of civiliation during Hellenistic ages and afterwards during Roman times in East and much later during Byzantine ages and Christianism.
Long live the Greek spirit