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Jun 19Liked by Titus Techera, CJ Wolfe

Interesting. I have read that how big a genetic imprint an invading or occupying army made on a nation was whether or not the invaders brought their wives. Makes sense that the moral code of the invaders would result in a similar difference in their impact.

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Jun 20·edited Jun 20Author

Machiavelli talks about that being part of the success of the Romans against the Greeks.

On a smaller scale: after one of his big battles against the Persians, Alexander sent back to Macedonia not just the old men but also the younger men who had only been married a year so they could spend time with their families, while he continued his crusade to the East using allied troops. More contrast to Sparta

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Jun 20·edited Jun 20Liked by CJ Wolfe

I'm reading a book about Alexander and getting more respect for him. He was much more than a conqueror and king. How he founded Alexandria, putting it in the right spot to become a great trading city and even laying out the city walls himself is a remarkable story. He was a very smart guy.

Edit: Re the young ladies of Poland and their heritage. https://www.reddit.com/r/ArmsandArmor/comments/rpx34t/polish_women_dressed_like_the_winged_hussars_in_a/

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Cf. Hugh Leibert, Plutarch's Politics: Between City and Empire, pp. 124-142, on the Lives of Lysander and Agesilaus.

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