My Affection for the Serbs
A Unique People
I hold a special place in my heart for the Serbian people. De la Jonquières once described them as “a brave, poetic, careless, frivolous race.” While some aspects of this description may apply to a few people in the capital who imitate Vienna’s lifestyle, it doesn’t represent the Serbs as a whole. Many Serbs are merry and carefree, showing little concern for modern advancements. For example, they still use traditional methods to thresh corn, such as letting horses run over it or dragging boards with stones to press the wheat.
A Connection to History
The Serbian people are fiercely independent and proud of their noble yet tragic history. However, they often seem to live in the past, not fully embracing the old culture or pursuing education. Many Serbs appear to be relics of the medieval age, cautious of Bulgaria and wary of Austria The Democratic Spirit of Serbia.
Simple Pleasure
The Democratic Spirit of Serbia
Equality and Education
Serbia is a democratic country where no one, except the King, holds a title. Property is divided equally among sons, ensuring fairness in land ownership. Education is free for everyone, from elementary school all the way to university. This commitment to education helps create an informed and capable population. Additionally, corporal punishment is not allowed in schools, reflecting a more compassionate approach to teaching.
Religion and Culture
Most Serbs belong to the Serbian National Church, but they do not attend church regularly, except during festival times. For them, these occasions are as much about socializing and enjoying picnics as they are about worship. Despite this, the Serbs are known for their moral values. However, being a mountain people, they are also quite superstitious. For example, they hang garlic to ward off evil spirits and use dolls in windows to signal that a widow is open to remarriage Read more
Serbia’s Economic Ties with Austria
The Influence of Austria on Serbian Trade
In Serbia, when the country finally gives in to Austria’s demands, Austria often decides that the swine fever problem isn’t as serious as it seemed before. Just like that, the ban on Serbian pigs is lifted. This illustrates how much Serbia relies on Austria for its commercial needs. About half of the goods that come into Serbia are from Austria, and almost all of Serbia’s exports go to Austria.
Unfortunately, trade with Britain is declining. This is due to a few reasons. First, companies from other European countries can transport goods more easily and quickly. Second, British merchants often do not offer the long credit terms that Austrian and German traders do. Finally, British businesses usually communicate in English, which many Serbs do not understand. This language barrier makes it harder for Serbian businesses to engage with British companies My Affection for the
Alexander’s Conquests From Diplomacy to Gaugamela
As Alexander confronted the resilient city of Tyre, Darius extended a remarkable peace offer through an envoy. Darius proposed peace, the safe return of his family, ten thousand gold talents (equivalent to about $3 billion today), all the Macedonian-conquered land, and the hand of his daughter in marriage. Parmenion, the top-ranking general, advised acceptance, but Alexander, fueled by growing ambitions, declined. His vision now reached beyond conquests; he aspired to establish a universal state marked by racial harmony and equality, with himself at the helm Alexander’s Conquests From the Gordian Knot to Tyre’s Fall.
Before departing Tyre, a Samaritan delegation sought Alexander’s favor, leading to the construction of a rival temple on Mt. Gerizim, challenging the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. The siege of Gaza followed, and then Alexander turned east, reaching Jerusalem. The Jews, impre
Alexander’s Conquests From the Gordian Knot to Tyre’s Fall
Following his triumph in Ionia, Alexander embarked on a remarkable journey through Caria, where a local queen embraced him as an honorary son. The expedition led him to Gordium, where the Phrygians presented him with the famous Gordian knot, a puzzle that he swiftly solved by slicing it with his sword, signaling another favorable omen.
In the fall of 333 B.C., Alexander faced a significant challenge at the Cilician Gates in the Taurus Mountains. Darius, fully aware of the threat from the west, awaited him with a formidable army. Despite being outnumbered, Alexander employed tactical brilliance to secure victory in the Battle of Issus. The Persian forces, confined between mountains and the sea Alexander the Great Conquest and Challenges, were unable to leverage their superior numbers. Alexander strategically positioned himself on the right flank, creating an opening to penetrate the weakened enemy line. His maneuverin
Alexander the Great Conquest and Challenges
Alexander the Great’s conquests were marked by strategic brilliance and audacity. After his father Philip of Macedon secured Greece, the stage was set for the ambitious plan to conquer the mighty Persian Empire.
Philip’s meticulous preparations for the invasion were cut short by his assassination, possibly at the hands of the Persians or his wife Olympias. Undeterred, Alexander, his twenty-year-old son, took up the mantle in 334 B.C. Armed with a formidable army, he set out to fulfill his father’s dream Alexander’s Conquests From Diplomacy to Gaugamela.
Confidence in Conquest
Philip had reasons for confidence. The Macedonian army was considered the best in Europe, and the Persians had traditionally relied on Greek mercenaries. Inspired by historical successes, such as those of Xenophon and Agesilaus, Philip believed in the feasibility of his conquest.
Alexander, int