194 Philosophy of Botany. 



There his premature death ended his career, and the ungovern- 

 able expanse of territory became divided among his generals. 



Great as were the political results of the Macedonian expedi- 

 tion, they were equaled by the intellectual. A longing had 

 taken hold of the minds to descend to the roots from which 

 sprung the fascinating Platonic ideas. 



Penetrating into the tropical climate of India, with its di- 

 versified fauna of big or fierce species, gigantic vegetation dis- 

 played in impenetrable bamboo jungles, and entering into the 

 ancient seats of culture older than the one of the pyramid 

 builders, with a national character disposed to (juiet contem- 

 plation, the conquerors were yet more amazed by the contrast 

 of life and manners of the conservative Indian people with 

 their own progressive, stormy, vacillating national life. Their 

 experiences — political, geographical, ethical — were destined to 

 prepare a reaction upon Grecian life and thought. The inter- 

 mixture of Greek element^ among the immense throngs of 

 the Oriental nationalities sufficed only for a transient stir, 

 after which they relapsed again into their hereditary quietism. 

 The Greek character, on the contrary, took in much of the 

 novel and foreign element. 



In the resulting new empires governed by Grecian rulers, 

 Grecian ideas were soon universally felt, but nowhere with 

 such lasting effect as in the domain of the Ptolemeans and 

 in the city founded by Alexander, x'Mexandria, the cardinal 

 point around which in the near future ruled the intellectual 

 progress of Europe for several centuries. It is an unparalleled 

 incident in history that the same period could produce a genius 

 competent to understand the existing philosophical systems 

 and to remodel and enlarge all sciences (Aristotle), and also 

 a hero of cultivated mind, attentive to progress, and unlimited 

 ability for execution (Alexander). 



Aristotle was born in Stagyra, a town in Thracia, belong- 

 ing to the dominion of Philip, king of Macedon, B.C. 384. He 

 was the favored disciple of Plato, and remained in the acad- 

 emy to the time of the death of his master, when he was thirty- 

 seven years of age. Philip, having heard of his extraordinary 

 abilities, invited him to his court, and put him in charge of his 

 son, Alexander, who was then (B.C. 343) fifteen years of age. 



