physiognomic type:

Two distinct types of epochs are defined.  Those which are impersonal & anonymous as against those which are personal.  The latter are epochs incorporating the great person (whose actions impact upon thousands & whose destiny aligns with the common destiny, a “Hero of history”); these epochs of great personalities contrast the impersonal incidents dominated by men lacking greatness, part of a collective, the impersonal & anonymous.  As well as this distinction, there are 2 types of impersonal incidents: those possessing a powerful inward drive, pushing forward with strong direction, as against feeble & indistinct movements, lacking force.  Such types are determined by the culture’s tragic style.

 

Danton;

(1759- 1794) leading figure in the early stages of the French Revolution, in particular as the first president of the Committee of Public Safety.  Often seen as the chief force in the overthrow of the monarchy and establishment of the Republic.  He was guillotined by the advocates of revolutionary terror after accusations of venality and leniency toward the enemies of the Revolution.  Characterized by Spengler as destitute of inward greatness.

 

Robespierre:

Characterized by Spengler as destitute of inward greatness

see page 140

 

the Jacobins:

Spengler notes it was a collective, anonymous movement, not personal.

see Introduction Chapter I, page 5

 

epoch of the Revolution:

transition stage from Culture to Civilization, from Summer to Autumn; it breaks down into 2 sub stages: first the anonymous stage, a time dominated by the Jacobins (1789-1799); the second stage, the Napoleonic (1799-1815), is highly personal.

 

epoch of the Classical (386-322 BC):

the first date refers to the King's Peace (387 BC; aka the Peace of Antalcidas), a treaty guaranteed by the Persian King Artaxerxes II ending the Corinthian War, a conflcit which ended with no decisive winner.  Antalcidas, a Spartan diplomat travelled to Susa to negotiate with king Artaxerxes II.  The treaty was similar to the treaty ending the First Peloponnesian War.  The second date refers to the Alexander’s death in Babylon (in 323 BC); his death marks the begining of the Hellenistic Age.  Spengler sees this as 64 year transition period, from Culture to Civilization (Summer to Fall), the period after the Peloponnesian War but before the death of Alexander.  He characterizes this epoch as a feeble & indistinct evolution.

 

Alexander:

Characterized by Spengler as a Hero of history

see Introduction Chapter I, page 4

 

Diocletian:

Characterized by Spengler as a Hero of history

see Numbers Chapter II, page 72

 

Mohammed:

Characterized by Spengler as a Hero of history

see Introduction Chapter I, page 39

 

Luther:

Characterized by Spengler as a Hero of history

see Introduction Chapter I, page 24

 

Napoleon:

Characterized by Spengler as a Hero of history

see Introduction Chapter I, page 4

 

Peloponnesian War: * see Endnote 41

(431–404 BC) Greek war fought by the Delian League led by Athens against the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta.  It had 3 phases. Phase 1- the Archidamian War, to 421 BC: Sparta launched repeated invasions of Attica, while Athens using naval supremacy raided the Peloponnesian coast & suppressed unrest in its empire; ends with the signing of the Peace of Nicias (421 BC), this treaty was repeatedly broken in the Peloponnese.  Phase 2: In 415 BC Athens sent a massive expeditionary force to attack Syracuse (Sicily); the attack failed & the entire force was destroyed in 413.  Phase 3: the Decelean or Ionina War, Sparta sustained by Persia, supported rebellions in Athens' subject states in the Aegean & Ionia, undermining the Athenian  empire, depriving the city of naval supremacy.  The destruction of Athens' fleet at Aegospotami ended the war; Athens surrendered.  Corinth & Thebes demanded Athens be destroyed, all her citizens enslaved, Sparta refused.  Spengler characterizes this incident as one with powerful inward constitution.

see Illustration (map)

 

Thirty Years' War:

war in Central Europe 1618-1648, some 8 million fatalities from famine, plagues & military engagements;  left a lasting national stigma in the German collective memory.  Most casualties inhabitants of the Holy Roman Empire, the rest fallen soldiers of foreign armies.  Initially between various Protestant & Catholic states in the Holy Roman Empire, became a general conflict involving the great powers employing relatively large mercenary armies.  It became less about religion, more a continuation of the France–Habsburg rivalry for European supremacy.  Triggered when Ferdinand II (1578-1637, a Habsburg & Holy Roman Emperor), a zealous Catholic, tried to impose religious uniformity in the Empire & suppress the Protestants.  The latter states, angered by the violation of the Peace of Augsburg (granting religious freedom), formed the Protestant Union.  War ended with  Peace of Westphalia.  Spengler characterizes this incident as one with powerful inward constitution.

 

Spanish Succession War: * see Endnote 42

 (1701–1714) European conflict triggered by the death in 1700 of the childless Charles II, last Habsburg King of Spain.  The root cause was the contest for European supremacy between Hapsburg Austria & Spain and Bourbon France dating back to the early 17th century.  Possession of the Spanish Empire would change the balance of power in Europe.  When Charles died he left his throne to Louis XIV's grandson on condition that the new king renounce any claims to the French crown.  Philip V ignored this & war broke out.  Fighting began in 1702; Allied victories in the Low Countries and Italy being offset by defeat in Spain; stalemate ensued by 1710.  The war was unpopular in the UK owing to its cost, who wanted neither a French or Spanish succession.  Britain instated peace talks in 1712.  Without British support the other Allies had to make peace; and the war ended with the treaties of Utrecht in 1713 and of Rastatt and Baden in 1714.  Spengler sees this incident as one with powerful inward constitution

 

the Diadochi:

the rival generals, families & friends of Alexander the Great, who fought for control over his empire after his death in 323 BC. The Wars of the Diadochi mark the beginning of the Hellenistic period.  This is another of Spengler's examples of the incident as a feeble & indistinct evolution.

​

the Hyksos:

people of mixed origins, possibly from Western Asia, settled in the E Nile Delta before 1650 BC. Their arrival ending the 13th Dynasty of Egypt & initiated the 2nd Intermediate Period.  Spengler characterizes this incident as a feeble and indistinct evolution.

and see World History I, Chapter III, page 111

 

the Interregnum in Germany: * see Endnote 43

the term interregnum refers to a period of discontinuity or "gap" in a government; in the case of the Holy Roman Empire it refers to a period when there was no emperor: 1245-1312, during 1378–1433 and finally 1437–1452.  The Great Interregnum refers to the period 1250-73. The interregnum established the college of prince-electors as providing the only legitimacy for the German king.  The lack of central government strengthened the communal movements (the Swabian League of Cities, Hanseatic League, the Swiss Confederacy).  It promoted feuding & anarchy within the Empire.  Germany was fractured into countless minor states fending for themselves, a condition that would persist into the modern period.  Spengler characterizes this incident as a feeble and indistinct evolution.

 

tragic style of the Culture:

Spengler contrasts tragedy for the Classical & Faustian cultures, the difference a reflection of different concepts of time.  For Classical Culture tragedy is one of the moment, a blind man stepping forward with no premonitions.  In contrast Faustian tragedy is based on a feeling of the Logic of becoming, of time moving forward, evolution, with premonition.

 

Puritanism of Cromwell's milieu:

The Puritans of the 17th century were a grieved & dissatisfied company; their hopes & aspirations were denied.  They dreamed of an English government & Church upholding an enlightened Biblical Christianity.  The Church of England was a monopoly state church; religious meetings, particularly evangelical gatherings, were not permitted.  There was no freedom of religion anywhere in Europe.  There was the government's church; then there were other Christians meeting secretly & illegally.    But the worst aspect was the feeling that the king & Church were standing in the way of God Himself!  The Puritans were not inclined to go off & live a secret life as "non-conformists" or "separatists".  They were Englishmen & everything they did was going to be above board, on the record; they would enlarge their control, press forward not shrink.  They knew God himself led them.  If the king, aristocracy & Church would not lead them onto God’s future, they themselves would do it! They were on the move.  A fiery zeal had been ignited and was now burning within them.  They would go to war if necessary, for God and country!  Spengler sees in this the birth of the "expansion principle".

 

British Colonial Empire: * see Endnote 44

dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates & territories ruled by the UK; origins in the overseas possessions & trading posts established by England late 16th & early 17th centuries.  At its height (1913) with 412 million people- nearly 25% of the world population; largest empire in history, in 1920, it covered 25% of the Earth's total land area; for over a century foremost global power & as a result, its political, legal, linguistic & cultural legacy is widespread.

see map

 

Rousseau (& English influence): * see Endnote 45

Rousseau became famous for The Social Contract, but the ideas it is based on goes back a century & started in England.  The Enlightenment had come early to England and had succeeded; England accepted political liberalism, philosophical empiricism & religious toleration; in France & the continent the intellectuals had to fight for such ideas against powerful odds.  England rejected the collectivism of the continent and emphasized the improvement of the individuals as the main goal.

and see Introduction Chapter I, page 33

 

Mirabeau (& English influence): * see Endnote 46

(1749- 1791) leader of the early stages of the French Revolution; a noble, involved in numerous scandals before 1789, ruining his reputation. Rose to the top of the French political hierarchy 1789-1791 as a voice of the people.  A successful orator, he led the moderate position among revolutionaries, favouring a constitutional monarchy (on the model of Great Britain).  He had studied the British system of government & hoped to establish a system similar in principle, yet still distinct.  Initially considered a national hero even though support for his moderate position was fading. The discovery that he was in the pay of King Louis XVI & the Austrian enemies of France from 1790 led to his posthumous disgrace. 

​

Valmy:

see Introduction Chapter I, page 25

​

Goethe (and Valmy):

“From this place and this time forth commences a new era in world history and you can all say that you were present at its birth.”- Goethe in the evening following the battle.