After the premature death of his parents in childhood, Aristotle was raised under the care of a guardian. When Aristotle turned 17, he enrolled in Plato’s Academy, which was the most highly regarded educational institution of the era. After completing his studies at the Academy, Aristotle embarked on a career as a teacher and remained at the institution for two decades, until he reached the age of thirty-seven. Aristotle soon left the academy and began teaching Alexander the Great in 343 BC. Aristotle’s life is associated with two specific locations: The Academy of Plato and the city of Athens.
Chanakya, the teacher and inspirer of Chandragupta. Artistic reconstruction by the author.
Chanakya had a strong alliance with the mountain king Parvata, who staunchly supported his plans.
As per some versions of the hagiography, Chanakya’s disciple, Chandragupta, was said to be the son of the king, who was deprived of his right to the throne and was thus forced to seize power. Due to a preplanned scheme, King Nanda was killed, and Chandragupta was able to ascend to the throne.
Aristotle and King Hermias had a close alliance. The king was heavily influenced by the philosopher’s teachings and frequently attended his lectures. Aristotle married the king’s adopted daughter, Pythias.
In 337 BC, Philip the Second divorced Olympias, Alexander’s mother, and married Cleopatra. As a result, Olympias left the royal court and the capital with her 18-year-old son. Philip anticipated that the young Queen Cleopatra would bear him a son, thus causing Alexander to lose his claim to the throne.
After the conspiracy, King Philip was assassinated and Alexander assumed the role of king.
Chanakya was a part of King Dhan Nanda’s inner circle. However, the king insulted and humiliated Chanakya, which prompted him to vow for revenge.
Upon meeting Chandragupta, who was still a young child, Chanakya began training him with the aim of elevating him to the royal throne.
Chanakya meticulously searched for a worthy candidate to carry out his plan, and he found young Chandragupta, who, even as a child, possessed the qualities of a natural leader and commanded respect from his peers.
Aristotle’s father served as a court physician and was acquainted with Amyntas III, the grandfather of Alexander the Great. This allowed Aristotle to become a member of the royal court circle and study at the Plato’s Academy without impediment.
Yet, his hometown, Stagira, fell to the Macedonian King Philip II, leading to its destruction.
Aristotle commenced tutoring Alexander in his early teenage years. In his youth, Alexander demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities amongst his peers, prompting Aristotle to believe his future success as a great ruler.
Young Alexander and Aristotle. Artistic reconstruction by the author.
Young Chandragupta and Chanakya. Artistic reconstruction by the Author.
Ancient cities of India. Artistic reconstruction by the author.
Chanakya’s literary works such as the Vishakhadatta drama, Mudrarakshasa, Ceylon chronicles, Puranic collections, and the contributions of Acharya Hemachandra were rewritten in the early twentieth century. For instance, the Arthashastra was published in 1909. These works were previously considered to be lost, however, at the beginning of the 20th century, they were «found» as new works rewritten from their original sources were discovered. The original sources, unfortunately, were not preserved.
Ancient cities of India. Artistic reconstruction by the author.
Manucius first published Aristotle’s works in Venice at the beginning of the 16th century.
Later, Erasmus of Rotterdam revised and corrected those texts, after which the revised edition was published in Basel in 1531.
Silburg in Frankfurt made another adjustment in 1584.
Boulez proceeded with a new edition in Greek and Latin, consisting of five volumes, in Zweibrücken and Strasbourg, and which was released between 1791 and 1800.
During the 19th century, the Berlin Academy led the effort of creating a comprehensive edition consisting of five volumes of Aristotle’s works, including commentaries, scholia, and fragments (Berlin, 1831—71).
This edition also served as a handbook for the French edition of Dido in Paris (5 vols. 1848—1874).
Unfortunately, the original ancient manuscripts that were transported from Constantinople to Venice in the mid-15th century, and served as the basis for new publications, either did not survive or were destroyed.
Aristotle is in exile. Artistic reconstruction by the author.
Following the death of Alexander the Great, Aristotle was accused of impiety, and subsequently exiled from Athens.
After relocating to Chalcida of Euboea, Aristotle eventually passed away a year later after ingesting poison.
Although some speculate that his death was intentional, alternative sources suggest that Aristotle’s demise resulted from a stomach ailment, which affected his ability to eat.
It is possible that this illness resulted from poisoning
Chanakya. Artistic reconstruction by the author.
Following the death of Chandragupta, Chanakya was subjected to slander and subsequently exiled. Later, he died as a result of a severe starvation, which is widely believed to have been a suicide. Another account attributes Chanakya’s death to the poisoning by one of the ministers at court.
Aristotle. Artistic reconstruction by the author.
It is widely acknowledged that Aristotle influenced the pragmatic approach of Alexander the Great towards the Empire’s administration and organizational affairs, including those of a spiritual nature. He prioritized the practical interests of both the state and its stakeholders over established customs and laws. Additionally, Aristotle provided Alexander with moral and ethical guidance on ruling. He advised his student that a genuine leader should display empathy towards the vulnerable and defenseless, without feeling ashamed of compassion and refraining from cruelty. Furthermore, he counseled young Alexander to live a moral life, embodying the principles
