The barriers to unity presented by European geography and very limited technology made it hard for a would-be conqueror to create a vast empire, eliminating competitors and imposing his will over vast areas.

由于欧洲独特的地理条件,和当时有限的科技水平,使未来的征伐者很难建立一个广袤的帝国,清除异己和使他的意志,传播到广袤领地的每一个角落

耶鲁公开课 - 古希腊历史简介课程节选

The challenges presented by freedom and the predominance of reason cannot be ignored, nor can they be met by recourse to the experience of other cultures where these characteristics have not been prominent.

自由的现存挑战,和理性的卓越优势不能够被忽略,同时也不能因为他们的典型性,一时不够显著,而诉求于其他的文明

耶鲁公开课 - 古希腊历史简介课程节选