The ancient Greeks could have been using minor differences in language to justify an existing disdain. (There was an existing disdain: The Macedonians lived in a large kingdom rather than a city-state.
If the Pact win, any nations left standing outside the Pact will be, at most roadbumps in the path of Pact conquest.
If the Pact lose, any nations left standing won't be worrying about the Pact.
It's all-out war with loads of strategic weaponry on each side. It won't end with either side...
While the Situationist Chinese commitment to funding "impractical pure science" didn't guarantee that they would come across a game-changer everyone was assuming was impossible, it certainly made it a lot more likely. I imagine they took that into account when making that decision.
Ephraim Ben...