...Alexander the Great Alexander the great, the famous king of the Macedonian empire is a hugely celebrated figure in world history. Many historians proclaim Alexander as great and that say he achieved so much in his short life. He ran an empire, successfully took control of the Persian Empire and was also a great scholar. Surely this should be enough to put him in the historian hall of fame or is it? Is Alexander over celebrated or Does he really deserve to be known as Alexander the great? I believe he does, I think Alexander’s military achievements, and his leadership and his decision making all give him the right to be called Alexander the great. He has the characteristic and life story that belongs in legends. To me looking back on Alexander‘s life it was inevitable he was going to be a great military leader. Alexander was blessed by his heritage; he was born of a father who was a militant powerhouse of Macedonia and apparently his mother was from the family of Hercules or so he said. He would have grown up watching and learning a lot from his father Phillip the emperor of Macedonia as he ruled Macedonia and swept through Greece. He was regarded pretty highly in his father’s army and often led sieges to foreign lands on behalf of the Macedonian empire. Alexander’s father had great trust in his ability and left him in control of the kingdom at the age of 16. This is where Alexander would get his first taste of control and victory but it would definitely not be his last. The...
Words: 728 - Pages: 3
...all.” These are the words of Alexander the Great. These words spoken so truly to reflect his passion of Greek culture, Alexander the Great expressed these words throughout his entire being. This famous man, who to some, was like a god, accomplished many impossible tasks to any ordinary person while spreading his love of Greek culture around the world. On July 20, 356 BC, a legend was born to King Philip II and Queen Olympia. Alexander the Great was recognized early that he could change the world. He studied under an astonishing, Greek philosopher, Aristotle where he learned literature, exceptional writing skills and knowledge that broaden Alexander III into horizons that not many could imagine. Alexander had an obsession for knowledge which showed throughout his battles in his later years. He had very skilled military tactics and which he combined his vast knowledge to conquer all that he put his mind to. At the age of 18, Alexander took charge of the Companion Cavalry and helped his father in defeating the Athenian and Theban armies of Chaeronea. Learning from past warriors, from their feats to their fails, he was able to figure out how to achieve his own goals on the battle field along with skilled decision making. Alexander the Great wanted to continue the expansion of Macedonia in which is father, King Philip was doing when Alexander was younger. After the death of his father, the Macedonian army supported Alexander the Great. When Alexander expanded Macedonia, he decided...
Words: 780 - Pages: 4
...Alexander The Great Alexander the Great is arguably the most famous King that has ever lived. Alexander’s historical perception is without a doubt not entirely accurate, but in the facts of his Kingdom, and in reading the few historically relevant sources, we can interpret something about the life of this man. Through the writings of Plutarch, Arrian, Curtius Rufus, and Pliny, I see Alexander the Great as a justly motivated, intelligent military hero. We will never truly know how Alexander would have turned out as a ruler due to his early death, but in his fifteen years as king he motivated people from different cultures and different countries to come together and execute, under his rule, the most impressive military conquests the world has ever seen. Many modern historians, including those in the ETEP module, have differing views of Alexander the Great. Some claim that he was a deranged, bloodthirsty general who only sought personal triumph, while others thought that he was a military hero who sought unity among all men. W.W. Tarn was a proponent of the latter statement, who wrote about Alexander’s lasting impact of blending culture in the East. Tarn notices that there are many conflicting sources with regards to Alexander’s triumph, and focus’s more on the positive impact that Alexander left on the Eastern world. I agree with Tarn in that Alexander’s conquers led to cultures coming together and advancing at a rate that otherwise would have been unattainable....
Words: 1322 - Pages: 6
...Alexander the Great When most people hear of Alexander the great they think back to Oliver stone’s 2004 film. Although the film was somewhat accurate I prefer fact over fiction, especially when it involves a tremendous historical figure such as Alexander the great. In 356 B.C.E Alexander was born to King Philip II of Macedonia and Olympias of Epirus. Being born into royalty didn’t seem to be enough for this young prince which was recognized by his father. When a trader brought a horse for the king it refused to be mounted or tamed and King Philip ordered it away. Alexander asked his father for the horse so that he may try to tame it, which he eventually did. King Philip was pleased with the amount of courage and ambition his ten year old son displayed and told his son “My boy, you must find a kingdom big enough for your ambitions. Macedonia is too small for you” Alexander was introduced to war and conflict at an early age. Alexander was sixteen years old when his father marched on Thrace and Alexander was left in charge of Macedonia in his absence. While his father was gone, a rebellion started at the north east border of Macedonia, Alexander immediately assembled an army and led them against the rebels. After Alexander defeated the rebels he changed the name of their stronghold to Alexandropolis, at eighteen, King Philip put Alexander in charge of the cavalry during the battle of Chaeronea which some historians believe the Macedonians won due to Alexander’s bravery...
Words: 772 - Pages: 4
...Alexander the Great Alexander the Great is well known for accomplishing far more than kings before and after him. He was born in Pella, Macedonia in 356 B.C.E. In his childhood, he watched his father transform Macedonia into a great military power. King Phillip was his father, and Olympias was his mother. She was the princess of Epirus and was a deeply spiritual being. She taught her son about his ancestors, including Achilles and Hercules. Even as a young boy, Alexander was conditioned for battle and glory. He was fearless and strong, and he put his efforts on becoming a great ruler. At age twelve, he trained a horse named Bucephalus, whom no one else could ride. His father was very proud of him and his steady efforts. Aristotle came to Pella in 343 at Philip’s bidding to offer his knowledge. Aristotle taught Alexander from age thirteen to sixteen at the Mieza Temple. He had a strong, athletic build but was still shorter than the average man. He had fair skin and was clean-shaven. He had green eyes and was considered by many to be handsome. When he led his army, he would always wear something vibrant that could be seen from long distances by his enemies. Alexander wore two large white plumes in his hat to set himself apart from the other soldiers. On a normal day, he would wear silk Persian clothing, consisting of a long robe, cape, sash, and headband in royal purple and white. Alexander the Great had much respect for women and treated them fairly. These thoughts might...
Words: 907 - Pages: 4
...Civilizations I Assignment 2_02 Alexander the Great 01/15/2013 Alexander the Great Alexander the Great was only twenty when he became King of Macedonia. After his father Philip’s assassination he moved quickly to assert his authority, securing the Macedonian frontiers and following his father’s dreams to invade the Persian Empire. In the early stages of Alexander’s reign, Alexander had to deal with the Greeks along with the Illyrians and the Thracians, because they saw a chance to reaffirm their independence after Philip died. In this small, but meaningful conquest, Alexander marched an army to Athens and Thebes where he forced the cities to accept him as the leader in his father’s place. In this conquest he easily defeated the Illyrians and the Thracians in less than a few weeks. During Alexander’s conquest to invade the Persian Empire, entering Asia with an army of 37, 000, men he still knew he was taking a chance, which almost caused him his life, but ended in a major victory. In twelve years, Alexander continued to conquered vast territories, dominating lands from west of the Nile to east of the Nile, such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Syria, Bactria, Anatolia, Judea, Phoenicia, and Gaza. He was able to extend his empire as far as India. He brought the Persian Empire, Egypt, and much of the Middle East under his control. Alexander made clear his determination to continue marching east to conquer more of India, but his soldiers refused and Alexander reluctantly turned back....
Words: 411 - Pages: 2
...Attack! The warrior king said as they went into battle. Alexander the great has the story of a true hero. If you take a look behind the story of the man you will come upon the story of a model philosopher king. Alexander’s story starts as a young boy. Growing up under the wing of the historic philosopher Aristotle, who in turn came from a line of the most elite philosophers in history, and as the observant son of the great king Philip of Macedonia, Alexander had the makings of a great philosopher and king. Alexander had a competitive nature, which played a big role in his claim to greatness. As a young adult he claimed many victories, including taming the wild thoughtless untamable horse, which he named Bucephalus, and being a prized combat specialist. It came as no shock after his father’s assassination that he would avenge him, and in turn take the path of becoming one of the greatest kings in history. This leads to the next part of his story which his name the great was derived. As an attempt to avenge his father, Alexander sought after his murderer, who was believed to be king of the vast Persian Empire, Darius. This chase lead him to a conquest of which inspired the philosopher and warrior in him to conquer and explore the unknown lands and civilizations that were under Persian rule. As a philosopher he enjoyed trying new things, and was not partial in taking part in other cultures as he became more...
Words: 665 - Pages: 3
...ALEXANDER THE GREAT: HERO, HUMANITARIAN, OR MANIAC? INTRODUCTION Alexander the Great is by all historical accounts one of the most influential figures of history. He was the son of Philip II, the King of Macedon who conquered Greece in 338 B.C. but was assassinated soon thereafter. Alexander thus became king at the age of seventeen (in 336 B.C. ), and at the age of twenty he set off to conquer the known world. In a series of lightning campaigns he conquered the Persian Empire that had until then been invincible, and in a certain sense he avenged Greece for the earlier Persian Wars. He marched through Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Persia, conquering all before him. In monumental battles he defeated the Persians at Granicus (334 B.C.), Issus (333 B.c.), and Gaugamela (331 B.c.). He drove his soldiers on, crossing the mountains and deserts of central Asia, until he reached the borders of India (326 B.C.). There he finally turned back, retreating to Babylon, where he established his court. At Babylon he fell sick and suddenly died, at only thirty-two years of age (323 B.c.). Alexander hardly had time to organize his new empire, and this makes it all but impossible to know how he would have been as a ruler, instead of a conqueror. After his death, Alexander's empire fell apart and was ruled by his successors, Macedonian generals who became kings of independent areas. Most of these rulers continued Alexander's policies of toleration and cultural integration. Alexander's...
Words: 13773 - Pages: 56
...Alexander the Great One of the greatest military tactician’s in history, Alexander the Great was born in 356 B.C. in Pella, Macedonia. The son of Philip of Macedon, who was an outstanding Army General, and his mother was Olympias, the princess of Epirus. Alexander was educated by his tutor and brilliant Greek philosopher, Aristotle. Alexander became King, at the age of 20, when his father Phillip was murdered, then established his rule at home before making any strategic plans to conquer. Alexander declared war on Persia in 334 B.C., conquering a Persian army near the city of Troy. This resulted in the submission of all states in Asia Minor. Alexander then traveled south, where he would defeat King Darius, III. This battle occurred in 333 B.C. at Issus. Next came Tyre in 332 B.C., and his travels towards the Eastern Mediterranean. This is where he founded the City of Alexandria. From there, he moved his forces to Babylon. Again, Alexander defeated Darius, who was killed by his own men. By 327 B.C. Alexander had gained control of lands along and beyond the southern shores of the Caspian Sea, into much of Central Asia. Alexander arrived in Babylon in 323 B.C., and died there of a fever, and possible excessive alcohol consumption, at the age of 32 years. The legacy of Alexander the Great brought together a broad diverse culture of many descents, that were able to trade goods, and share the knowledge of science, medicine, and math. Works Cited Alexander...
Words: 297 - Pages: 2
...Alexander The Great Why hello. Thank you for taking an interest in my life, as you already know I am Alexander the great. You’re probably wondering why I have such a cool nickname as “the Great” huh? Well, stick around and listen to what I have to say about myself and then you can be the judge on whether or not I should be known as Alexander the Great, or Alexander the Best. Sorry, just a little joke. Obviously I can’t give you a life story day by day, so here’s my life in a nutshell. The miraculous year that I was born was 356 B.C. That makes me (pretty damn old) 2,358 years young. I was born into royalty in Pella, Macedonia, being my father was King Philip II, and my mother Queen Olympias. As most of you already know all great figures want the best for their children, so for my education I was tutored by Aristotle; one of the greatest minds to ever live. Since I was heir to the thrown I supported and backed my father 100%. I fought many campaigns for my father, but after I let my temper loose one time I was sent into exile with a few of my companions. I returned after the death of my father in 336 B.C., in which Darius had believed to be involved in, and was hailed as king, although I was careful to eliminate any possible rivals to the throne. This started the path to becoming “the Great.” I had to clean up so to speak, what my father had already started and undertook the invasion of Asia. Now with me as the “commander-in-chief” my first goal was...
Words: 2559 - Pages: 11
...Alexander the Great was one of the greatest military leaders in history. When Alexander died, he had ruled the largest Western Empire. Alexander’s teacher was the philosopher and scientist, Aristotle. The science, literature, and philosophy he learned helped him become a great leader. At sixteen, Alexander was left in charge of Macedonia while his father, Philip, was at battle. During this time, a town rebelled against Macedonia and Alexander put together an army and saved his city. This was the beginning of Alexander the Great’s life. I picked Alexander the Great because he was very smart, tough and loyal and that is why he won all his battles. Alexander the Great was born in 356 B.C. to Philip II, King of Macedonia, and Olympias, the Princess of Epirus. Alexander’s father, the ruler of Macedonia, was assassinated in 336 B.C. After his father’s death, Alexander became the ruler of Macedonia. Alexander the Great won battles and took over many cities from the time he became King in 336 B.C. until his death in 323 B.C. Alexander’s army became stronger with each defeated city that joined his empire. Alexander and his army eventually created the Macedonia Empire, the largest Western Empire. The Macedonia Empire was created from battles that included Greece, Asia, Persia, Egypt, Iran and India. Alexander also became known as the King of the Four Quarters of the World in 331 B.C. Alexander died in 323 B.C. and did not name another King of Macedonia. The Macedonian...
Words: 383 - Pages: 2
...Alexander the Great, War Hero Alexander is one of the greatest war geniuses in history. He was the conqueror of the Persians and the king of Macedonia. He was an inspiration to many other military geniuses, such as Napoleon, Caesar, Pompey of Rome, and Hannibal of Carthage. Alexander was a king in the Ancient Macedonia kingdom of Greece. During his reign, he conquered Indus, Punjab, Bactria, media, Persia, Babylonia, and Egypt. He was also a student of Aristotle. He took over the kingdom of Macedonia after assassination of his father, King Philip. At one point in history, Alexander’s kingdom stretched from the Indus River to the Adriatic Sea. He is remembered for his vast spreading of Greek civilization and culture to other parts of the world. He is often regarded as one of the most influential individuals of all times together with his tutor Aristotle. Alexander was born in Macedonia in 350 BC. His mother was Olympias and his father was Phillip, the ruler of Macedonia. Alexander’s mother was Philip’s fourth wife. Several myths surround Alexander’s birth. According Plutarch, an ancient Greek biographer, Olympia experienced a thunderbolt and flames on her womb after getting married to King Phillip. King Philip is said to have dreamt seeing a lion seal on the womb of his wife just before Alexander was born (Bose23). Plutarch argued that Alexander’s father was Zeus because Olympia got pregnant before getting married to King Phillip. On the day Alexander was born, various extraordinary...
Words: 1669 - Pages: 7
...Alexander the Great became king of Macedonia when he was only twenty years of age. Before he became king his father, Philip II, would take him on military campaigns. After his father’s death, he quickly moved to assert his authority. People considered Alexandra the Great a brilliant military tactician and leader. During the reign of Alexander the Great, Alexander would change the face of Europe and Asia forever. Out of all the Alexander conquest, his main purpose was Darius III, he was the top leader of the Persian army. After crossing the Aegean Sea, on the mainland of Asia Minor, with his men. Alexander’s first stop was at Troy. While he was there in Troy he visited the grave of Achilles and paid homage to the gods. Then the Battle at Granicus sent a message to Darius that Alexander was no ordinary foe. Alexander met king Darius at the mountain pass at Issus. Although Alexander’s army was greatly outnumbered, he took advantage of the narrow field of battle. King Darius was surprised by Alexander’s ability. Although he was surprised at Alexander’s maneuvers Darius escaped. After marching down the coastline of the Mediterranean, into Damascus, Alexander apprehended the family and was chest of the Persian ruler. As he marched down the coast of Phoenician, he without difficulty seized every city except Tyre. Finally Tyre gave up after a seven month siege. Afterward Alexander and his army headed to Egypt where he founded the city of Alexandria. As he left Egypt in 331 B.C. king...
Words: 463 - Pages: 2
...Alexander the Great By the end of the fifth century Macedonia started emerging as a kingdom of importance amongst the greek world. Its ruler Phillip II had built an efficient army which turned Macedonia into a military force that defeated the Greek's at the battle of Chaeronea in 338 B.C.E. Now Phillip was free to focus his ambition's on conquering Persia. He would never have that opportunity, Phillip was assassinated before he could undertake the invasion of Asia. Alexander the Great was only twenty when he succeeded his father Phillip as king of Macedonia. It would have been very tempting for Alexander to relax and enjoy the spoils of his new kingdom. Instead, he quickly asserted his authority and turned his attention to achieving his father's dream, the invasion of the persian empire. This was a huge risk and one that almost cost Alexander his life at the first battle which took place at the Granicus River in 334 B.C.E. However, Alexander survived and won a major victory which help lead to Alexanders control of the entire western half of Asia Minor. Alexander continued his conquests and by the winter of 332, Syria, Palestine, and Egypt were under his control. He took the title of Pharaoh and founded several cities which he named after himself. Alexander did not rest on his accomplishments. He soon turned his attention to conquering the territory of the ancient Mesopotamian kingdoms. Alexander fought many brutal battles and ultimately took control of Babylon, the...
Words: 405 - Pages: 2
...THE STORY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT IS ONE OF COURAGE, GENIUS, AND GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT; BUT IT IS ALSO SOMEWHAT BITTERSWEET, ENDING WITH HIS TRAGIC DEATH DURING THE PRIME OF HIS LIFE, AT THIRTY-TWO. ALEXANDER WAS BORN TO PHILIP II OF MACEDONIA AND OLYMPIAS, IN 356 BC. PHILLIP II WAS THE KING OF MACEDONIA UNTIL HE WAS ASSASSINATED IN 330 BC. PHILLIP KNEW THAT ONE DAY ALEXANDER WOULD SUCCEED HIM SO HE DID MUCH TO PREPARE HIM FOR A MILITARY AND POLITICAL FUTURE. ALEXANDER WAS GIVEN AN AMAZING EDUCATION BY HIS TUTOR WHO WAS ALSO A GREEK PHILOSOPHER. ARISTOTLE TAUGHT HIM RHETORIC AND LITERATURE, AND OPENED HIS INTEREST TO SCIENCE, MEDICINE, AND PHILOSOPHY. ALEXANDER BECAME KING IN 336 B.C. WHEN PHILLIP WAS ASSASSINATED. HE MAINTAINED HIS RULE AT HOME BEFORE MAKING ANY PLANS OF ATTACK. First he attacked Thessaly in order to restore Macedonian rule. Then in 335 B.C. he defeated the Thracians, up through the Danube River. On his way back, he defeated the Illyrians, but rushed back afterwards to Thebes. Thebes was ravaged by Alexander, sparing only temples and the house of Pindar, a well known Greek poet of the 5th Century B.C. Many more Greek states then turned to Alexander's control. Alexander declared war on Persia in 334 B.C., and defeated a Persian army near the city of Troy. This resulted in the submission of all states in Asia Minor to him. Alexander then traveled southward, where he defeated King Darius III, leader of the main Persian army. This battle occurred in...
Words: 309 - Pages: 2
