...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
...Alexander the Great was a conqueror and King of Macedonia prior to the Hellenistic Period. He succeeded to the throne after Phillip II of Macedon’s death brought his reign to an end. However, the continuance of the promised legacy his father left behind did not satisfy this power crazed King for fame and glory. Alexander the Great’s resentment towards his father led him to continue conquering because he wanted to overshadow his father. Under his headship, his unification of Greek city-states led to one of the largest empires known today. Alexander was born in the summer of 356 B.C. to Phillip II King of Macedon and Olympias of Epirus. Born into a royal household with a great military leader as the head of it, Alexander spent most of his early childhood watching a distant father transform Macedonia. Alexander was always left behind for his father’s military conquests and expansion. “Whenever he heard of Philip's having taken some city or won some famous victory, he used to look unhappy at the news, and would say to his friends, "Boys, my father will forestall us in everything; he will leave no great exploits for you and me to achieve." Indeed, he cared nothing for pleasure or wealth, but only for honour and glory; and he imagined that the more territory he inherited from his father, the less would be left for him to conquer.” Alexander realized that his father’s absence meant that he was out conquering ("Plutrach Lives: The Life of Alexander" p. 304). This led to tension between...
Words: 1224 - Pages: 5
...Alexander, son of King Philip II of Macedon, is known as Alexander the Great. However, was he truly great? One may look at his many accomplishments to decide if he deserves the title. Sometimes character is the test of determining if a man is great. Alexander meets both standards with his philosophic background, conquering abilities, victories in battle, and outstanding accomplishments; therefore, he truly meets his title as Alexander the Great Alexander was born in 356 B.C. to King Philip II f Macedon, and Olympias, princess of Epirus. King Philip was one of Alexander’s main influences. Philip was a man of action: he built cities, navies, roads, armies, conquered Athens, and created the League of Corinth, which he treated fairly. At age 13, Alexander’s father hired Aristotle to tutor his son. Aristotle’steachings encompassed all aspects of Greek life: art, poetry, science, and philosophy. Aristotle would become Alexander’s second greatest influence in life, one that would inspire him to live a good, moral life. Another tutor of Alexander’s, before Aristotle, was the Acarnian Lysimachus. He created a game with Alexander in which he would pretend to be the great hero Achilles. Alexander believed Achilles was the true example of a great aristocratic warrior, and he modeled himself after him. Later in life, Alexander would carry with him a copy of Homer’s Iliad and traded his armor for, what he believed to be, Achilles’ armor. When King Philip was assassinated, Alexander was...
Words: 1443 - Pages: 6
..."Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?" was not the original concern for the great Alexander Hamilton. Not believing that he could live past twenty, this man went on to accomplish many great things and convince New Yorkers to agree to ratify the U.S. Constitution. The brilliant work of Hamilton was displayed through the masterful musical "Hamilton" created by Lin-Manuel Miranda. As Niccoló Machiavelli claims, a politician's success relies on two factors; his own abilities or skills and his external circumstances. These hold true for what led Alexander Hamilton to successes. "By fourteen, they placed him in charge of a trading charter" (Alexander Hamilton, Miranda). The trading charter involved dealing with associations formed by investors...
Words: 1758 - Pages: 8
...The Roots of Ambition: How Alexander Hamilton's Childhood Shaped His Legacy Alexander Hamilton, a man who is renowned across America as one of the founding fathers of the United States, a brave soldier who battled for independence in the Revolutionary War, the man who drafted the US Constitution, the documents that make up the laws of our country, and etc., had suffered multiple tragedies, like parental abandonment, and parental loss. How did his trauma from a young age affect his decisions in life later on, in higher education, and in US renown? During his childhood, Hamilton faced significant trauma, starting from a very young age. At just the age of eight, Alexander left his peaceful life to move to St Croix, for his father James Hamilton’s, job. Almost...
Words: 927 - Pages: 4
...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
...History 111 ALEXANDER HAMILTON, AMERICAN by Richard Brookhiser (Book Review) Publish on 1999 ,Alexander Hamilton, American, it’s a 240 pages biography book on which author Richard Brookhiser sets the arguments to describe one of America’s founding fathers, Mr Alexander Hamilton. Richard Brookhiser takes us through the times on which Hamilton lived, accounting all the extraordinary events that surrounded and shape his life and character from his humble beginnings in St. Croix to the years he hold a position of power as the nation’s Treasury Secretary. All through the book Brookhiser explore other’s points of view about Hamilton. As all persons involved in politics Hamilton had supporters, enemies and people that could not described or comprehend what kind of American he was. Alexander Hamilton is known for many as a genius and a great economist but others point to his achievements as “forcing the dominion of big money or big government or both”(Brookhiser 4). The contrast of opinions on Hamilton serves as points of examination for Brookhiser, who put all perceptions at test with the facts of reality to create a real perspective. As the author points out on the book, “the tread that runs through every chapter, and every aspect of Hamilton’s life, is his identity as an American. The author sets to tell Hamilton’s history through ten chapters which go from the earliest accounts of Hamilton’s childhood to his last moments of agony before death. Brookhiser begins...
Words: 730 - Pages: 3
...Alexander the Great Alexander the Great, the King of Macedonia, was born in July 356 BC in Pella, Macedonia. He was one of the best military leaders in the history. He won much of what was then the civilized world, driven by his great ambition of the world conquest and the creation of a universal kingdom. He was the son of Philip of Macedon, who was a brilliant organizer and general. His mother was Olympias, princess of Epirus. She was brilliant and hot-tempered. Alexander inherited the best qualities of his father and mother. As a child he used to get discouraged after listening news that his father have conquered and taken another territory. This was because he was upset and worried that there would be nothing more left for him to do (John, 1996). By the time he was twelve, he was quite mature. This can be partially credited to the fact that he used to hang around his father's army for in his childhood; he was also running through the groups of army ever since he could walk. Even as a boy Alexander was strong and fearless. He tamed the brave and beautiful Bucephalus, a horse that no one else dared to ride or even touch. Later, this brave horse carried him to India, where it died. Alexander was very upset; he then built the city of Bucephala in memory of his beloved horse. When Alexander was about 13 years old, he became the student of Aristotle. He was always keen and ready to explore new things. He used to take part in sports and other daily exercise to build a...
Words: 1885 - Pages: 8
...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
...Speaking Specific Purpose: This is to inform my audience of the life of Alexander Graham Bell and his contributions to the field of Communications. Introduction: In 1876, at the age of 29, Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. In 1877, he formed the Bell Telephone Company. He would continue to test out new ideas through a long and productive life. He would explore the realm of communications as well as engage in a great variety of scientific activities involving kites, airplanes, structures, sheep-breeding, artificial respiration, and water distillation. There are many topics of interest that should be discussed, but for this presentation I will focus on three main points which are: A. Early years and education B. Invention of the telephone C. Contributions and effect the telephone had on the ease to communicate Body: 1. During his youth, Alexander Graham Bell experienced significant influences that would carry into his adult life. One was his hometown of Edinburgh, Scotland, known as the "Athens of the North," for its rich culture of arts and science. Another was his grandfather, Alexander Bell, a well-known professor. Alexander's mother also had a profound influence on him, being a proficient pianist despite her deafness. This taught Alexander to look past people's disadvantages and find solutions to help them. 2. In the 1870s, two inventors Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell both independently designed devices that could transmit speech...
Words: 423 - Pages: 2
...Alexander the Great was born July 356 B.C. to Philip II and his third wife Olympias. Alexander the Great is a hero because, any historians consider him the greatest military leader of all time, military genius, and bravery drove him to conquer many lands. Alexander the Great was born on July 20, 356 B.C., in Pella, Macedonia. His parents were King Philip II of Macedon and Queen Olympia. Alexander got the support from Macedonian Army and eliminated his enemies to become king and leader of the Corinthian League. Alexander the Great is a hero because, like Beowulf, he was brave enough to conquer many lands, founded many cities, and he was considered one of the best military leaders. Alexander was as Alexander III then later he got the title Alexander the Great. He was born in Pella, the capital of Macedonia. His father got assassinated in 336 BC and that caused Alexander to inherit a powerful yet uneasy kingdom. He ended up receiving the support of the Macedonian Army, and he took out his enemies to become the king/leader of the Corinthian League. Alexander had passed away at the age of 32, just 14 years after becoming the King. Beowulf comes from the...
Words: 1520 - Pages: 7
...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
...Russian system, yes some of it was quite cruel and hard on the Russians but the Russians must have a ruler that is hard and is a stiff upper lipped person and is a powerfull ruler, every leader of Russia has been a hard and powerful one so I do agree that violence and repression were key factors in his role to rule Russia. Alexander III came to power very unexpectedly due to the assassination of members of the terrorist organization Narodnaya Volya. He was only 36 when his father died and he came to power He was very aware and under no illusion that he could suffer the exact same fate as his father did, because he was so aware of this he put in place many forms of repression These were labelled ‘Russification’ and they came into being immediately he was crowned tsar in 1881. The primary aspect of Russification was to rid Russia of western ideas that Alexander III believed had weakened the country and reduced its national identity. Alexander wanted to reclaim Russia’s ‘Russian-ness'. To achieve this he had to remove those people who had imported into Russia alien ideas that were covertly undermining his position and the national identity of Russia itself. Alexander saw no difference in what he wanted for himself and what he wanted for Russia. Russification was not new to Russia. There had been isolated examples of when this was done before. What made Alexander’s policy so different was the intensity of it after 1881 and the attempt to give it some form of academic intellectual backing...
Words: 2019 - Pages: 9
...Alexander Hamilton Most people know him as the man on the ten dollar bill but who is he and what did he do to help shape the great United states we know today. Alexander was a great person in the history books but not well known. In the musical Alexander Hamilton it showed who hamilton was as a man, Military soldier, And a politician. The musical showed both his personal and professional life in a new way than what the history books told, The musical gives a whole new perspective of hamilton's life that is very interesting to see who he was not only in his professional life but in his personal life too and it is also interesting to see them collide together and to affect each other as hamilton is starting a new nation. Alexander was a good...
Words: 648 - Pages: 3
...I have been in many places in short life like, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, but I have never been at nay museum before. My overall experience at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, In a short answer, was awesome. In a long answer, it changed everything I thought about history and it gave me the idea of what would’ve been like to lived in that time period. It was life experience which I will try to repeat. It makes me kind of sad to think that would never be able to meet great people in history like, Socrates or Alexander the great. However, this is by far the closest I can get to ever meet them, it is all I can get and for that I am very grateful. My best friend Jhovanny followed me in this adventure. Since we both worked the night before we were tired. I thought we were going to get lost, but my cell phone saved us. We got there without a problem. We only got lost in central park, but it was a nice walk anyway. As I was walking into the museum, I said to Jhovanny, “Ready to go back in time?” I was really excising to finally get to meet my biggest role model , Alexander the Great....
Words: 530 - Pages: 3
