...War has been an inevitable part of human history since humans evolved. Regardless of the objective, no war can be successful without a great leader. Among the great military leaders in history, Alexander the Great stands above the rest. In only twelve years, “he brought the Persian Empire, Egypt, and much of the Middle East under his control” (Duiker & Spielvogel, 2009, p. 118). In addition to his many conquests, he left behind a legacy that had a positive, lasting effect on the cultures of many people. Alexander was twenty years old when he inherited his father’s kingdom of Macedonia; and after “securing the Macedonian frontiers and smothering a rebellion in Greece,” he then “turned to his father’s dream, the invasion of the Persian Empire” (Duiker & Spielvogel, 2009, p. 117). The campaign seemed impossible since the Persian forces had access to resources that Alexander did not; however, while the Persian forces were greater in number, Alexander’s forces were better because of his ability to lead, inspire, and motivate his troops (Hays, 2013). Alexander focused on conquering the Persian Empire, and he won three decisive battles against the forces of King Darius III. In 334 B.C.E., Alexander defeated the Persians at the Granicus River; in 333 B.C.E., he defeated them at the Battle of Issus; and in 331 B.C.E., he defeated them at Gaugamela. After the battle at Granicus River, Alexander conquered the western half of Asia Minor; and by the winter of 332 B.C.E., Syria...
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...Peter the Great was one of the most famous czars in Russia, ruling from 1689 through 1725. Born in Moscow on June 9, 1672, Peter the Great was able to accomplish the incredible task of modernizing Russia. Due to his amazing talents, Russia was one of Europe’s leading countries during his reign. From wars to the multiple reforms he made, Peter the Great was able to successfully meet his primary goal: to expand and westernize Russia. Without him, Russia would have continued to be isolated and old-fashioned compared to the rest of Europe. Peter the Great’s interest in war was greatly beneficial to Russia. Through most of the wars that Peter was involved in, he was able to acquire and create features that helped Russia prosper. For example, from 1700 through 1721, Russia was involved in its first major European conflict, the Great Northern War. As a result, Peter the Great had to make multiple preparations. He needed troops for his army, this meant that all of the new soldiers had to be trained and armed. A fleet for the Baltic and Black Seas was necessary when looking for a victory. These ships needed Muscovites, who needed special training, to sail them. Once accomplished, Peter the Great was able to defeat Charles XII of Sweden in Ukraine. Through the Peace of Naystadt in 1721, he acquired the Baltic coastline. It was there that Peter planned to open warm water ports. These ports led to a growth in manufacturing through the companies created by the state (Jay 1). Then in 1722...
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...Rhett Deverich D block, History Alford 24 February 2014 Battles of Alexander the Great The Battle of Granicus River, the goal was simple, defeat King Darius III and conquer the vast Persian empire. Alexander crossed at Hellespont and traveled along the mountain ranges in May of 334 B.C.E. While he and his men were at Troy. The Persians planned a meeting to have a discussion on how to defeat him and where to start. They decided to trap the oncoming army at the river of Granicus. (Granicus was roughly sixty feet wide with both a fast current and steep banks) With the Persians at about 10,000 cavalry and 5,000 mercenary facing Alexanders 13,000 calvary and 5,000 mercenary, we would think the battle would last for a while but it only lasted about an hour. The interesting tactic that the Persians used (which might has cost them this battle) was how they aligned their cavalry. They positioned their cavalry at the banks of the river, while the Greek mercenary infantry was right behind them. They could move neither forward or backward to escape this battle. The other part of Alexander's army was on the other side of the river, they plunged into the treacherous river and swam across; when they got out, they faced hand to hand combat with the Persians. The Persians, then retreated, although; this would not be the last of them. Alexander would soon see Darius again at the Battle of Issus. Battle plan of Granicus The Battle of Issus November 5th of 333 B.C.E, was the...
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...“Darius the third- Noble Enemy or Cowardly Incompetent?” Issus: Action 1 Prior to the Battle of Issus, King Darius III of Persia had been putting together a huge force “to counter the Macedonian invasion, by which he fully outsmarted Alexander,” he took an alternative route and followed Alexander’s rear, also killing the Macedonians which were left behind due to being unfit or illness. Arrian refers to Darius capturing the Macedonians which had been left behind before the Battle of Issus. “Having reached Issus, he captured as many of the Macedonians as had been left behind there on account to illness” this was considered a smart move from Darius. Following Alexander meant Darius knew most of his moves for that period of time. Darius had for once cut off “Alexander’s lines of supply’s and had disrupted the Macedonian logistic system.” Issus: Action 2 During the Battle of Issus, King Darius fought Alexander on a narrow coastal plain. This meant he “denied himself to take full advantage of his stunning superiority in numbers,” because Darius would not have been able to spread his huge cavalry properly. Based on a strong perspective of Curtius, it is said King Darius “was forced to move camp to terrain that favoured Alexander.” So Darius was basically forced to shift his massive army to a narrow battlefield, which was an extremely high advantage for “Alexander’s smaller force.” Issus: Action 3 During the Battle of Issus, King Darius lined heavy cavalry next to the coast...
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...From the ages of antiquity and to the present, Alexander is described as a military genius. His accomplishments in the art of war were and still are astounding. Hannibal, Caesar, Frederick, and Napoleon studied his military methods thoroughly and all admitted that without the knowledge they gained from Alexander the Great they would have never been able to accomplish what they did. From one great leader, Napoleon, we hear, “Make offensive war like Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar … read and re-read the history of their campaigns. Model yourself on them … that is the only way to become a great captain.” Invariable were his countless successes, whether he fought against disciplined, highly trained troops or guerilla bands of wild hill tribes, on plains or on mountains, deserts, ravines, marshes or rivers, winter snow or burning sun; weather and darkness were not obstacles. Alexander never wasted time. He always arrived before his enemies expected. His men followed him for more than 21,000 miles because they believed he had their best interests in mind. They always counted on him to lead them to victory after victory and he never failed. There are many reasons that have been presented of how and why Alexander won every one of his battles. He would achieve his victories by first investigating the land where he wished to advance upon. In order to be sure of the safety of himself and his army he would often explore alone over dangerous terrain. In order for men to respect and follow...
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...Peter the Great Introduction about Peter the great… Peter the Great ,Peter Peter l or pytor Alexeyevich Romanov ruled the tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from 7 May [O.. 27 April] 1682 until his death , jointly ruling before 1696 with his half –brother… Life of Peter the Great… Peter the Great was born on June 9th, 1672 and he was from Moscow and he died February 8th, 1725 Saint Petersburg. He have six kids and their names are... Alexe, Tsarevich, Duke, Anna, Elizabeth, Duchesse. Peter full name is: Peter Alekse Tevich Roman and the parents that gave him his name is :{ MOTHER} Alexis l Russia and his {FATHER} Natalia Naryshkina… and his {SISTER} Sophia Alekseyevna … h The Early Life of Peter the Great From the early years of Peter the Great… Peter the great education was put in the hands of several tutors most notably Nikitia Zotov, Patrick Gordon and Paul Menesius. On January 29th 1676 Tsar Alexis died, leaving the Sovereignty to Peter’s elder half-brother the weak and sickly Feodor lll. Throughout the period the government was largely run by Artamon Matveev , an enlightened friend of Peter’s dad Alexis , the political head of the Naryshkin family and one of Peter’s greatest...
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...Alexander the Great Alexander the Great was brought into this world in the year 356 BC. He died on tenth June, 323 BC, a little more than a month from his thirty-third birthday.1 He was born to King Philip, the King of Macedon and Olympias, the daughter of King Neoptlemus of Epirus.2 King Philip had concern about Alexander’s education so he summoned the Greek philosopher and scientist, Aristotle, to act as his tutor.3 Aristotle, one of the world’s greatest thinkers, inspired Alexander with an interest in philosophy, medicine, and scientific investigation.4 He also taught him secret and more obscure studies which philosophers did not impart to the general run of students but only by word of mouth to a select circle.5 In Alexander’s youth he was young ambitious and romantic with a genius for military strategy and tactics.6 He reigned as king from the time he was twenty. Alexander had conquered most of the world he knew to exist by the time he was thirty and came to be seen as a living god.7 He was considered to be one of the greatest military thinkers of all time. One of his most decisive and successful battle for the Persian Empire was the battle of Gaugamela. Alexander the Great sought to control all of Persia and had previously declined an offer from Darius to split the Persian Empire between the two.8 Alexander came to Guagamela to lead the final battle between Alexander and Darius III of Persia; this epic battle would determine the fate of the Persian Empire...
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...argue about how the expansion of Alexander’s Empire became rapid and effective. Most historians have labeled him “Alexander the Great” because of his ability to conquer a huge empire as well as a military commander that had never lost a battle. Alexander was only 10 when he tamed a fearful horse that captured the eye of his father Phillip who had this to say, “My boy, you must find a kingdom big enough for your ambition. Macedon is too small for you.” Alexander would grow up to be one of the world’s most legendary military commanders. His battlefield tactics are widely studied in military schools today. Within 13 years, Alexander conquered most of the known world with an empire that stretched 10,000 miles and encompassed the Mediterranean, most of Europe and touched the borders of India. However, there is still one question that most military commander would want to know, “How did he manage to conquer a huge empire in such a short period of time?” First, he should thank his father Phillip’s innovation and military for setting up the stage for his conquest. Second, Alexander’s early education jump started his character as a leader. Finally, Alexander’s psychological and social strategy helped bolster the rapid conquest. These above factors contribute to the spread of the Empire in a short period of only 13 years. King Phillip The prolong Peloponnesian War severely weakened the Greek city-states. The vulnerability of the Greek city-states was the perfect timing for King Phillip to...
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...The French and Indian War My name is Henry Carter, a British Commander sent to America to defend the colonies from the French. It started in 1754 when both England and France claimed the Ohio River Valley. There had been many battles fought between the French and English settlers. Most of the battles were won by the French because they were more experienced at fighting in the wilderness. In 1755, I was assigned to General Edward Braddock’s group. His group included 1,750 British regulars and 450 colonial militia. General Braddock believed in the English strategies of fighting a battle by positioning themselves in an open area. We were taught and trained these strategies by Braddock even though we had heard and seen that the French were willing to fight in the more barbaric ways of the Indians. They would hide and make surprise attacks on our units. In July of 1755, General Braddock decided we were going to attack Fort Duquesne located in western Pennsylvania. It was one of many French forts in the Ohio valley. We knew Captain Beaujeau was the commander at the fort. We also knew that their army numbered less than 1,000 men including Indians fighting with them. We were hoping to draw them out into the open and fight them on our terms. We woke up on July 9th, 1755 to a hot and muggy morning. I got dressed and ate breakfast before giving oats to my horse Doug. Doug was a fearless white stallion whom I had ridden into many battles with. We packed up our...
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...was tied to the Seven Year's War (1756-1763). This was a European war between Britain and France and their allies (Austria for France and Prussia for Britain). A main source of contention between the two countries was being the dominant power in North America. Although France and Britain managed to remain at peace in Europe until 1756, they created a virtual state of war in North America. The pivotal point of the war occurred in 1754 when George Washington clashed with French troops. In response, the British dispatched General Edward Braddock and a thousand regular troops to North America to seize Fort Duquesne in Ohio. Unfortunately General Braddock was defeated in 1755 when he was ambushed by French, Canadian, and Indian soldiers. The British were also defeated by the French in 1756 and 1757 during minor battles. At this point, the French were slowly dominating central New York and Western New England. Back in Europe, British were also losing the Seven Year war. Two developments turned the tide for the British. The Iroquois and most Ohio Indiana abandoned their support of the French. This allowed the British to capture French forts in Ohio. The second decisive development occurred hen William Pitt took control of military affairs in the British cabinet. Pitt was able to mobilize soldiers in the American colonies by promising that if they raised the necessary men, the British parliament would bear the cost of fighting the war. The impact of this decision...
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...The Seven Years’ War - A First Person Account I was born and raised in Virginia. I provide for my family by hunting and trapping game. My wife and children take care of our home and help me prepare the animal pelts and meat for sale or consumption. We live a modest life and attend church services regularly. I joined the militia with neighbors a couple years ago as a way to support our community. I am grateful to God to be alive today to recount my experiences through the Seven Years’ War. Growing up in Virginia, I was exposed to a very diverse population. My friends and family led simple lives here, but we would see many people come and go through our community. The first stranger I remember was a very loud preacher. I remember my parents bringing me to a field to hear this man speak at what they called a “revival.” The man was called Whitefield and I recall my parents cheering and more excited than any time we had gone to Church before or since. I never told anyone, including my wife, about the second stranger I met. One day I was out hunting and I came across a very tired Negro. His hands and back were covered in scars. He was visibly cold and tired. I gave the man my flask of milk and what little jerky I had and I vividly remember how rapidly he ate it. I did not understand the words he said to me, but I knew of neighbors who may help him and simply pointed into the direction he should go. The third man I remember spoke very properly. ...
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...Tragedy of Great Power Politics In The Tragedy of Great Power Politics, author John Mearsheimer outlines a new theory of international relations which he calls “offensive realism.” Mearsheimer’s theory is a spin-off of Kenneth Waltz’s neorealism, also known as structural or defensive realism. Mearsheimer follows on the premises of Kenneth Waltz’s theory by deriving the behavior of states from the “structure” of the international system. Mearsheimer outlines five assumptions or premises comprising his theoretical foundation: 1) the international system is anarchic (no world government) 2) all states posses some offensive capability and are thus capable of using force against other states 3) no state can be certain another state will not use force against it 4) survival, territorial integrity, and domestic autonomy are the primal goals of all states and 5) great powers are rational actors (Mearsheimer 2001, pp. 30-31). It is difficult to definitively discern what conclusions Mearsheimer thinks follow from these premises (Wagner 2007, pg. 14). He argues for perhaps three conclusions: 1) great powers have powerful incentives to “think and act offensively with regard to each other…In particular, three general patterns of behavior result: fear, self-help, and power maximization (Mearsheimer 2001, pg.32)” 2) even states that want only to survive end up pursuing hegemony as the ultimate insurance for survival 3) even states that care only about their survival may end up in war. These...
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...Heartland, which is land seen to be of geopolitical importance, will inevitably become a global superpower as they amass economic and political strength from that territory. Mackinder states “Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland; Who rules the Heartland commands the World-Island; Who rules the World-Island commands the World.” (Mackinder 1919: 150) Klare’s incorporation of a realist approach lies in the way he explains America adherence to the Heartland thesis. Klare demonstrates America’s desire to control the Heartland by overtly militaristic foreign policies in areas of great geopolitical competition. America had been involved in conflict in the resource rich and geopolitically sensitive area of the Middle-East for two years at the time of Klare’s writing; the extension of the conflict into the new decade furthers the persuasiveness of Klare’s realist theory. The realist analysis outlines that this involvement serves America self-interest and national security as control of this modern Heartland, and the economic power it provides, quells the...
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...Roberts Dr. Stanford-Bowers English 102 21 July 2013 Environmental Effects of Nuclear War Thesis: If large scale nuclear war broke out, it would make large areas of the earth uninhabitable and almost completely destroy the environment. I. Immediate effect to the environment a. The Nuclear Blast b. The Thermal Radiation c. Direct nuclear Radiation II. Effects That bring about nuclear winter d. Surface temperature drops e. Upper atmosphere heats causing ozone loss III. Fallout and its effects on the environment f. How people are exposed to fallout g. The effects of this exposure h. How long nuclear fallout last The atomic bomb is our single greatest piece of technology and also the worst piece of destruction we have ever created. It is because of the research in to nuclear weapons that we have had some of our greatest technological breakthroughs in electrical power and medicine. On the other hand, it is this research and testing that have changed our world completely and not for the better. According to Ramesh Thakur “When Manhattan project director J Robert Oppenheim first saw a nuclear explosion he quoted the bhagavad gita”Now I am become death, the shatterer of worlds”” (28). Because of all the superpowers dependence on nuclear weapons we are getting closer to seeing our worst nightmares of an all-out nuclear war becoming a reality. It is through the accident at the Chernobyl power plant and the dropping...
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...9th Grade Lit/Comp B Research Paper Outline Unit 2, Lesson 11 Complete this outline and submit it to the dropbox in place of your Research Paper Rough Draft. You will work on this outline throughout Unit 2 Lessons 8-11. You will submit your completed outline to the drop box at the end of Unit 2 Lesson 11. Intro Hook - What interesting fact or statement would make your reader WANT to read the rest of your essay? Your hook should NOT be in the form of a question. Innovations in technology relating to weaponry and machinery made great advancements during the period between World War I and World War II. These advancements in machinery contributed to increased fighting capability by land, air and sea. Background- introduce your topic and...
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