Alexander the Great: Historical Essay
Socials Studies 9-Walters
Megan Ingram
Alexander III of Macedon, commonly referred to as Alexander the Great was an accomplished military commander and king of the Greek kingdom of Macedon. He is regarded as both one of the most tyrannical leaders and most heroic generals in history, single handedly changing much of the ancient world and thus earning himself a place amongst the most powerful dictators and revered historical figures of all time. Undefeated in battle, he created one of the largest empires to have ever existed, and as such, opinions on his morals and the motivation behind his conquests are divided, being either regarded as the hero or the villain based on perspective. This begs the question, which is more accurate?
Alexander was born in Pella, Kingdom of Macedon, Greece, of King Phillip II of Macedon and his fourth wife Olympias on July 20, 356 BC. Born to a family containing many noteworthy members of the militia, Alexander was very fittingly brought into existence on a day of military triumph for his people with news being received that a war against the Illyrian and Paeonian had been won. Due to this victory and the many other accomplishments throughout his life it was often speculated that he may, in reality, be the son of Zeus. Throughout his youth, Alexander was enthralled with military stratagem and demonstrated his adeptness at it through training with some of the finest tutors in the land. He showed immense courage and natural charisma and when he managed to tame an unbroken horse at the age of ten it prompted his father, Phillip II, to declare: “My boy, you must find a kingdom big enough for your ambitions. Macedon ...
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...rned his title 'The Great" due to his outstanding success a a military commander and his never losing a battle, despite being outnumbered on a regular basis. He used his stratagem wisely and was motivated by the duty and self-confidence instilled in him by his parents as a small child as well as the competitive side that was forged by his rocky relationship with his father. He himself believed he was a diety. Destined to conquer the world and with little interest in anything other than honour and glory. This in itself drove him to exhibit symptoms of paranoia and megalomania in the years leading up to his demise. His legacy continues on to this day and his actions still heavily influence us as they sped up the progression and expansion of the world and trade. His immense contributions to advancing our world are sure to keep his legacy running for many years to come
Alexander the Great has been considered for centuries as a military genius and influenced conquerors such as Hannibal the Carthaginian, the Romans Pompey, Caesar and Napoleon. Although, he inherited a strong kingdom and an experienced army, Alexander was capable to display his leadership and military capabilities. In 338 B.C., his father, King Phillip II, gave Alexander a commanding post among the senior generals as the Ma...
The first matter to consider is what constitutes “greatness”. There are no set standards no checklist, to apply to a person, to determine it they are “great.” The simplest way that I could conceive to decide whether this title should apply to Alexander was to determine if he was, in some way, superior to the rulers that came before or after his reign. The most obvious place for me to start my consideration is with Alexander’s vast accomplishments as a conquerer.
There is no one description of Alexander the Great, he has become for modern and ancient writers an astonishing man from Macedon, who was a controversial, yet admirable ruler of the largest empire of the known ancient world. The fascination and relevance of Alexander in the contemporary world have proven to be a reflection of his extraordinary successes, which has led to a strong debate on whether Alexander’s epithet as “The Great” is at all an indication of his achievements.
Alexander is the son of King Philip of Macedonia and Queen Olympias. We see Alexander's daily life and the strained relationship between his parents. Alexander grows up with his mother Olympias and his tutor Aristotle, where he finds interest in love, honor, music, exploration, poetry, and military combat. Young Alexander impresses his father by taming an intractable horse, but both mother and son are banished from the kingdom, Olympias advising her son to seize the throne before Philip has him murdered. As things work out, Philip is murdered, and Alexander rules Macedonia. (BBC)
In conclusion, Alexander the Great wasn’t great because he didn’t care for other people, didn’t show leadership or any smarts. Many may say that he was an amazing person who did incredible things with the support of the people. However, if you look closely at his actions you could clearly see his reasoning of greed and power. He killed many innocent people to make his dream of controlling the world come true. Before giving someone a title or name it’s important that we make sure it makes sense and fits their
Alexander the Great’s legacy was incredible and will always be remember for its greatness. Historians have portrayed him as a high-minded philosopher; however, others view him as a bloody-minded autocrat that is more interested in his own success than a philosophical theory of the common good. (Mckay, John P. Western Society, a Brief History: From Antiquity to Enlightenment. S.l.: Bedford Bks St Martin 'S, 2009. Print. pg.68) He acquired many accomplishments including developing Greek city-states that thrived even after his death, and he conquered many places in battle. His reign and achievements began a new era that would be called the Hellenistic
Alexander the Great was a Macedonian Kind who lived between 356 and 323 BC and conquered many settlements during his lifetime including the entire Persian empire. He was extremely successful throughout his career. This success can be put down to his great military power and his persistence and determination. He was also a very brave, confident and capable man which allowed him to lead his army. The sources created at this time give the modern audience a better understanding of what Alexander was like and how these characteristics made him successful.
First, Alexander the Great is a villain because he caused the destruction of his own empire. Throughout his reign as king, he was constantly asked to name a successor to take over the empire if something happened to him, but Alexander always refused. Alexander needed to name a successor to keep his empire going, but he “both refused to provide one, and killed off any man who could be seen as one…” (The John Maxwell Company). Alexander was so determined to stay in control of his empire that he killed any man who he thought could be seen as his successor. He cared more about himself and his power than his empire and it’s success. When
In the countries who believed Alexander was the son of the devil or the devil himself, will say he is not ‘great’ but a demon who did evil. The countries who were on his side would say he was the greatest conqueror to live. He began as a Macedonian cavalry commander at eighteen, king of Macedonia at twenty, conqueror of Persia at twenty-six and explorer of India at thirty [Foner and Garraty]. The amount of large scale accomplishments he managed to finish in a span of six years is astonishing. Alexander’s tomb was the largest tourist attraction in the ancient world. The tomb was even visited by Julius Caesar, Pompey, Caligula, and Augustus. Alexander the Great’s accomplishments set a bar in which provided a standard that all other leaders would match their careers too. Many leaders after Alexander could not reach the standard left by him [Foner and
Alexander the Great:An Analysis Thesis:Alexander the Great is a villain because Alexander the Great murdered and tortured people for no reason,he also took over cities against their own will. Alexander the Great is a villain because Alexander the Great murdered and tortured many people. This man came to civilizations and Alexander the Great took them under his rule,if one did not follow one were tortured. He also killed people just as a warning that Alexander the Great actually wasn't dead. According to Alexander the not so great Paragraph 3 page 2 “Persians also condemn him for the widespread destruction Alexander the Great is thought to have encouraged to cultural and religious sites throughout the empire.”
Alexander the Great is hailed, by most historians, as “The Great Conqueror” of the world in the days of ancient Mesopotamia. “Alexander III of Macedon, better known as Alexander the Great, single-handedly changed the nature of the ancient world in little more than a decade. Alexander was born in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia in July 356 BCE. His parents were Philip II of Macedon and his wife Olympias. Philip was assassinated in 336 BCE and Alexander inherited a powerful yet volatile kingdom. He quickly dealt with his enemies at home and reasserted Macedonian power within Greece. He then set out to conquer the massive Persian Empire” (Web, BBC History). It is important to note, which will maybe explain his brutal actions, that Alexander was only twenty years old when he became the king of Macedonia. “When he was 13, Philip hired the Greek philosopher Aristotle to be Alexander’s personal tutor. During the next three years Aristotle gave Alexander training in rhetoric and literature and stimulated his interest in science, medicine, and philosophy, all of which became of importance in Alexander’s later life” (Web, Project of History of Macedonia). “In, 340, when Philip assembled a large Macedonian army and invaded Thrace, he left his 16 years old son with the power to rule Macedonia in his absence as regent, but as the Macedonian army advanced deep into Thrace, the Thracian tribe of Maedi bordering north-eastern Macedonia rebelled and posed a danger to the country. Alexander assembled an army, led it against the rebels, and with swift action defeated the Maedi, captured their stronghold, and renamed it after himself to Alexandropolis. Two years later in 338 BC, Philip gave his son a commanding post among the senior gener...
Few historical figures stand out in the same degree as that of Alexander the Great. He was a warrior by 16, a commander at age 18, and was crowned King of Macedon by the time he was 20 years old. He did things in his lifetime that others could only dream about. Alexander single-handedly changed the nature of the ancient world in just over a decade. There were many attributes that made Alexander “Great.” He was a brilliant strategist and an inspired leader; he led by example and was a conqueror at heart. In looking at his early childhood, accession to the throne, conquests, marriage, and death one can see why Alexander the Great is revered in historical contexts as one of the greatest figures of all time.
Alexander the Great is undoubtedly one of the most famous leaders and Kings in our history. This one man miraculously led his armies into countless battles and created an empire nearly as large as the Roman Empire. Men and women all over the world have clearly heard of the amazing things that Alexander accomplished in his times; however, the question of whether his deeds were heroic or villainous still remains. To answer this question, Alexander the Great was unmistakably a villain.
Alexander the Great was most likely the greatest leader ever. His tactics and reasoning are still studied all over the world even after 2,000 years ago. Being a teenager from a divorced family and forced to rule at such a young age intensely impacted Alexander’s Life. According to records, he was said to be a heavy drinker and because of his mother’s excessive praise, believed himself to be a god. His loyalty, ego, and ambitions are a few of his life struggles that are still scrutinized today.
In conclusion, I believe Alexander is one of the best political leader and the best general in the history. He managed to conquer and govern a huge territory with his wisdom. He didn’t win wars with soldiers, he won with strategy. Without a question, he was the most successful leader in the history. He knew how t rule and how to make people obedient and it is the main reason that he was very influential. These qualities made him live forever in stories, epics, and