Alexander the Great

Caydn Campbell

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great has had many accomplishments throughout his young life as a military commander by conquering Persia, Egypt, and parts of India at only 20 years old. He was taught by Aristotle, and he created a whole new culture/era called the hellenistic culture. Alexander took charge of the companion cavalry at age 18 and helped his father defeat the Athenian and Theban armies at Chaeronea. Alexander was truly great.

Alexander had a very interesting early life. He was taught by the great philosopher Aristotle, and was inspired in the subjects of philosophy, medicine, and scientific investigation. He also advanced upon his teachers perception that all non Greeks should be slaves. Alexander was left in charge of Macedonia at a young age when his father went and attacked Byzantium, but his dad trained him in the art of war so he was prepared for anything. While his father was gone there was an uprising with the Maedi, a Thracian people. Two years later he commanded the left wing at the battle of Chaeronea, in which this was the battle where King Philip defeated the Greek states. A year later King Philip divorced Olympias(Alexander’s mom), so Alexander and his mom Olympias fled to Epirus and later Alexander went to Illyria. Shortly afterward Alexander returned but his position as the heir of the Kingdom was jeopardized. However in 336 when King Philip was assassinated he was taken in to be the king with no opposition from anyone. As king he started executing people, such as the princes of Lyncestis, that were thought to be behind the murder of King Philip. He also executed all possible rivals and the whole faction opposed to him. He then began to march south, recovered a quivering nation of Thessaly, and at an assembly of the Greek League of Corinth the forthcoming invasion of Asia was appointed. It was already planned by King Philip. “What great or noble work could we ourselves have achieved had we thought it enough, living at ease in Macedon, merely to guard our homes, accepting no burdenbeyond checking the encroachment of the Thracians on our borders, or the Illyrians and Triballians, or perhaps such Greeks as might prove a menace to our comfort?”
Alexander had his mind set on the Persian expedition. He had grown up to the idea that he needed to carry out his father’s plans. But he needed the money and wealth Persia had to maintain the army built by Philip II and pay off the 500 talents he owed. Agelisus of Sparta had a successful campaigning in the Persian territory, and had revealed the vulnerability of the Persian empire to Alexander. In spring of 334 Alexander crossed the Dardanelles. He commanded about 30,000 foot soldiers and about 5,000 cavalry men, of which 14,000 thousand men were macedonians, and 7,000 men were allies sent by the Greek League. A lot of work fell on the light armed Cretan and Macedonian archers, Thracians, and the Agrianian javelin men. But the striking force was the cavalry, and the core of the army. But if the battle is still standing still after the cavalry charge, there is an infantry phalanx standing at 9,000 strong, armed with 13 foot long spears and shields. Alexander’s second in command was Parmenio. After making a visit to Ilium(Troy), he had his first encounter with a Persian army led by three satraps. The battle took place at the Granicus River which is near the Sea of Marmara. The plan of the Persian’s was to lure Alexander across the river and take him down there, but the Persian line broke and Alexander claimed victory. Darius’s greek mercenaries were mainly massacred but 2,000 of them were sent back to Macedonia in chains. This victory opened up western Asia minor to Alexander and allowed him to push his expedition forward all the way through egypt, up the mediterranean sea, and part of India.

”If you have any complaint to make about the results of your efforts hitherto, or about myself as your commander, there is no more to say. But let me remind you: through your courage and endurance you have

gained possession of Ionia, the Hellespont, both Phrygias, Cappadocia, Paphlagonia, Lydia, Caria, Lycia, Pamphylia, Phoenicia, and Egypt.” Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great created a new culture called the Hellenistic culture. It was more like an era because it lasted for about 300 years. This culture was comprised of Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and some Indian, so basically it was made up of the places Alexander conquered. Alexander’s empire was not really unified as a whole so when he died his generals divided and conquered the lands among themselves. Soon the pieces left over behind from Alexander’s empire had become three great dynasties. They were called the Seleucids of Syria and Persia, the Ptolemies of Egypt and the Antigonids of Greece and Macedonia. Although these dynasties weren’t politically united since Alexander’s death, they were no longer part of any Greek or Macedonian Empire. But they all shared a lot in common. The commonalities were the essential “Greek-ness” of the Alexandrian world that historians refer to as the Hellenistic culture.  The three kingdoms were ruled by kings. These kings had a sophisticated view of the world, and were particularly interested in obtaining as many of its riches as they could. They imported ivory, gold, ebony, pearls, cotton, spices and sugar (for medicine) from India; furs and iron from the Far East; wine from Syria and Chios; papyrus, linen and glass from Alexandria; olive oil from Athens; dates and prunes from Babylon and Damaskos; silver from Spain; copper from Cyprus; and tin from as far north as Cornwall and Brittany. They also wanted to make sure everyone could see how wealthy they are by building elaborate palaces and commissioning art, sculptures and extravagant jewelry. People also moved around the Hellenistic kingdoms. Almost everyone in the former empire of Alexander spoke and read the same language, koine. Koine was like the universal language in the Hellenistic culture because no matter where you came from you could communicate with anyone. At the same time people felt alienated because this was a new political and cultural landscape for them. Like they used to be so

involved in the politics of the democratic city states, now they live in a personal empire governed by professional bureaucrats. This alienation reflected upon itself by the art and philosophy. For example sculptures and paintings represented actual people and not Gods or idealized “types”. The philosophers turned their focus inward as well. The philosopher Epicurus argued that the most important thing in life was the pursuit of the individual’s pleasure and happiness. And the Stoics argued that every individual man had within him a divine spark that could be cultivated by living a good and noble life. But this all came to an end when the Romans took over the Hellenistic world in “stages”, but the era ended for good in 31 B.C. “There is nothing impossible to him who will try.”

In conclusion Alexander was a young and ambitious person. He started preparing himself at a very young age for success. His actions by spreading and creating a new culture has helped shaped the modern day as it is. He was also the inspiration/role model for many others that wanted to follow in his footsteps such as Napoleon. What would you do in your lifetime that would make you be considered “great”?
Works Cited

By This Means, as It Would Seem, It Was Suggested to Dareius from Heaven That the Exploits of the Macedonians Would Be Conspicuous and Brilliant, That Alexander Would Be Master of Asia, Just as Dareius Became Its Master When He Was Made King Instead of Ro. "P225 The Life of Alexander (Part 1 Of 7)." Plutarch • Life of Alexander (Part 1 Of 7). N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2016.

History.com Staff. "Hellenistic Greece." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web. 29 Sept. 2016.

"Alexander the Great." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 7 Apr. 2015.http://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/106078. Accessed 29 Sep. 2016

“Alexander the Great” Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition, Q2 2016, Alexander the Great or Alexander III, 356–323 B.C., king of Macedon, conqueror of much of Asia.