Alexander the Great Essay -- Biography

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Humanity has known a few distinguished consolidators of civilizations. Alexander the Great is one of them, and the first to accumulate power in his hand beyond any conqueror’s dream. His feats served as guidelines for other rulers like Cesar Augustus and Napoleon, who, by means of outstanding military prowess, conquered and ruled most of the civilized world of their times.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alexander was born in 356 B.C., as the son of King Philip II and Olympias. He was taught by the great philosopher, Aristotle, inspiring him in the fields of, philosophy and medicine. Although he had a broader view of humanity than that of Aristotle’s perception, that all non-Greeks, should be treated as slaves. Alexander, after the death of his father, King Philip II in 336 BC, was to become the next king of Macedonia at the tender age of 20. Although young, Alexander was determined and willing to become the next great king of Macedonia. Because of his young age Greek cities, who had pledged loyalty to his father, were not certain that they wanted to allow a twenty-year-old boy to lead a kingdom. Also, barbarians from the north and west, whom Philip had repressed, were becoming a threat to Macedonia.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Those close to Alexander had recommended that he let Athens and Thebes go and be careful with the barbarians to prevent them from rebelling. Alexander however, had other plans. So he proceeded north, and drove the barbarians past the Danube River. The rumor of Alexander’s supposed death, were being spread throughout Athens and Thebes, claiming that it was the moment for them to disconnect from Macedonia. Infuriated by these rumors, Alexander showed up at the gates of Thebes, in 335 B.C., only to find the refusal of surrender by the Thebans. The Thebans sent a small body of soldiers, with whom Alexander sent his own of archers and infantry. The following day, Alexander's general, Perdiccas, attacked the gates. The Macedonians then rushed into the city, killing almost everyone in sight, including women and children. They continued on and burned the entire city of Thebes to the ground. This display proved as an example to the rest of Greece. Athens quickly rethought their decision of before to not follow Alexander, and chose to come to terms with their new leader.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alexander was determined to achieve the dream of his father, the takeover of the Persian Empire. T... ...ly three quarters of his army to starvation and the harsh conditions of the desert. When the survivors reached the region called Carmania, their fortune changed dramatically as they were welcomed into the prosperous land. Alexander and his men celebrated the end of their ordeal in the desert and traveled in luxury to Harmezeia, where they rejoined Nearchus and his soldiers. Then the whole army marched inland to Persis to rest. In 324 B.C.E., Alexander furthered his mission to assimilate Macedonian and Persian cultures when he arranged thousands of marriages between the Greek soldiers and Persian women in Susa. Alexander himself took a second wife, Stateira, one of Darius' daughters. In the spring of the same year while Alexander's army was stationed in Ecbatana, his best friend, Hephaestion, died of a fever. He was overcome with grief, and he consoled himself by leading a campaign against a tribe of brigands called the Cossaeans. The next year, Alexander traveled with his men to Babylon despite numerous threatening omens. The omens were so frequent and ominous that Alexander feared that he had fallen out of favor with the gods. He died of a fever on June 10, 323 B.C.E. Alexander the Great Essay -- Biography   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Humanity has known a few distinguished consolidators of civilizations. Alexander the Great is one of them, and the first to accumulate power in his hand beyond any conqueror’s dream. His feats served as guidelines for other rulers like Cesar Augustus and Napoleon, who, by means of outstanding military prowess, conquered and ruled most of the civilized world of their times.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alexander was born in 356 B.C., as the son of King Philip II and Olympias. He was taught by the great philosopher, Aristotle, inspiring him in the fields of, philosophy and medicine. Although he had a broader view of humanity than that of Aristotle’s perception, that all non-Greeks, should be treated as slaves. Alexander, after the death of his father, King Philip II in 336 BC, was to become the next king of Macedonia at the tender age of 20. Although young, Alexander was determined and willing to become the next great king of Macedonia. Because of his young age Greek cities, who had pledged loyalty to his father, were not certain that they wanted to allow a twenty-year-old boy to lead a kingdom. Also, barbarians from the north and west, whom Philip had repressed, were becoming a threat to Macedonia.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Those close to Alexander had recommended that he let Athens and Thebes go and be careful with the barbarians to prevent them from rebelling. Alexander however, had other plans. So he proceeded north, and drove the barbarians past the Danube River. The rumor of Alexander’s supposed death, were being spread throughout Athens and Thebes, claiming that it was the moment for them to disconnect from Macedonia. Infuriated by these rumors, Alexander showed up at the gates of Thebes, in 335 B.C., only to find the refusal of surrender by the Thebans. The Thebans sent a small body of soldiers, with whom Alexander sent his own of archers and infantry. The following day, Alexander's general, Perdiccas, attacked the gates. The Macedonians then rushed into the city, killing almost everyone in sight, including women and children. They continued on and burned the entire city of Thebes to the ground. This display proved as an example to the rest of Greece. Athens quickly rethought their decision of before to not follow Alexander, and chose to come to terms with their new leader.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alexander was determined to achieve the dream of his father, the takeover of the Persian Empire. T... ...ly three quarters of his army to starvation and the harsh conditions of the desert. When the survivors reached the region called Carmania, their fortune changed dramatically as they were welcomed into the prosperous land. Alexander and his men celebrated the end of their ordeal in the desert and traveled in luxury to Harmezeia, where they rejoined Nearchus and his soldiers. Then the whole army marched inland to Persis to rest. In 324 B.C.E., Alexander furthered his mission to assimilate Macedonian and Persian cultures when he arranged thousands of marriages between the Greek soldiers and Persian women in Susa. Alexander himself took a second wife, Stateira, one of Darius' daughters. In the spring of the same year while Alexander's army was stationed in Ecbatana, his best friend, Hephaestion, died of a fever. He was overcome with grief, and he consoled himself by leading a campaign against a tribe of brigands called the Cossaeans. The next year, Alexander traveled with his men to Babylon despite numerous threatening omens. The omens were so frequent and ominous that Alexander feared that he had fallen out of favor with the gods. He died of a fever on June 10, 323 B.C.E.