Life and Conquest of Alexander the Great

Life and Conquest of Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great is one of the most remarkable personalities in the world history. He did not only construct one of the greatest empires ever witnessed in the ancient world, but he also made political structures, military strategies, and even cultural interactions in three continents. Besides, his life was short, but it left a strong legacy that changed the lives of civilizations over centuries. Thus, the analysis of the life and conquests of Alexander shows that the combination of ambition, leadership, and strategic brilliance made a difference in the course of history.

Early Life and Education

Firstly, Alexander was born in 356 BCE in Pella which was the capital of Macedonia. He was a son of Philip II Macedon, King and Olympias, Queen. Alexander was an intelligent and very determined person since his childhood. His parents therefore, made sure that he got the best education. Above all, Alexander was taught by Aristotle who was one of the greatest philosophers of ancient Greece. Alexander was instructed in philosophy, science, medicine, politics and literature under the guidance of Aristotle.

He became a strong admirer of the Iliad written by Homer, which later came to shape his need to achieve heroism. Consequently, Alexander did not only develop as a warrior, but also as a thinker and a ruler. In the meantime Alexander kept a close watch upon the military campaigns of his father. By consolidating the Greek city-states and reorganizing the army, Philip II made Macedonia great.

Alexander acquired the knowledge of war, diplomacy and leadership both in educational and experienced ways. Before he reached his teens, he had shown his braveness in a battlefield.

Ascension to the Throne

In 336 BCE Philip II was killed and Alexander became the Macedonian king at twenty years old. At once he had to encounter rebellion and political instability. But Alexander was quick and firm. To start with, he has attained his position by killing off competition. Second, he suppressed uprisings in Greece such as the destruction of Thebes.

Consequently, Alexander was able to attain power and prove his might as a leader. Besides, he inherited the great plan of Philip to invade the Persian Empire. Thus, rather than postponing, Alexander was ready to initiate one of the greatest military campaigns of all times.

The Persian Campaign, First Blissings

In 334 BCE Alexander entered the Asian Minor across the Hellepont, and with him was his army of about 40,000 men. Alexander used discipline, strategy and leadership even though he was highly out-outnumbered by the Persian Empire. As a result, he was able to conquer Persian troops in the Battle of Granicus.

Alexander proceeded to control the rest of Asia Minor, releasing Greek cities under the bondage of the Persian empire. Notably, he handled most of the conquered opponents with dignity hence earning the favor of the locals. This caused his army to progress with growing confidence.

Alexander made a direct charge against Darius against his odds. This made the Persian king abandon the battlefield leaving his family. However, Alexander handled them with dignity and that made him more reputable as a conqueror and a dignified leader.

The Sack of the Egyptian and the first Alexandria

After winning the battle of Issus, Alexander ventured south to Egypt. The Egyptians disliked the Persian rule and thus, they embraced Alexander as a liberator. Hence, he took over power without much opposition. Furthermore, Egyptian priests proclaimed him a son of the god Amun, which enhanced his image as a god.

It is during this period that the city of Alexandria was established by Alexander. Significantly, this city came to be a great base of education, commerce and culture. So the conquests made by Alexander went not only to the military achievements but also to the city building and cultural assimilation.

The Dynasty of the Sasanids

Alexander again faced Darius after having taken control of Egypt. The battle of Gaugamela occurred in 331 BCE and involved the two armies. Despite the huge army led by Darius, Alexander employed better strategies and horse movement. Therefore, he had a clear cut win.

After this victory, Alexander conquered such major Persian cities like Babylon, Susa, and Persepolis. Additionally, he burnt persepolis, the Persian religious capital, symbolically, to show the loss of the Persians. Hence, Alexander managed to break down the Persian Empire and proclaimed himself a ruler.

But Alexander rather than destroying the Persian culture embraced a great number of their practices. He even imitated the Persians in dress and in officials, as an example. As a result, his intention was to unify the Greeks and Persians in one empire.

Expansion into Central Asia

In spite of the fact that Alexander had already become very successful, he did not give up. Rather, he continued his conquests to central Asia involving Bactria and Sogdiana. These were very challenging areas because of the serious terrain and intense resistance. Alexander changed his tactics and retained the control.

It is during this time that Alexander wedded Roxana, a princess of the land. Alexander, therefore, was able to show that he was committed to uniting various civilizations in his empire.

The Indian Campaign

In 326 BCE Alexander entered the Indian subcontinent. At that place he engaged King Porus on the river Hydaspes. Alexander gained victory over the war elephants due to the brilliance of his tactics. Nevertheless, he did not mistreat Porus and enabled him to keep governing his kingdom.

The army of Alexander had become weary following years of constant wars. Therefore, the soldiers were not willing to further march east when they got to the river of Hyphasis. Alexander wanted to go on but he ended up respecting their choice. Government and Perspectives of Empire.

When Alexander made his way back to the West, he had his attention directed at arranging his huge empire. He established many cities, intermarriage and promulgation of cultures. Besides, he laid out plans to reform the administration so as to provide stability.

Notably, Alexander planned to make the world unified in which there would be coexistence of Greek and Eastern cultures. This is why he tried to forge a common identity of his subjects. Even though a vast number of Macedonians opposed these changes, Alexander was adamant to his vision.

Death and Aftermath

Alexander became sick in Babylon in 323 BCE, and passed away at the age of thirty-two. Even though historians argue on the actual cause of his death, the effect was enormous. Alexander left no obvious successor and thus his empire tore apart.

As a result, his generals, who were referred to as the Diadochi, split the empire among them. Political unity failed but the cultural influence of Alexander persisted. The Greek language, art and ideas were transferred to the conquered regions which brought the Hellenist Age.

Alexander the Great Legacy

To sum up, Alexander the Great had an extraordinary life albeit short. He was ambitious, brave, and tactical thus conquering great lands and transforming the ancient world. His attempts to integrate cultures led to long-term relationships between East and West.

Thus, the legacy of Alexander is much more than military conquest. He is a leader, a visionary and an ambition force. His empire never lasted long after his death, however, the world he had created kept on changing history centuries later.