Alexander The Great

Alexander the Great (also known as Alexander III) was the king of Macedonia (336–323 BCE) who overthrew the Persian Empire.

Alexander the Great (also known as Alexander III) was the king of Macedonia (336–323 BCE) who overthrew the Persian Empire. Already in his lifetime the subject of fabulous stories, he later became the hero of a full-scale legend bearing only the slightest resemblance to his historical career.

Life of Alexander The Great:

Alexander was born in 356 BCE at Pella in Macedonia to Philip II and Olympias. From the age of 13 to 16 he was taught by Aristotle, who inspired him with an interest in philosophy, medicine, and scientific investigation. He soon showed military brilliance, helping win the Battle of Chaeronea at the age of 18. In 336, after his father’s assassination, Alexander succeeded without opposition. He promptly exerted his power over other Greek states, taking Thessaly and Thrace before marching on to Thebes, which his army brutally razed. Some 6,000 Thebans were killed, and all survivors were sold into slavery. The other Greek states were cowed by this severity and surrendered to him.

As a general, Alexander is among the greatest the world has known. He showed unusual versatility, both in the combination of different arms and in adapting his tactics to the challenge of enemies who used unique forms of warfare. His strategy was skillful and imaginative. His use of cavalry was so effective that he rarely had to fall back upon his infantry for the final defeat. Alexander’s short reign marks a decisive moment in the history of Europe and Asia. His expedition and his own personal interest in scientific investigation brought many advances in the study of geography and natural history. His career led to the moving of the great centres of civilization eastward and initiated the new age of the Greek territorial monarchies; it spread Hellenism in a vast colonizing wave throughout the Middle East.