DOCSLIB.ORG

HERO OR VILLIAN Was Alexander Great?

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
HERO OR VILLIAN Was Alexander Great? HERO OR VILLIAN Was Alexander Great? Lots of people have been called great throughout history but one person continues to hold the title and he is Alexander the Great. What made him so Great? Does he have flaws that make him less great than history perceives him? Alexander had many titles besides great; he has also been called a king, a pharaoh, a tyrant, and a conqueror. Looking at Alexander the Greats resume is remarkable. His accomplishments and conquests dwarf most leaders and conquerors in history. Alexander the Great took control of the kingdom of Macedonia at age 20 when his father was assassinated. The death of Alexander’s father left him with a powerful army that was preparing to invade the Persian Empire. Alexander first unified Greece by burning Thebes to the ground and taking control of the other city-states around Greece. He then invaded Egypt and met no resistance. The Egyptians crowned Alexander King or Pharaoh. He then set up a new city called Alexandria named after himself. Alexander also conquered the Persian Empire that was the most powerful empire in the ancient world. The Persians had an Army of 200,000 and Alexander had an army of a mere 47,000. Although Alexander was outnumbered over four to one his daring military move of charging straight up the middle and splitting the Persian army led to victory. Thousands of Greeks and Persians were killed but Alexander had defeated King Darius III and went on to destroy the Persian capital. Alexander was then named the unquestionable king of the Persian Empire. While ruling the Persian Empire Alexander appointed many Persians to high government posts and allowed the Persians to continue to practice their customs and religion. In 326 BC. Alexander moved to conquer India. He spent three years conquering various Indian tribes, battling war elephants for the first time and both Alexander’s army and the Indian tribes suffered great losses. After a huge victory at the battle of Hydaspes fighting war elephants Alexander was impressed that the Indian tribe leader Porus refused to surrender. “As in the case of Porus, Alexander would respect and pardon a brave enemy. He always made sure that collaboration was presented as a much more attractive proposition than resistance. Most often, capitulation of an enemy force was rewarded with kindness; revolts, however, were suppressed ruthlessly. It was a well-calculated strategy designed to minimize battlefield losses. Adversaries were more inclined to submit to Alexander knowing that they would be pardoned and included in his empire (the alternative was extremely unattractive)” In fact the deal was so good for Porus that it actually expanded the territory he would govern under Alexander’s empire. After conquering India Alexander decides to move his army home after 12 years of war. His army had grown rich and tired of war. Alexander expected a hero’s welcome when he returned home, but never made it falling ill and passing away before he and his army returned home. Alexander died at the age of 32 but in those 12 years he conquered much of the known world and never lost a battle. HERO OR VILLIAN Was Alexander Great? Things Inherited by Alexander after his Father was Assassinated 1. The Greek treasury was full of money. 2. Greek culture was flourishing, and the people were well educated. 3. The Persian Empire was growing weaker. 4. His father had already prepared to attack the Persians before he was assassinated. 5. The Greeks had a professional army that was well trained. 6. His father Philip II had created the Phalanx, which at the time was an unbeatable military tactic. Things Accomplished by Alexander 1. Alexander marched and fought to expand his empire for 12 years and covered over 22,000 miles. 2. His army was very loyal. 3. Alexander spread Greek ideas and culture to over a 22 million square mile area. 4. He developed siege weapons like the catapult. 5. Set up a common system of currency in his empire. 6. Built several cities named after him. 7. Adopted other cultures merging them together. 8. Brought scientists and others from all over his empire to educate his people. Fun facts about Alexander the Great 1. He never lost a battle. 2. He named over 70 cites and towns after himself. 3. Alexander began dressing like a Persian after defeating them. 4. Alexander had his infant brother assassinated to ensure he got the throne. 5. On the march home after 12 years of war Alexander lost 15,000 men. More than all those he lost in battle because he marched his army through the Gedrosan Desert. 6. Alexander’s body was preserved in a vat of honey after his death. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Colony and Empire, Colonialism and Imperialism: a Meaningful Distinction?
    Comparative Studies in Society and History 2021;63(2):280–309. 0010-4175/21 © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Society for the Comparative Study of Society and History doi:10.1017/S0010417521000050 Colony and Empire, Colonialism and Imperialism: A Meaningful Distinction? KRISHAN KUMAR University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA It is a mistaken notion that planting of colonies and extending of Empire are necessarily one and the same thing. ———Major John Cartwright, Ten Letters to the Public Advertiser, 20 March–14 April 1774 (in Koebner 1961: 200). There are two ways to conquer a country; the first is to subordinate the inhabitants and govern them directly or indirectly.… The second is to replace the former inhabitants with the conquering race. ———Alexis de Tocqueville (2001[1841]: 61). One can instinctively think of neo-colonialism but there is no such thing as neo-settler colonialism. ———Lorenzo Veracini (2010: 100). WHAT’ S IN A NAME? It is rare in popular usage to distinguish between imperialism and colonialism. They are treated for most intents and purposes as synonyms. The same is true of many scholarly accounts, which move freely between imperialism and colonialism without apparently feeling any discomfort or need to explain themselves. So, for instance, Dane Kennedy defines colonialism as “the imposition by foreign power of direct rule over another people” (2016: 1), which for most people would do very well as a definition of empire, or imperialism. Moreover, he comments that “decolonization did not necessarily Acknowledgments: This paper is a much-revised version of a presentation given many years ago at a seminar on empires organized by Patricia Crone, at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton.
    [Show full text]
  • Ancient History
    2003 HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION Ancient History Total marks – 100 Section I Pages 2–5 Personalities in Their Times – 25 marks • Attempt ONE question from Questions 1–12 •Allow about 45 minutes for this section Section II Pages 9–22 Ancient Societies – 25 marks • Attempt ONE question from Questions 13–25 General Instructions •Allow about 45 minutes for this section • Reading time – 5 minutes Section III Pages 25–31 •Working time – 3 hours •Write using black or blue pen Historical Periods – 25 marks • Attempt ONE question from Questions 26–44 •Allow about 45 minutes for this section Section IV Pages 33–45 Additional Historical Period OR Additional Ancient Society – 25 marks • Attempt ONE question from Questions 45–63 OR ONE question from Question 64–76 • Choose a different Ancient Society from the one you chose in Section II, or a different Historical Period from the one you chose in Section III •Allow about 45 minutes for this section 104 Section I — Personalities in Their Times 25 marks Attempt ONE question from Questions 1–12 Allow about 45 minutes for this section Answer the question in a writing booklet. Extra writing booklets are available. Page Question 1 — Option A – Egypt: Hatshepsut ................................................................. 3 Question 2 — Option B – Egypt: Akhenaten .................................................................. 3 Question 3 — Option C – Egypt: Ramesses II ................................................................ 3 Question 4 — Option D – Near East: Sennacherib ..............................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Sovereignty of the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories in the Brexit Era
    Island Studies Journal, 15(1), 2020, 151-168 The sovereignty of the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories in the Brexit era Maria Mut Bosque School of Law, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Spain MINECO DER 2017-86138, Ministry of Economic Affairs & Digital Transformation, Spain Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London, UK [email protected] (corresponding author) Abstract: This paper focuses on an analysis of the sovereignty of two territorial entities that have unique relations with the United Kingdom: the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories (BOTs). Each of these entities includes very different territories, with different legal statuses and varying forms of self-administration and constitutional linkages with the UK. However, they also share similarities and challenges that enable an analysis of these territories as a complete set. The incomplete sovereignty of the Crown Dependencies and BOTs has entailed that all these territories (except Gibraltar) have not been allowed to participate in the 2016 Brexit referendum or in the withdrawal negotiations with the EU. Moreover, it is reasonable to assume that Brexit is not an exceptional situation. In the future there will be more and more relevant international issues for these territories which will remain outside of their direct control, but will have a direct impact on them. Thus, if no adjustments are made to their statuses, these territories will have to keep trusting that the UK will be able to represent their interests at the same level as its own interests. Keywords: Brexit, British Overseas Territories (BOTs), constitutional status, Crown Dependencies, sovereignty https://doi.org/10.24043/isj.114 • Received June 2019, accepted March 2020 © 2020—Institute of Island Studies, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada.
    [Show full text]
  • The Herodotos Project (OSU-Ugent): Studies in Ancient Ethnography
    Faculty of Literature and Philosophy Julie Boeten The Herodotos Project (OSU-UGent): Studies in Ancient Ethnography Barbarians in Strabo’s ‘Geography’ (Abii-Ionians) With a case-study: the Cappadocians Master thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Linguistics and Literature, Greek and Latin. 2015 Promotor: Prof. Dr. Mark Janse UGent Department of Greek Linguistics Co-Promotores: Prof. Brian Joseph Ohio State University Dr. Christopher Brown Ohio State University ACKNOWLEDGMENT In this acknowledgment I would like to thank everybody who has in some way been a part of this master thesis. First and foremost I want to thank my promotor Prof. Janse for giving me the opportunity to write my thesis in the context of the Herodotos Project, and for giving me suggestions and answering my questions. I am also grateful to Prof. Joseph and Dr. Brown, who have given Anke and me the chance to be a part of the Herodotos Project and who have consented into being our co- promotores. On a whole other level I wish to express my thanks to my parents, without whom I would not have been able to study at all. They have also supported me throughout the writing process and have read parts of the draft. Finally, I would also like to thank Kenneth, for being there for me and for correcting some passages of the thesis. Julie Boeten NEDERLANDSE SAMENVATTING Deze scriptie is geschreven in het kader van het Herodotos Project, een onderneming van de Ohio State University in samenwerking met UGent. De doelstelling van het project is het aanleggen van een databank met alle volkeren die gekend waren in de oudheid.
    [Show full text]
  • Kings & Events of the Babylonian, Persian and Greek Dynasties
    KINGS AND EVENTS OF THE BABYLONIAN, PERSIAN, AND GREEK DYNASTIES 612 B.C. Nineveh falls to neo-Babylonian army (Nebuchadnezzar) 608 Pharaoh Necho II marched to Carchemesh to halt expansion of neo-Babylonian power Josiah, King of Judah, tries to stop him Death of Josiah and assumption of throne by his son, Jehoahaz Jehoiakim, another son of Josiah, replaced Jehoahaz on the authority of Pharaoh Necho II within 3 months Palestine and Syria under Egyptian rule Josiah’s reforms dissipate 605 Nabopolassar sends troops to fight remaining Assyrian army and the Egyptians at Carchemesh Nebuchadnezzar chased them all the way to the plains of Palestine Nebuchadnezzar got word of the death of his father (Nabopolassar) so he returned to Babylon to receive the crown On the way back he takes Daniel and other members of the royal family into exile 605 - 538 Babylon in control of Palestine, 597; 10,000 exiled to Babylon 586 Jerusalem and the temple destroyed and large deportation 582 Because Jewish guerilla fighters killed Gedaliah another last large deportation occurred SUCCESSORS OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR 562 - 560 Evil-Merodach released Jehoiakim (true Messianic line) from custody 560 - 556 Neriglissar 556 Labaski-Marduk reigned 556 - 539 Nabonidus: Spent most of the time building a temple to the mood god, Sin. This earned enmity of the priests of Marduk. Spent the rest of his time trying to put down revolts and stabilize the kingdom. He moved to Tema and left the affairs of state to his son, Belshazzar Belshazzar: Spent most of his time trying to restore order. Babylonia’s great threat was Media.
    [Show full text]
  • Alexander's Empire
    4 Alexander’s Empire MAIN IDEA WHY IT MATTERS NOW TERMS & NAMES EMPIRE BUILDING Alexander the Alexander’s empire extended • Philip II •Alexander Great conquered Persia and Egypt across an area that today consists •Macedonia the Great and extended his empire to the of many nations and diverse • Darius III Indus River in northwest India. cultures. SETTING THE STAGE The Peloponnesian War severely weakened several Greek city-states. This caused a rapid decline in their military and economic power. In the nearby kingdom of Macedonia, King Philip II took note. Philip dreamed of taking control of Greece and then moving against Persia to seize its vast wealth. Philip also hoped to avenge the Persian invasion of Greece in 480 B.C. TAKING NOTES Philip Builds Macedonian Power Outlining Use an outline to organize main ideas The kingdom of Macedonia, located just north of Greece, about the growth of had rough terrain and a cold climate. The Macedonians were Alexander's empire. a hardy people who lived in mountain villages rather than city-states. Most Macedonian nobles thought of themselves Alexander's Empire as Greeks. The Greeks, however, looked down on the I. Philip Builds Macedonian Power Macedonians as uncivilized foreigners who had no great A. philosophers, sculptors, or writers. The Macedonians did have one very B. important resource—their shrewd and fearless kings. II. Alexander Conquers Persia Philip’s Army In 359 B.C., Philip II became king of Macedonia. Though only 23 years old, he quickly proved to be a brilliant general and a ruthless politician. Philip transformed the rugged peasants under his command into a well-trained professional army.
    [Show full text]
  • A Global Comparison of Non-Sovereign Island Territories: the Search for ‘True Equality’
    Island Studies Journal, 15(1), 2020, 43-66 A global comparison of non-sovereign island territories: the search for ‘true equality’ Malcom Ferdinand CNRS, Paris, France [email protected] Gert Oostindie KITLV, the Netherlands Leiden University, the Netherlands [email protected] (corresponding author) Wouter Veenendaal KITLV, the Netherlands Leiden University, the Netherlands [email protected] Abstract: For a great majority of former colonies, the outcome of decolonization was independence. Yet scattered across the globe, remnants of former colonial empires are still non-sovereign as part of larger metropolitan states. There is little drive for independence in these territories, virtually all of which are small island nations, also known as sub-national island jurisdictions (SNIJs). Why do so many former colonial territories choose to remain non-sovereign? In this paper we attempt to answer this question by conducting a global comparative study of non-sovereign jurisdictions. We start off by analyzing their present economic, social and political conditions, after which we assess local levels of (dis)content with the contemporary political status, and their articulation in postcolonial politics. We find that levels of discontent and frustration covary with the particular demographic, socio- economic and historical-cultural conditions of individual territories. While significant independence movements can be observed in only two or three jurisdictions, in virtually all cases there is profound dissatisfaction and frustration with the contemporary non-sovereign arrangement and its outcomes. Instead of achieving independence, the territories’ real struggle nowadays is for obtaining ‘true equality’ with the metropolis, as well as recognition of their distinct cultural identities.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ptolemies: an Unloved and Unknown Dynasty. Contributions to a Different Perspective and Approach
    THE PTOLEMIES: AN UNLOVED AND UNKNOWN DYNASTY. CONTRIBUTIONS TO A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE AND APPROACH JOSÉ DAS CANDEIAS SALES Universidade Aberta. Centro de História (University of Lisbon). Abstract: The fifteen Ptolemies that sat on the throne of Egypt between 305 B.C. (the date of assumption of basileia by Ptolemy I) and 30 B.C. (death of Cleopatra VII) are in most cases little known and, even in its most recognised bibliography, their work has been somewhat overlooked, unappreciated. Although boisterous and sometimes unloved, with the tumultuous and dissolute lives, their unbridled and unrepressed ambitions, the intrigues, the betrayals, the fratricides and the crimes that the members of this dynasty encouraged and practiced, the Ptolemies changed the Egyptian life in some aspects and were responsible for the last Pharaonic monuments which were left us, some of them still considered true masterpieces of Egyptian greatness. The Ptolemaic Period was indeed a paradoxical moment in the History of ancient Egypt, as it was with a genetically foreign dynasty (traditions, language, religion and culture) that the country, with its capital in Alexandria, met a considerable economic prosperity, a significant political and military power and an intense intellectual activity, and finally became part of the world and Mediterranean culture. The fifteen Ptolemies that succeeded to the throne of Egypt between 305 B.C. (date of assumption of basileia by Ptolemy I) and 30 B.C. (death of Cleopatra VII), after Alexander’s death and the division of his empire, are, in most cases, very poorly understood by the public and even in the literature on the topic.
    [Show full text]
  • The Resurrection of Alexander Push Kin John Oliver Killens
    New Directions Volume 5 | Issue 2 Article 9 1-1-1978 The Resurrection Of Alexander Push kin John Oliver Killens Follow this and additional works at: http://dh.howard.edu/newdirections Recommended Citation Killens, John Oliver (1978) "The Resurrection Of Alexander Push kin," New Directions: Vol. 5: Iss. 2, Article 9. Available at: http://dh.howard.edu/newdirections/vol5/iss2/9 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Howard @ Howard University. It has been accepted for inclusion in New Directions by an authorized administrator of Digital Howard @ Howard University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. TH[ ARTS Essay every one of the courts of Europe, then 28 The Resurrection of of the 19th century? Here is how it came to pass. Peter felt that he had to have at least Alexander Pushkin one for his imperial court. Therefore, In the early part of the 18th century, in By [ohn Oliver Killens he sent the word out to all of his that sprawling subcontinent that took Ambassadors in Europe: To the majority of literate Americans, up one-sixth of the earth's surface, the giants of Russian literature are extending from the edge of Europe "Find me a Negro!" Tolstoy, Gogol, Dostoevsky and thousands of miles eastward across Meanwhile, Turkey and Ethiopia had Turgenev. Nevertheless, 97 years ago, grassy steppes (plains), mountain ranges been at war, and in one of the skirmishes at a Pushkin Memorial in Moscow, and vast frozen stretches of forest, lakes a young African prince had been cap- Dostoevsky said: "No Russian writer and unexplored terrain, was a land tured and brought back to Turkey and was so intimately at one with the known as the Holy Russian Empire, fore- placed in a harem.
    [Show full text]
  • Alexander Essay Hints
    Alexander Essay Hints Writing an introduction An introduction needs to overview the key ideas of the essay. You should try to answer all the questions in a general fashion within one paragraph The Question: At the end of 333 BC, Alexander defeated the Persian king, Darius III, on the field of battle at Issus, in the south of modern Turkey. Discuss: • the events leading up to the battle of Issus • the tactics used by each of the commanders in this battle • the reasons for Alexander’s victory. How costly was defeat in this battle for Darius? Various introductions: In this essay I will discuss the reasons why Darius III lost the battle of Issue. It was a costly defeat for Darius. On a sunny day in 333 BC on a coastal plain somewhere in Persia a great battle was fought. Alexander the Great destroyed and humiliated the rabble of a Persian army despite having massive odds against him. The battle of Issus in 333 BC was a significant point in Alexander’s campaigns in the Persian Empire. It was here that for the first time, he defeated the Great King, Darius III in open battle. A key reason for the defeat lay in the events that led to the battle being fought on a narrow coastal plain. This meant that Darius was unable to use his superior numbers to gain any sort of tactical advantage. But it was also Alexander’s ability to seize on these advantages that led to such a decisive defeat. It could be argued that Darius and his people never fully recovered from the psychological blow inflicted by at the battle of Issus.
    [Show full text]
  • Colonial Empires Cases and Comparisons
    The Ends of European Colonial Empires Cases and Comparisons Edited by Miguel Bandeira Jerónimo Instltute of Social Scìences, tJníverslf of Lßbon, portugal and António Costa Pinto Instítute of Soclal Scìences, IJniverslty of Llsbon, portugal pôlgreve rnacm illa n -Y- Editorial matter, introduction and selection @ Miguet Bandeira Jerónimo and António costa Pinto 2015 Contents lndividual chapters O Contr¡butors 2015 Att rights reserved. No reProduction, coPy or transmission of this pubtication may be made without written Permission. No portion of this pubtication may be reproduced, copied or trânsmitted Acknowledgements 1X save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any ticence Notes on Contributors X permitting [imited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, Saffron House,6-10 Kirby Street, London EClN 8TS. Introduction - The Ends of Empire: Chronologies, Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication Historiographies, and Traiectories 1 and civil claims for damages' may be tiabte to criminal Prosecution Miguel Bandeirø [erónimo and António Costa Pinto The authors have asserted their r¡ghts to be identified as the âuthors of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Part I Competing Developments: The Idioms of Reform and Resistance First pubtished 2015 by PALCRAVE MACMILLAN 1 Development, Modernization, and the Social Sciences Patgrave Macmittan in the UK is an imprint of Macmillan Pubtishers Limited, in the Era of Decolonization: The Examples of British registered in England, comPany number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, and French Africa 15 Hampshire RCz1 6XS.
    [Show full text]
  • Imperialism Tate Britain: Colonialism Tate Britain Has Over 500 Pieces of Art That Are Related to British Colonialism. There Ar
    Imperialism Tate Britain: Colonialism Tate Britain has over 500 pieces of art that are related to British Colonialism. There are portraits, propaganda and photographs. Mutiny at the Margin: The Indian Uprising of 1857 2007 saw the 150th Anniversary of the Indian Uprising (also known as the ‘Mutiny') of 1857-58. One of the best-known episodes of both British imperial and South Asian history and a seminal event for Anglo-Indian relations, 1857 has yet to be the subject of a substantial revisionist history British Postal Museum and Archive: British Empire Exhibition Great Britain’s first commemorative stamps were issued on 23 April 1924 – this marked the first day of the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley. British Cartoon Archive: British Empire The British Cartoon Archive has a collection of 280 contemporary cartoons that are related to the British Empire. The Word on the Street: Emigration This contains a collection of 44 ballads that are related to British emigration during the 1800/1900’s. British Pathe: Empire British Pathe has a collection of contemporary newsreels that are related to the empire. Included, for example, is footage from Empire Day celebration in 1933. The British Library: Asians in Britain These webpages trace the long history of Asians in Britain, focusing on the period 1858-1950. They explore the subject through contemporary accounts, posters, pamphlets, diaries, newspapers, political reports and illustrations, all evidence of the diverse and rich contributions Asians have made to British life. The National Archives: British Empire The National Archives has an exhibition that analyses the growth of the British Empire.
    [Show full text]