Alexander the Great Essay 21
On the day Alexander the Great, son of King Phillip II and Olympias, was born Phillip II captured the city of Potidaea, Phillip II’s general Parmenion won another important battle, and Phillip II’s horse won a race at Olympia. It was said that a son whose birth coincided with three victories would himself prove to be invincible. It was also said that Alexander descended from the Greek heroes and demi-gods Heracles and Achilles. During his kingship Alexander did very little to disprove these statements. Alexander the Great changed the known world in little more than a decade by founding over seventy cities, integrating Greek and Persian customs, spreading the ideas of democracy, and spreading the Greek language and culture throughout Asia. At the same time he caused Greek to be the language of the early Christian church and influenced future conquerors by military example.
Phillip II wanted to make sure that Alexander was prepared to take the throne when Phillip II died; therefore he had Alexander educated by the philosopher Aristotle. At the time Phillip II was in the midst of conquering Greece and preparing to attack Persia to avenge their attacks on Greece nearly one hundred and fifty years earlier. In 336 B.C.E. King Phillip II was assassinated and Alexander became king of Macedonia. Phillip II was never able to attack Persia, but Alexander intended on finishing his father’s plan. Alexander first began by finishing the conquering of Greece, and in 334 B.C.E. he crossed into Asia Minor and began his annex of Persia with the Battle of Granicus. Alexander originally only wanted to avenge Persia’s attacks on Greece, but he soon wanted to see himself as king of all Persia. He then began to free Greek city-states under Persian control in Asia Minor. Alexander helped the spread of democracy by allowing the city-states he freed to exercise democracy. Although Alexander was not in favor of democracy he allowed the city-states to exercise it in order to
Phillip II wanted to make sure that Alexander was prepared to take the throne when Phillip II died; therefore he had Alexander educated by the philosopher Aristotle. At the time Phillip II was in the midst of conquering Greece and preparing to attack Persia to avenge their attacks on Greece nearly one hundred and fifty years earlier. In 336 B.C.E. King Phillip II was assassinated and Alexander became king of Macedonia. Phillip II was never able to attack Persia, but Alexander intended on finishing his father’s plan. Alexander first began by finishing the conquering of Greece, and in 334 B.C.E. he crossed into Asia Minor and began his annex of Persia with the Battle of Granicus. Alexander originally only wanted to avenge Persia’s attacks on Greece, but he soon wanted to see himself as king of all Persia. He then began to free Greek city-states under Persian control in Asia Minor. Alexander helped the spread of democracy by allowing the city-states he freed to exercise democracy. Although Alexander was not in favor of democracy he allowed the city-states to exercise it in order to
Cited: Macedonia/AlexandertheGreat.html>. December 26, 2007. Burgan, Michael. Alexander the Great: World Conqueror. Minneapolis: Compass Point Books, 2007. Shecter, Vicky A. Alexander the Great Rocks the World. Plain City, Ohio: Darby Creek Publishing, 2006. Warry, John and Nick Sekunda. Alexander the Great. Great Britain: Osprey Publishing, 2004.