Alexander the Great

Michaela Morard
Alexander the Great Project
World History
A Block


                   
                 When people are scared, they tend to not trust but blame. People think that it’s just easier to blame someone for something than to try and find a solution. When things went downhill in Alexander the Great’s empire, everyone started to blame Alexander rather than trying to find a solution to their problems. Alexander the Great had to overcome many obstacles during his time of ruling, but he did his job, Alexander was a great ruler. He expanded his empire and he protected them too. He would logically think about his decisions and then execute those decisions. Alexander the Great ruled his empire with courage, confidence, and greatness.

                 Alexander was the son of the great and famous King Philip II. Having had King Philip for a father meant a lot of things for Alexander. He was forever going to live in his shadow and he was always going to have to live up to the legacy that Philip left behind when he died. Philip left a lot behind for Alexander like riches, land and his empire. Alexander could've just not conquered any more land and just sat around and enjoyed what his father had accomplished before him, but he decided that although what his father did before him was wonderful, he wanted to take his new empire to the next level. Alexander wanted to expand and make his empire even better. As Plutarch said, "For since he [Alexander] did not covet pleasure, nor even wealth, but excellence and fame, he considered that the more he should receive from his father the fewer would be the successes won by himself. Therefore, considering that increase in prosperity meant the squandering upon his father of opportunities for achievement, he preferred to receive from him a realm which afforded, not wealth nor luxury and enjoyment, but struggles and wars and ambitions." (Life of Alexander) Alexander did understand and honored what his father did before him, but he also understood that it was his time to do amazing things.

                  In the Battle of Guatemala in 331 BCE, Alexander the Great and his army were against the seemingly impenetrable army of Darius. Alexander and his army were greatly out numbered. They were destined to get defeated by Darius and the odds were stacked against them. However Alexander did what e needed to do, kept calm and rational, and made an inspiring speech that fired up his army. "It was not however, only before the battle, but in the face of danger, that Alexander showed his intrepidity and excellent judgment," Plutarch said, "For the battle [of Gaugamela] was some time doubtful. The left wing, commanded by Parmenio, was almost broken by the impetuosity with which the Bactrian cavalry charged; and [Persian commander] Mazaeus had, moreover, detached a party of horse, with orders to wheel round and attack the corps that was left to guard the Macedonian baggage. Parmenio, greatly disturbed at these circumstances, sent messengers to acquaint Alexander, that his camp and baggage would be taken if he did not immediately dispatch a strong reinforcement from the front to the rear: the moment that account was brought him, he was giving his right wing, which he commanded in person, the signal to charge. He stopped, however, to tell the messenger, 'Parmenio must have lost his senses, and in his disorder must have forgot, that the conquerors are always masters of all that belonged to the enemy; and the conquered need not give themselves any concern about their treasures or prisoners, nor have any thing to think of but how to sell their lives dear, and die in the bed of honor.'" (Alexander the Great conquers Persia).

                 When Alexander the Great and his army defeated Darius and his army, the whole empire celebrated. During this celebration, Alexander stood up in triumph and toasted to their victory. Plutarch wrote, "At last, yielding to their instances, he leaped from his seat, and, with his garland on his head, and a flambeau in his hand, led the way. The rest followed with shouts of joy, and dancing as they went, spread themselves round the palace. The Macedonians who got intelligence of this frolic ran up with lighted torches, and joined them with great pleasure. For they concluded, from his destroying the royal palace, that the king's thoughts were turned towards home, and that he did not design to fix his seat among the barbarians. Such is the account most writers give us of the motives of this transaction. There are not however, wanting those who assert, that it was in consequence of cool reflection. But all agree that the king soon repented, and ordered the fire to be extinguished." (Alexander the Great conquers Persia) What Alexander did, did not go without notice. When Alexander and his army returned from fighting the battle that they were victorious in, the entire empire was gracious about what he accomplished even though they were very doubtful of him at first.

                   When Alexander the Great first became ruler, not a lot of people cared for him. They didn't think that he could live up to what his father did. They judged him before he even got a chance to prove himself. But however, as we later found out, he defeated Darius and everyone finally saw what he was capable of. They saw that he was truly "Alexander the Great". Scholars have studied Alexander and his greatness and they agree that Alexander was great. Jim Tschen Emmons said, "Alexander was not just significant for his military brilliance and impressive conquest of much of the known world. His reign also ushered in a new era, one in which Greek culture spread to new areas. The Hellenistic kings who followed him adopted similar court practices, emphasis on their relationship to divinity, and continued Alexander's Hellenizing policy." (ABC-CLIO) proving that Alexander was great back in his time and is still great now. He was a great ruler, leader, and he lived up to his father and his name.

                  Alexander the Great was a truly great ruler. He lead his army to defeat many armies and conquer a lot of land. His empire that he was handed down wasn't entirely happy that Alexander was going to be the new leader. They thought that he would just sit around doing nothing but enjoying his empire that his father handed down to him. They were wrong about him, however. He gave the empire satisfaction, new territory, and victory. Alexander the Great was a great leader and he deserves his name. He defeated Darius and his army even when everyone was doubting him, he conquered more land so that his empire could expand, and he gave everyone hope when there was none. Even if someone isn't the ideal person you would want for a certain position, you shouldn't doubt and judge them until they've had a chance to prove themselves. 

This is a Drachma Coin. After his success as a leader and ruler, his people felt the need to put Alexander the Great onto coins as a symbol of gratuity.

( https://ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/1846225?terms=drachma+coin&sType=quick )

Works Cited

             Emmons, Jim Tschen. "Alexander the Great." World History: Ancient and Medieval 

Eras, ABC-CLIO, 2016, ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/575648. Accessed 30

Sept. 2016. 

             Plutarch: Alexander the Great Conquers Persia, Life of Alexander." World History: Ancient

and Medieval Eras, ABC-CLIO, 2016, ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/1902623.

Accessed 29 Sept. 2016. 

             Plutarch. "P225 The Life of Alexander (Part 1 Of 7)." Plutarch • Life of Alexander

(Part 1 Of 7). University of Chicago, 12 Sept. 2015. Web. 30 Sept. 2016.

<http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Alexander*/3.html>.