https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_58FqEiG3I
Alexander reminds me of the song "The Man" by Aloe Blacc because the song repeatedly says "I'm the man", just like Alexander was the man of his time
Alexander the Great’s father, King Philip II of Macedon, died when Alexander was only twenty years old. Alexander immediately took the throne and continued his father’s reign by executing his idea to expand Macedon and invade and take over Persia. Alexander did so and much more throughout his reign, and took over Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, Punjab, and Persia. As stated by Clark G. Reynolds in his article Alexander the Great, “By the time he reached Susa, administrative capital of the Persian Empire, in 324, Alexander had indeed fashioned a sprawling empire. He had established numerous cities bearing his name and had infused Asia with the dynamic Hellenic culture that would influence the region for centuries to come”. This writing shows that he conquered many lands, and made his name known around the world.
The determination of winning and expanding his civilization led Alexander to be one of the most well-known fighters of his time. Although he was the leader of a nation, and most of the people he would battle would aim to kill him, he always fearlessly led his army in the large phalanx formation they fought in. An example of his fearlessness is shown in the photo where Alexander is riding his horse Bucephalus into battle leading his entire army. In this photo, he is the very front of the phalanx and has his sword up ready to fight whoever may step in his path. As stated in Plutarch’s Lives (20:8) “...leading his right wing in person, extended it past the enemy's left, got on their flank, and routed the Barbarians who were opposed to him fighting among the foremost…”. In this quote it is stated that Alexander did fight in the front of his army, and that the Barbarians he was fighting opposed against him fighting overall. This shows that the Barbarians were afraid of Alexander due to his intensity and determination.
When Alexander was a young child he learned and studied just like we do today. The only difference is he was taught by one of the biggest and best philosophers of all time, Aristotle. Aristotle was a greek philosopher, and taught Alexander as he grew up. By Alexander being taught by Aristotle, he became more intelligent than those around him that were, if educated, only taught by elders. In Plutarch’s Lives (7:2) it states that “...he sent for the most famous and learned of philosophers, Aristotle, and paid him a noble and appropriate tuition-fee.” This shows how Aristotle truly was the most well-known and famous philosopher of his time, and was the best way for Alexander the grow and become knowledgeable and strong.
Alexander is great not only due to his name, but do to all of his accomplishments he achieved throughout his reign. These accomplishments would not be fulfilled if it weren’t for his determination and fearlessness, Aristotle’s teachings, and expansion throughout his reign. Alexander has been known to be great for centuries, but what better way to show that than by the way people look at him in this modern time. Even in the two-thousands people still refer the to Alexander as Alexander the Great. His reputation has lead for him to be called that name thousands of years after his rule, and for that he is truly great.
Works Cited
"Alexander the Great with Bucephalus." ABC Clio, ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/
Search/Display/1846002
Plutarch. "The Life of Alexander." Penelope, penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/
Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Alexander*/3.html
Reynolds, Clark G. "Alexander the Great." Salem Press, online.salempress.com/
articleDetails.do?bookId=274&articleName=GLAW_3611012011&searchText=alexander%20t
he%20great&searchOperators=any&category=History
