Alexander The Great Accomplishments

Introduction

Alexander III, commonly known as Alexander the Great of Macedonia, was born to Philip II, the king of Macedonia, and Olympias of Epirus in 356 BCE. He was a warrior by 16, a commander by 18 and crowned king of Macedonia by age 20. He played a powerful role in history by conquering one of the largest empires in the ancient world, stretching from Ionian Sea to the Hindukush. He was undefeated in the war and considered as one of the most successful commander in history. Though he respected local traditions of the conquered kingdom, Alexander was ruthless to the people who revolted. Although he was a supreme warrior who never lost a battle, Alexander the Great's most significant achievement was blending the Greek, Persian, Egyptian,

and Indian cultures and forming a new culture, Hellenistic Culture.
Background
Alexander’s education laid a foundation to develop an intellectual leader who promotes spread of Hellenistic culture. Born to an obsessively dedicated mother and an ambitious father, Alexander was a gifted all rounder. Alexander started his formal education at age seven and he grasped the art of warfare instantaneously. By riding a Bucephalus, a horse which could not be domesticated by many royal ministers, Alexander proved his courage and cleverness to his father. Pleased by his intellect, Philip II hired the Greek philosopher and scientist Aristotle to tutor Alexander during early his teenage years. Young Alexander learned botany, zoology, logic, and many other subjects from his new teacher. Despite the difference in opinions between tutor and pupil, Aristotle performed assigned task by creating young charge to undertake campaigns against Persian empire (Wilhelm 25-27). Aristotle inculcated love of learning in Alexander so vital to Hellenistic culture during his young age.
Alexander demonstrated his military skills on the battlefield and gains recognition as a suitable heir to the Macedonian throne. Philip II appointed young Alexander, who was sixteen years old, as a temporary king while he was away for a military campaign. Viewing this as an advantage, Thrace, a Macedon ally, rebelled but Alexander soon took control of the region. Upon this success, Philip II made Alexander a general, which resulted in participating in war for two years along with his father. In these two years, Alexander proves his talent by conquering all the Greek city states (Skelton and Dell 10-11). In three years, Alexander fulfills his father’s two decades dream, by obtaining acknowledgement of the king and royal ministers of the court.
Alexander attained the power as king which further laid the Hellenistic culture. After defeating the Greek forces and Thebans, Alexander’s relationship with his father took a turn, when he remarried a native Macedonian, Cleopatra, which reduced the likeliness of Alexander to get the throne as the child born to Cleopatra and Philip II will be a rightful heir to the Macedonian royal family. On the wedding night, Alexander insults his father, which devastates their relationship and Alexander fled away with his mother. After about an year, Philip II and Alexander reconciled and Cleopatra gave birth to a male child, which complicated the relationship evenmore (Wilhelm 36-37). During a gathering, organized to celebrate his newborn and to launch war against Persia, Philip was assassinated by his own bodyguard and Alexander gained the throne of Macedonia by his exhibited military tactics with the support of the nobles. After the coronation, Olympias took advantage of the situation by forcing Cleopatra to commit suicide and murdering the infant prince. People in the kingdom suspected Alexander and Olympus for the King’s murder, which resulted in execution all the royal suspects, who were a threat to his Alexander’s reign (Rufus 111-113). Alexander was really the only choice as a fit son of Philip II, who demonstrated his skills both on and off the battlefield. His strong and powerful nature as a king resulted in successfully controlling his kingdom.
Alexander was charismatic ruler, whose ability to motivate his most powerful army, inherited from his father Philip II, led to his enormous conquests.

Throughout his life, he conquered many kingdoms expanding the Macedonian Empire. After he began his reign, he started to enforce his father’s plan to invade Persia, which was the largest and wealthiest empire at that time period. Though his army was majorly outnumbered, Alexander defeated Persian King Darius III using his brilliance. Darius III fled away and his own officers murdered him angered by his spinelessness and to gain the favor of Alexander (Skelton and Dell 12). Alexander then crossed the Hindukush river and conquered Bactria and Sogdiana. According to Alexander and Aristotle, greatness as an Emperor can be achieved when he conquers and reaches the end of the world, which Alexander believed is invasion of India. So, Alexander continued to march into India unaware of the area, weather conditions and the power of Indian Kingdoms (Skelton and Dell 52-53). His first invasion of ancient India was against King Porus of Punjab in the Battle of Hydaspes. Alexander’s army was weakened during this war due to the use of Elephant Cavalry by King Porus and Bucephalus died due to severe wounds. Alexander won the battle and turned back to Macedonia after realizing the unlikeliness of conquering India with soldiers, who refused to fight ("Alexander the Great" World Eras). Alexander’s military campaigns played a major role in

beginning the Hellenistic Culture.
Argument and Analysis
Alexander had a remarkable impact in history by fusing the western and eastern cultures. He gained this by becoming a powerful king , who followed both peace and terror to rule the conquered kingdoms. Underestimating the young, inexperienced Alexander soon after he took up Macedonian throne, Thebes and Athens rebelled fueled by the temptation of riches offered by Darius III. Alexander offered a negotiation, but Thebes refused. Ruthless Alexander killed the rebels, burnt their cities, and sold the citizens as slaves to warn others about the price of rebellion (“Alexander the Great” Encyclopedia of World Biography). Alexander murdered his loyal soldier, Cleitus, who saved his life in a battle. During a party, drunk Cleitus mocked Alexander for following Persian cultures and for believing that he is a god. Outraged Alexander stabs a spear into his chest. Alexander did not spare anyone, who went against him (Wilhelm 99-100). When people surrender, Alexander would leave the appointed officials in charge and help in rebuilding their kingdom. Alexander wanted to see “Unity in Diversity,” where citizens live with harmony among different cultured people, seeing themselves as a part of international empire instead individual kingdoms (Skelton and Dell 14). By his strong rule, Alexander achieved power to blend cultures by practicing both violent and friendly methods depending on the situation he faced.
Without exception, in all the areas he conquered, Alexander allowed people to keep their own culture and spread the cultures, which led to Hellenistic culture. In every country, Alexander respected the local customs, religions, and people. Macedonians saw Persians as barbarian and uncivilized. Despite his generals dislike towards Persia, Alexander respected and allowed Persians to follow their culture and traditions. He also adopted his dressing style from them (Skelton and Dell 12). After conquering Persia, Alexander visited Egypt. Egyptians, who despised Persians honored by entitling him as a pharaoh. Alexander, who believed that he is the son of god, was pleased by this status. He followed Egyptian traditions, dressed as Egyptian god, offered sacrifices, and established the famous city, Alexandria, one of the greatest cultural and learning center (Wilhelm 69-73). After he won the Battle of Hydaspes, Alexander restored the kingdom to King Porus, amazed by his courage and persistence. Porus and Alexander became allies after he surrendered himself in the battle and expanded his kingdom by eliminating his enemies (Skelton and Dell 58). Alexander’s invincible ideas of cultural diffusion accompanied in building a stronger kingdom with Hellenism.
Alexander followed a mass marriage system to unify cultures. As polygamy was accepted in Macedonia, Alexander ordered his Macedonian soldiers to marry women of the Persian aristocracy, according to the Persian culture. He married the daughter of Darius III, so that their children will have Persian heritage in their blood. Alexander allowed Persians to join his army and made sure that Macedonian soldiers were given higher positions (“Alexander the Great” Encyclopedia of World Biography). Alexander’s collective marriage system and invasion on ancient India introduced Indian culture to the Europe helping in creating the Hellenistic age.
Alexander’s dream of Hellenism came true after his death when his empire accomplished a remarkable cultural and artistic bloom. His ideas led to the spread of Greek language and culture spreading to the conquered regions creating a new civilization called Hellenistic Civilization, where trade and ideas were exchanged. Exchange of ideas involving the use of one main language led to great scientific discoveries, medicinal advancement, literature progression and mathematical improvements establishing a path for forthcoming successful societies. Heliocentric model was also discovered during the Hellenistic Age (Casati 128). In the hellenistic world, new complex form of art, combining the Greek and Asian methods was formed as a result of blending both approaches towards art. Hellenistic Art was used to design the statues of Gautama Buddha after Greek God Apollo, in the places Alexander has never been to (Skelton and Dell 119-121). During this civilization, sculpture and paintings were glorified leading to a dramatic and expressive form of art known as Baroque art (Casati 129). Proliferation of pure subjects like arts along with sciences through language heavily influenced the Hellenistic period.
Not only art and science but also education, language and culture flourished in the areas invaded by Alexander during the Hellenistic age.

Alexander valued education and spread it to regions he conquered. Though Alexander allowed people to follow their religion, culture, and traditions, Alexander made Greek the official language of his empire. Official documents and law was written in Greek. King and scholars in Egypt learned Greek, while commoners used Egyptian language on daily basis, as Greeks hardly ruled outside Alexandria. Greek became the universal language, which helped in extraordinary cultural development and exchange of ideas. Education through the Greek language extended knowledge of Greek culture, and also helped Greeks to be aware of the achievements of other civilizations (Skelton and Dell 109-111). Though medicines date back to ancient Greece, the first real hospitals came into existence in the time of Alexander. Greeks were well known for knowledge and techniques of health and healing and were also respected by Persians, their ancient enemies (Skelton and Dell 113). Alexander tolerated other religions and offered sacrifices to their Gods integrating their religion into his own. Buddhism spread through the empire, when some of Alexander’s companions became buddhists during their campaign in India. Alexander also admired and interviewed Agoras (Skelton and Dell 103). During the time of Alexander, Greeks technologies used technologies such as map making, which

made life easier. Mapmakers counted and recorded the steps they took from one campaign to another (Skelton and Dell 118). Alexander’s rule opened the western world to the eastern world for the first time making trade possible.
Conclusion
History’s most outstanding leader, Alexander’s greatest accomplishment to all time has been the mingling of the world cultures across his empire with his modern vision, which had a notable effect in history. Alexander accomplished this by religious tolerance and building trade centers across the empire, where Persians, Greeks, Indians and Chinese would exchange and integrate their ideas and goods. Greek architecture, theaters and sports were spread across Eurasia. Alexander married foreign princesses so that the future generation could have a lineage from regions across the world. He is remembered as Alexander the Great even today, because he achieved the control of the largest empire of the world in just 12 years and spread Greek culture to the rest of the world successfully leading the world into a Hellenistic period.