...Alexander the Great Alexander of Macedon Biography King of Macedonia and Conqueror of the Persian Empire Alexander III the Great, the King of Macedonia and conqueror of the Persian Empire is considered one of the greatest military geniuses of all times. He was inspiration for later conquerors such as Hannibal the Carthaginian, the Romans Pompey and Caesar, and Napoleon. Alexander was born in 356 BC in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia. He was son of Philip II, King of Macedonia, and Olympias, the princess of neighboring Epirus. He spent his childhood watching his father transforming Macedonia into a great military power, winning victory after victory on the battlefields throughout the Balkans. When he was 13, Philip hired the Greek philosopher Aristotle to be Alexander’s personal tutor. During the next three years Aristotle gave Alexander a training in rhetoric and literature and stimulated his interest in science, medicine, and philosophy, all of which became of importance in Alexander’s later life. In 340, when Philip assembled a large Macedonian army and invaded Thrace, he left his 16 years old son with the power to rule Macedonia in his absence as regent, which shows that even at such young age Alexander was recognized as quite capable. But as the Macedonian army advanced deep into Thrace, the Thracian tribe of Maedi bordering north-eastern Macedonia rebelled and posed a danger to the country. Alexander assembled an army, led it against the rebels, and with...
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...the last remnants of the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great died at the age of 32 due to an unknown cause. All his accomplishments happened in a span of 16 years, not a very long time to reach the height to which Alexander found himself in. From a Leadership point of view, Alexander ranks among the top of the list in history, for many reasons. Not only did he pull together his resources and commanded his men with incredible accuracy of control, he maintained a working machine of cities and supply routes that provided his armies with the necessities. The only way where Alexander’s leadership is questionable is his inability to leave a person or system to manage the empire after his death. Alexander was born in 356 BC to Philip II of Macedonia and Olympias of Ephirus. He grew up experiencing the traditions of the noble Macedonian youth, where which he learned to fight, ride horses, read, and hunt. At ten years old Alexander displayed courage and ambition...
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...civilizations that had transformed the lands from Egypt to India into a new Greek world (McKay, 137). His influence had also built an empire that would spread the Greek culture into the known world, but there are no kingdoms without a king and with Alexander’s swift and stunning demise, his empire would crumble almost as quickly as it was built. 404 B.C.E., a long and bloody 27 year war, also known as the Peloponnesian War (AncientGreece, 2003) had finally come to an end. Athens, its once dominant Navy destroyed, is starved into submission at the hands of its arch rivals, the Spartans (McKay, 123). In 359 B.C.E. Philip II had become king (382 – 336 B.C.E) and within two decades he would change the face of Greece (BBC, 2014). During this period, Macedonia had a large amount of potential in both man...
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...of the Persian Empire and was also a great scholar. Surely this should be enough to put him in the historian hall of fame or is it? Is Alexander over celebrated or Does he really deserve to be known as Alexander the great? I believe he does, I think Alexander’s military achievements, and his leadership and his decision making all give him the right to be called Alexander the great. He has the characteristic and life story that belongs in legends. To me looking back on Alexander‘s life it was inevitable he was going to be a great military leader. Alexander was blessed by his heritage; he was born of a father who was a militant powerhouse of Macedonia and apparently his mother was from the family of Hercules or so he said. He would have grown up watching and learning a lot from his father Phillip the emperor of Macedonia as he ruled Macedonia and swept through Greece. He was regarded pretty highly in his father’s army and often led sieges to foreign lands on behalf of the Macedonian empire. Alexander’s father had great trust in his ability and left him in control of the kingdom at the age of 16. This is where Alexander would get his first taste of control and victory but it would definitely not be his last. The first battle Alexander won showed how self observed he was and how determined he was to become a strong emperor. After he defeated Maidi insurgence he named their land Alexandropoulos. Alexander had many victories on the battle field both as a general and as an emperor. Alexander...
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...Alexander was born to Philip II of Macedonia and Olympias, in 356 B.C. Phillip II was the king of Macedonia until he was assassinated in 330 BC. Phillip knew that one day Alexander would succeed him so he did much to prepare him for a military and political future. Alexander became king in 336 b.c. when Phillip was assassinated. More importantly, Alexander did many things in his life to deserve the great status. Firstly, Alexander is recognized for his period of conquest and his ability to fight and rule over larger armies than his own. Secondly, Alexander’s legacy and what he left behind for his son and half brother to continue his work. Thirdly, the legend of Alexander from sources such as the bible and both modern and ancient cultures define Alexander’s ability and rank of great. Lastly, one of the main reasons for Alexander’s recognition of greatness is because of his conquest in battle. However, Alexander made decisions with his impulses and immediate reaction, and in the sheer bravery and courage observed in Alexander, it is evident that Alexander the Great set trends among his people. It is also evident in the innovations he contributed to military strategies, and in the spread of his trends to all the lands that he conquered. Alexander was not a product of the society that he lived in, but a trendsetter. Alexander was an impulsive man of immediate action, and it reflected on the decisions he made. Clearly then, Alexander was the one who led society, shaping...
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...Alexander was only 20 years old when he became king of Macedonia. “Alexander the Great was one of the most famous conquerors in all of history.” Alexander’s death caused many breakdowns. There were many disputes about the empire he left behind. Who has going to manage the empire and retain it. Everything fell apart without Alexander. Nobody saw the empire ever being as a well as when Alexander governed it, but people tried. This period where several people founded their own dynasty and them constantly changing is known as the Hellenistic age. “The word Hellenistic is derived from a Greek word meaning “to imitate Greeks.” Alexander left a cultural tradition. His legacy became one of the attributes of the Hellenistic kingdom. But the empire collapsed...
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...III By Author Unknown Alexander III, king of Macedonia from 336 until his death in 323 B.C. continues to be the subject of study and debate into the 21st century A.D... Some scholars have devoted their lives to the man who was king, king of kings, and a god in his lifetime. The scarce evidence tantalized and invited speculation and theory. He has been pictured as everything from an alcoholic, homosexual, mass murderer, to the precursor of Christ sent to bring brotherly love to the world. He has been a Christian saint, an Islamic prophet, and a benefactor of the Jews. He remains a folk hero from Sophia to Kabul. To this day his name is invoked for good luck. For centuries Alexander has been erroneously judged by standards of conduct which have no relationship to 4th century B.C. Macedonian culture. He has been called an alcoholic in a time when consuming amounts of alcohol in excess of current limits is social unacceptable. Among Macedonian warriors it was not. Indeed, the drinking of large amounts of unwatered wine after battle was expected and may even have had a religious connotation. Yet ancient Athenians, Victorians and modern day twelve steppers have stigmatized him for doing exactly what was acceptable at a time and place where strong warriors fought hard and drank hard far into the night. Throughout his life Alexander was scrupulous about behaving in a manner appropriate for a 4th Century B.C. warrior king of Macedonia. Jewish, Christian, and Moslem scholars have been...
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...1. Greece saw this as a possible opportunity to overthrown the macedonian power. Neighboring tribes from Illyria attacked the western border of Macedonia, Thrace was in revolt and Thebes and Athens rose against their Macedonian garrisons. To summarise, the Greeks saw this opportunity of Alexander's assencion, and tried but failed on capitalizing on this circumstance. 2. Alexander consolidated the Macedonian territory, by gaining support of the Macedonian army, which then intimidated Greek city-states, that Phillip had conquered. He also disposed of any and all of his domestic enemies by ordering execution. Alexander then acted swiftly, as soon as he restored Macedonian rule in northern Greece, he went onto southern Greece. And with speed and the act of surprise, by the summer of 336BCE, the Greeks had no choice but bow down to Alexander, and acknowledge his leadership and power. 3. This was when states formed around a religious centre. The Amphictyonic League ('league of neighbors') was the most important, and originally composed of 12 tribes, dwelling around thermopylae. Its first shrine was to demeter, and later associated with the Temple of Apollo at Dephi. 4. In 335BCE, Thebes believed that all greeks cities could unite against Macedonia, and become free, for they believed that this new accession had cause them to become weak. However this was not the case, to set an example to the rest of Greece, Alexander marched 240 miles in 2 weeks with his army, to change their...
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...Alexander the Great was born July 356 B.C. to Philip II and his third wife Olympias. Alexander the Great is a hero because, any historians consider him the greatest military leader of all time, military genius, and bravery drove him to conquer many lands. Alexander the Great was born on July 20, 356 B.C., in Pella, Macedonia. His parents were King Philip II of Macedon and Queen Olympia. Alexander got the support from Macedonian Army and eliminated his enemies to become king and leader of the Corinthian League. Alexander the Great is a hero because, like Beowulf, he was brave enough to conquer many lands, founded many cities, and he was considered one of the best military leaders. Alexander was as Alexander III then later he got the title Alexander the Great. He was born in Pella, the capital of Macedonia. His father got assassinated in 336 BC and that caused Alexander to inherit a powerful yet uneasy kingdom. He ended up receiving the support of the Macedonian Army, and he took out his enemies to become the king/leader of the Corinthian League. Alexander had passed away at the age of 32, just 14 years after becoming the King. Beowulf comes from the...
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...Alexander the Great was a great leader and politician. Alexander studied some of the greatest minds of the time. Aristotle tutored him in his yonger years up to his adult life. Alexander made huge changes in a time when it was needed. Alexander regained the Greek lands under one kingship. He started as a young prince learning his way to be a great leader of armies and the people under him. Aristotle taught him what he needed to know about life and politics. The Greek world starts with the northern Macedonia, then the city state of Sparta to the south, and the city state of Athens up the coast from Sparta. Thebes and Corinth were in between Macedonia and Sparta. "The first western ruler to attempt a war of conquest in the Middle East and Central Asia, Alexander triumphed. But his army was no more comfortable than American Forces have been in the difficult terrain and climate of Kabul, Baghdad, and surrounding territories." A ruler that can take his men through many nations, conquer the opponents. Alexander then made their men fight for him and want to be there takes great politics even after destroying one’s nation. Alexander was born in July of 356 BC. His father was Phillip II of Macedon and his mother was the Albanian princess Olympias. The day Alexander was born, Phillip received three messages. One was his general just took the town of Potidaea, second was his horse just won in the Olympic games and the third was his son was born. "The soothsayers...
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...Alexander the Great Alexander accomplished greater deeds than, not only of the kings who had lived before him but also of those who were to come later down to our time .Alexander the Great was born at Pella Macedonia in 356 B.C.E. He spent his childhood years watching his father transforming Macedonia into a great military power. His Father was King Phillip and his mother was Olympias. His mother was the princes of neighboring Epirus. She was a deeply spiritual who taught her son about his ancestors such as Achilles and Hercules. From his earliest ages, then he was conditioned for conquest and glory in being a king. He then became focused on becoming a great ruler, which he soon will become. As a young boy Alexander was fearless and strong. At the age of 12 he tamed a beautiful horse by the name of Bucephalus, a horse than no one else could ride. His father was so proud of him and his horsemanship. Aristotle came to Pella in 343 at Phillips bidding to direct education towards his son. Alexander was taught by him from the age thirteen to sixteen. Alexander was taught by Aristotle at the Mieza Temple.Alexander was told to have had a strong athletic build, but was shorter than the average Macedonian. He had fair skin, and was clean shaven most of the time. He had green eyes, and was said to be a very handsome man. When leading his army he would always wear something very recognizable from long distances by his enemies. Alexander wore two large white plumes in his hat to distinguish...
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...Alexander the Great Alexander accomplished greater deeds than, not only of the kings who had lived before him but also of those who were to come later down to our time .Alexander the Great was born at Pella Macedonia in 356 B.C.E. He spent his childhood years watching his father transforming Macedonia into a great military power. His Father was King Phillip and his mother was Olympias. His mother was the princes of neighboring Epirus. She was a deeply spiritual who taught her son about his ancestors such as Achilles and Hercules. From his earliest ages, then he was conditioned for conquest and glory in being a king. He then became focused on becoming a great ruler, which he soon will become. As a young boy Alexander was fearless and strong. At the age of 12 he tamed a beautiful horse by the name of Bucephalus, a horse than no one else could ride. His father was so proud of him and his horsemanship. Aristotle came to Pella in 343 at Phillips bidding to direct education towards his son. Alexander was taught by him from the age thirteen to sixteen. Alexander was taught by Aristotle at the Mieza Temple.Alexander was told to have had a strong athletic build, but was shorter than the average Macedonian. He had fair skin, and was clean shaven most of the time. He had green eyes, and was said to be a very handsome man. When leading his army he would always wear something very recognizable from long distances by his enemies. Alexander wore two large white plumes in his hat to distinguish...
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...From the very first caveman to scale a tree or hang from a cliff face, to the mighty armies of the Greco-Roman empires and the gymnasiums of modern American high schools, calisthenics has endured and thrived because of its simplicity and utility. Unlike strength training which involves weights, machines or resistance bands, calisthenics uses only the body’s own weight for physical development. (B) Calisthenics enters the historical record at around 480 B.C., with Herodotus’ account of the Battle of Thermopolylae. Herodotus reported that, prior to the battle, the god-king Xerxes sent a scout party to spy on his Spartan enemies. The scouts informed Xerxes that the Spartans, under the leadership of King Leonidas, were practicing some kind of bizarre, synchronised movements akin to a tribal dance. Xerxes was greatly amused. His own army was comprised of over 120,000 men, while the Spartans had just 300. Leonidas was informed that he must retreat or face annihilation. The Spartans did not retreat, however, and in the ensuing battle they managed to hold Xerxes’ enormous army at bay for some time until reinforcements arrived. It turns out their tribal dance was not a superstitious ritual but a form of calisthenics by which they were building awe-inspiring physical strength and endurance. (C) The Greeks took calisthenics seriously not only as a form of military discipline and strength, but also as an artistic expression of movement and an aesthetically ideal physique. Indeed, the term...
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...picked up where his father left off by continuing the assault on Persia. In 331 BCE Alexander conquered Egypt, at which time he focused his attention on working with the Egyptian people, in order to maintain the supply lines so his army could be properly fed and equipped. This in no way meant that he was weak or caring of the Egyptian people as he would not hesitate to violently and ruthlessly eliminate anyone who opposed him or attempted to rise up against him. After taking firm control of Egypt, Alexander choose to build a city there which would bear his name, the city of Alexandria. Unfortunately, he left the city shortly after the plans were complete and never got to see his great city come to life. According to the History of Macedonia Blog (2013), “In the spring of 331 Alexander made a pilgrimage to the great temple and oracle of Amon-Ra, the Egyptian god of the sun, whom the Greeks and Macedonians identified with Zeus Ammon. The earlier Egyptian pharaohs were believed to be sons of Amon-Ra and Alexander as new ruler of Egypt wanted the god to acknowledge him as his son. He decided to make the dangerous trip across the desert to visit the oracle at the temple of the god. According to the legend, on the way he was blessed with abundant rain, and guided across the desert by ravens. At the temple, he was welcomed by the priests and spoke to the oracle. The priest told him that he was a son of Zeus Ammon, destined to rule the world, and this must have confirmed in him his...
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...Acacius was born on an unknown date, in Constantinople. Not much is known about his childhood, as his first appearance in history was as an adult. Favored by Emperor Leo I, he had a striking personality and took opportunities. As an adult he was the head of the Constantinople orphanage, with the title “Orphanotrophos.” When Patriarch Gennadius of Constantinople died in 471 AD, Acacius gained his position as Patriarch. A Patriarch is a head figure of a group, in this case a leader of a church community. He labored to restore the Eastern Orthodoxy and tried to spread influence into Alexandria and Antioch. His first five years as Patriarch had no problems, but drama was very near. The emperor at the time was Leo I, who after passing was replaced by Zeno. However, Leo’s wife and a conspirator named Basiliscus worked to usurp the throne from Zeno. Acacius had to decide between defending the council of Chaldeon, which Basiliscus wanted to condemn, or to support Balisiscus. He supported the Chaldeonian party after being convinced it would help his career. Acacius was known to not have moral reasons for anything he did, and often did what would ultimately help himself. Acacius helped the Chalcedonian council win and Zeno regained the throne from Basiliscus. Later in his life, Acacius did something not within his seat of power and declared a Patriarch of Antioch holy. A pope named Simplicius, who became Acacius’ ally during the Chaldeonian debate, said it was necessity and Acacius was...
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