His greatest achievement was introducing and developing trade throughout the known world and introducing vast new knowledge and trade to all areas they in countered! If he hadn’t dropped dead, he might have conquered the world. Diadochi and the Hellenistic Period. Alexander the Great (356 BC – 323 BC) was perhaps the greatest military commander of all time. When Philip II (l. 382-336 BCE) defeated the Illyrian king Bardylis in 358 BCE he took Audata, the king's eldest daughter, as a trophy of war and a means of keeping the peace. On the battlefield, Alexander, like Napoleon, gave the soldiers a dramatic surge in morale. Had he not died he could have made the Grecian Empire as great or greater than the Roman Empire that was formed years later. Steve, As a single man, none have accomplished a greater feat; the only man who might offer a challenge in terms of pure military conquest, Ghengis Khan falls flat on his face when one considers the cultural effect as a legacy of conquest, and between the two, i think its fairly certain that through modern eyes, it is far more easy to see Alexander, the Philosopher-King as perhaps the greatest ruler our little species has so far produced- had he lived longer, what else might he have done to make his legend yet greater then it already was? When he died at 33, he had conquered the entire known world, and we will never know if he was a capable governor because he died so young before he could truly rule his empire, yet as a military leader he is certainly without equal Ben, He’s responsible for spreading Hellenic culture all the way to India; shaping the Classical Age single handedly. Alexander was the Philospher King. However, when he became too arrogant his king ordered him to commit suicide, and the Butcher slit his own throat. He brought forth an age of contact between nations that ignored each others existence and is rightfully remembered as Alexander the Great. December 4, 2012 @ Next lesson. This ruthlessness would contribute to Alexander conquering most of the known world with an empire that stretched for 10,000 miles and encompassed the Mediterranean, most of Europe and touched the borders of India. He conquered the world by his 18th birthday, Surely its Alexander, he lived in times before Jesus yet they still teach his tactics at military academies today, Alexander III of Macedon , commonly known as Alexander the Great. This website needs to know more about Porus’s true history and backstory. Perhaps the clincher, however, is this: Julius Caesar weeped when he considered Alexander’s accomplishments. While Athens would become a naval power, Sparta easily emerged as the atypical military city, initiating a strict code of conduct with intense military training for every male citizen. Took over most of Europe and much of Asia and Africa. Macedon is too small for you’, the words of King Phillip II of Macedon were prophetic as he addressed his son Alexander after he had tamed a fearful horse at the age of just 10. It was only after he died that his empire crumbled, signalling that it was really him that was the key piece that held the empire together. Julian, He fought in the head of his army. The battles he won, the enemies he defeated and the subjects he gained. When Porus got tired of this. All would be rulers of the world were in awe of Alexander. And at all of those fields he was superb. In three thousand years the name of Alexander the Great will always struck the hearts and the souls of men. Nevertheless, King Philip II of Macedon was one of Alexander's most influential role models, said Abernethy. Very similar to Napoleon, except that Napoleon spread Nationalism, efficient bureaucracy, and a renewed vigor for republics. Above all else Alexander the Great was a commander because of his sheer bloody minded arrogance and his belief in his own superiority. To me, a leader is one who provides a strong example of how followers should live and believe, not necessarily how they must. Ahead of his era and forward thinking in the fields of art, religion, architecture, city planning, and many other cultural and technological fields. Dozens of the cities which he established still exist today, and the culture he spread and assimilated is very evident in the lands in which his empire existed. He had an undefeated battle record. Were they great because the enemy leadership inept or was the foe they defeated run by another great leader? He brought forth an age of contact between nations  that ignored each others existence and is rightfully remembered as Alexander the Great. I’m no historian but find a commander facing long odds, a better equipped enemy, led by a brilliant leader, who prevails and only then can you even begin to put their name in the discussion. Home — Essay Samples — History — Alexander The Great — The Military Achievements and Personal Life Of Alexender The Great This essay has been submitted by a student. Perhaps the clincher, however, is this: Julius Caesar weeped when he considered Alexander’s accomplishments. Though Khan was quite cruel to people if they didn’t surrender to him, neither would Alexander, who was just as cruel, so I don’t really get why people go nuts over Alexander and ignore Genghis Khan. No other man in history has conquered so vast an area with so little an Army; I will be the first to point out that the classical Macedonians were Greek through and through, and only the snobbery of the Southern Greek states -who viewed anyone who didn’t both speak Greek, and organize themselves in city states as various shades of barbaric- but at the end of it, even if more or less controlled by Macedonia b the time of Alexander, it was the Macedonian army and some mercenary ‘auxiliaries’ that toppled what had been the greatest empire the world had ever seen, spread Greek culture to the Indus (where it would influence Indian culture, and have faint reverberations even in China and Japan- usually seen as culturally impregnable entities, even they felt the result of Alexanders mighty thrust East.). Desire of territories was his main objective as an explorer and he will stay in the History by Alexander the great who makes Macedonia has one of the most extensive territories of all time. He led a functioning army all the way into the unknown in hostile territory…and kept winning. Alexander the Great. Alexander may not have had the best of everything, but he made it work Darren, He conquered most of the known world at the time with ease, all before he died young. Matthew, It may be true that without his father, Phillipous the second of Macedonia, Alexander the Great would not have been that great. Titles: King of Macedon, Hegemon of the Hellenic League, Shahanshah of Persia, Pharaoh of Egypt and Lord of Asia Alexander, For the age in which they lived they were by far the most advanced technological and militarial civilization in the world using many inventions and techniques that still hold sway today. He was also a tactical and stratetical mastermind. Julius Caesar and Augustus were greater than Alexander. Jennifer, In reality Alexander more than an experienced leader was an extremely lucky and able heir to the throne. Military regiments, students, and professors all over the world still study his tactics and procedures. Also he’s seen as a great figure not only in the “western” world, but in the middle east and India as well, and few have had as brilliant military careers as he have. He led the Greeks in the conquest of Persia, and after warring for several years finally overthrew the Persian King Darius III and conquered the Achaemenid Empire. How can anyone clam being the greatest? 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. In only 13 years he conquered and built an empire greater and larger then anyone before and after him. Alexander the Great conquers Persia. This is not an example of the work written by professional essay writers. Maxwell, His stunning and rapid record speaks for itself, brilliant commander and fearless. He led militarily but also understood how to really build an empire that would follow you, even those conquered. 1:36 am. I think Alexander fits this bill very well. In a few short years he forever became the benchmark for being called great. Ceaser, Augustus, Gendis Khan all lost battles at one time. Alexander is today revered and set apart from other leaders because of eurocentrism that still remains to this day. In all the battles he participated, Alexander the Great led from the front of the battle. Through his military prowess and tactics he was able to conquer much of the know territories but still did not live to see his dreams. Alexander the Great’s military tactics and … I’m no historian but find a commander facing long odds, a better equipped enemy, led by a brilliant leader, who prevails and only then can you even begin to put their name in the discussion. This is the currently selected item. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. All rights reserved. In his 50 plus years career, Bai Qi won over 70 campaigns and never lost a battle. He didn’t only conquered all the known world (for the greeks until that time) but he also focused on unifying them.He also used a lot of scientist during his quest including doctors engineers and many more. The celebrated Macedonian king has been one of the most enduring figures in history. Brett, He liberated more than conquered, and fought in the wars he waged. had led the victory over the previously invincible Spartan army. Titles: King of Macedon, Hegemon of the Hellenic League, Shahanshah of Persia, Pharaoh of Egypt and Lord of Asia. Nothing is Impossible,everything is possible, you just have to have the willpower to do it. Alexander the Great was born in 356 BC to King Phillip II of Macedon and his wife Olympias. Gary, The man brought down the greatest empire the world had seen, seemingly without difficulty and within a matter of just a couple of years, conquered most of the known world while fighting far from home, never lost a battle, led from the front, was tutored by Aristotle and maintained his passion for philosophy throughout his life, spread Greek culture across the globe … you get the idea. He was also a tactical and stratetical mastermind. © 2020 Current Publishing. Stephen, Alexander the Great never lost a battle ever in his entire military campaign all the way to India. Alexander was a not a great man in the moral sense but it is indisputable that he is a one of the greatest military masterminds.. And one to prove people wrong. Yes, Alexander was a great leader and a great general. Beyond the conqueror, however, he took Hellenistic culture to an entirely different level; instead of the ideas of liberty, equality, philosophy, drama, and scientific categorization and study remaining in Greece and slowly spreading by basic trade and other modicums of idea osmosis, he spread it like wildfire across Asia Minor and the Middle East all the way to the Indian subcontinent. Both are great, but Alexander has to win in my book. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Julius caear cry when it was his 32 b-day because he did not conquered as much as alexander the great, Richard Ledger He wasn’t the type of leader who gave dramatic speeches in an attempt to inspire his men; He knew that if he expected his troops to risk their lives for this cause he would have to do so as well. In fact many stories he himself invented to praise himself and to pretend like a God. … what is david, a huge an seemingly undefeatable enemy like Alexander” – that’s. 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