Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great who was king of Greece conquerd much of the world that was unknown to the ancient Greeks at the time.

"Alexander the Great (Greek: Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ Μέγας or Μέγας Ἀλέξανδρος,[1] Mégas Aléxandros; July 20, 356 BC[2] – June 10 or June 11, 323 BC),[3] also known as Alexander III of Macedon (Ἀλέξανδρος Γ' ὁ Μακεδών) was an ancient Greek[4][5] king (basileus) of Macedon (336–323 BC). He was one of the most successful military commanders of all time and is presumed undefeated in battle. By the time of his death, he had conquered most of the world known to the ancient Greeks.[6]>

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Alexander was a great war hero to the Greeks. He was their king, their uniter of the Greek colonies, and their leader in the wars against the world. He took over and destroyed many great empires.

"Alexander assumed the kingship of Macedon following the death of his father Philip II, who had unified[7] most of the city-states of mainland Greece under Macedonian hegemony in a federation called the League of Corinth.[8] After reconfirming Macedonian rule by quashing a rebellion of southern Greek city-states and staging a short but bloody excursion against Macedon's northern neighbours, Alexander set out east against the Achaemenid Persian Empire, which he defeated and overthrew.

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He was such a great militairy leader that later ofter the overthrow of the Persian empire he extended his boundries as far as India. On his conquest he took over many places such as giza and all of Egypt, Meopatamis, Syria, and many other places. leagend has it that he was an undefeated general during his reign.

"Alexander was born in Pella, Macedonia, the son of Philip of Macedon, who was an excellent general and organizer. His mother was Olympias, princess of Epirus. She was brilliant and hot-tempered. Alexander inherited the best qualities of both his parents. But he was even more ambitious than his father. He wept bitterly when he heard of Philip's conquests and said, " My father will get ahead of me in everything, and will leave nothing great for me to do." Alexander's mother taught him that Achilles was his ancestor, and that his father was descended from Hercules. Alexander learned by heart the Iliad, a story about the deeds of Achilles. He carried a copy of the Iliad with him, and Achilles became Alexander's model .
Even as a boy Alexander was fearless and strong. He tamed the beautiful and spirited Bucephalus, a horse that no one else dared to touch or ride. Later, this famous steed carried him as far as India, where it died. Alexander then built the city of Bucephala on the Hydaspes River in memory of his beloved horse. Philip was so proud of Alexander's power over the horse that he said, "O my son, seek out a kingdom worthy of thyself, for Macedonia is too little for thee."

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So even from an early stage Alexander was a well learned person who because of his fearlessness and his strength even as a boy made him the man that he was when he was older. As a youth he was a pupil of Aristotle he was always ready to learn from Aristotle and at the age of 18 he participated in a battle that his father the king was commanding. Alexander murdered his father for the throne and wished to be worshiped as gods got worshiped.

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"Alexander had vast plans, including his governmental reorganization and an expedition to Arabia. But he was taken seriously ill with malaria at Babylon. The simple remedies of the day did not help him. He died on June 13, 323 B.C. His body was placed in a gold coffin and taken to Memphis, in Egypt. Later it was carried to Alexandria, and placed in a beautiful tomb.
Alexander left no choice for a successor. His only son, Alexander IV, was born after Alexander's death. As a result, Alexander's leading generals became governors of various areas and fought among themselves for control of the Empire. But no single leader emerged, and by 311 B.C. the empire split into independant states or monarchies."

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Alexander's will that he had to take over and rule the world nad be worshiped as a god fell into termoil espacially after his death. Everything he had fought for was worthless because he did not have a succesor.

This is a poem with a son talking to his dad.

People,The Best Loved Poems of the American:1936 Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.

Son:

How big was Alexander, pa,

That People call him Great?

Was he like old goliath tall

His spear a hundred weight?

Was he so large that he could stand

Like some tall steeple high

And while his feet were on the ground

His hands could touch the sky?

Father:

O no, my child:about as large

As me or uncle James

Twas not his stature that made him great

But greatness of his name.

Son:

His name so great? I know tis long

But easy quite to spell

And more than half a year ago

I knew it very well

Father:

I mean my child his actions were

So great he got his name

That everybody speaks with praise

That tells about his fame.

Son:

Well what actions did he do?

I want to know it all

Father:

Why he it was who conquered Tyre

And leveled down her wall

And thousands of her people slew

And then to Persia went

And fire and sword on every side

Though many a region sent

A hundred conquered cities shone

With midknight burnings red

And strewedo'er a many a battleground

A thousands soldiers bled.

Son:

Did killing people make him great?

Then why was Able Young

Who killedhis neighbor training day

Put into jail and hung?

I never heard them call him great.

Father:

Why no twas not a war

And him who kills a single man

His neighbors all abhor.

Son:

Well then if i should kill a man

I'd kill a hundred more I should be great and not be hung

Like Abel Young before.

Father:

Not so my child twill never do

The Gospel bids be kind

Son:

Then they that kill and they that praise

The Gospel do not mind.

Father:

You know my child the Bible says

That you must always do

To others as you wish

To have them do to you.

Son:

But Pa did Alexander wish

That some strong man would come

And burn his house and kill him too

And do as he has done?

Did everybody call him Great

For killing people so?

Well now what right did he have to kill

I should be glad to know.

If one should burn the building here

And kill the folks within

Would anybody call him Great

For such a wicked thing?(People 407-408)