Abstract This paper explores the life and accomplishments of Alexander the Great by locating appropriate sources on the Internet. The paper first gives biographical information about Alexander as well as Internet links to where one may find more information about him. Various quotes and information from the sites are given beneath their URL. The author also critically evaluates and analyzes these Internet sites. In addition to learning about Alexander's life, the paper is also a lesson in efficient Internet searching.
From the Paper "The name Alexander the Great should tell anyone embarking on the study of a historical figure that this was someone who did important things during his time. In the study of historical figures one can choose to focus on a famous person or an infamous person with close to the same results. Lots of information exists about the historical person in question. Internet sources abound with biographical information, accomplishments, problems and other elements of that person's life. Now and again however, a historical person is so colorful that there is information that both exalts that person's life and criticizes it at the same time. This was the case with Alexander the Great. As a boy he was fearless, as a man he was powerful but according to many Internet research sites he also had a side of him that was extremely self centered and vain which prompted the actions he took. "
Tags:Alexander, the, Great, ancient, history, Hellenism, Internet, research
Abstract The author wrestles with Alexander the Greats' inclinations towards both good and evil in an attempt to show that he deserved the title: "Great". By comparing and contrasting, she is able to build a case that he was, indeed, as his name implies, 'Great'. With some interesting quotes from people that knew Alexander the Great personally.
From the Paper "Alexander the Great was a charismatic person who won the heart of the people he ruled throughout his short reign. He led them to victory against their enemies and had a generous nature. There was another side to Alexander though; he could be cruel, irrational and was known for his drunken rages. Despite his faults, Alexander's conquests, achievements and personal traits made him worthy of the title, ?the Great.? "
Tags:alexander, ancient, great, greece, greek, history, macedonia, military
Abstract This essay is about the life and times of Alexander Graham Bell. The author discusses his innovations and contributions to the progress of communication and global revolution.
From the Paper "Alexander Graham Bell lived in an era of rapid change. Change was occurring in every aspect of life including the economy, population, transportation, and communication. Even the people's needs and wants were changing. The era that he lived in was called the transportation and communication revolution. Bell is responsible for half of this revolution. His innovations in communication were of a global magnitude."
The essay examines the composition of the army that Alexander inherited from Philip II and looks at how he utilized the army in his four major battles during his campaign into Asia.
3,900 words (approx. 15.6 pages), 3 sources, 2002, $ 106.95
Abstract The paper explains why made Alexander the Great was one of the finest military commanders in history. The composition and organization of the army are analyzed and his tactics used in his four great battles.
From the Paper "Alexander the Great ascended to the throne at a time when the Macedonian empire was at a crossroads, yet within ten years of coming to power in 336BC Alexander was within striking distance of the Indus valley after destroying the greatest empire the world had ever seen up to that point. The noted military tactician and historian J.F.C Fuller says of Alexander's succession to the throne, ?When Philip was assassinated Alexander was barely twenty years of age and as yet so inexperienced and untried that it seemed to all Greece that the Macedonian empire was about to dissolve.? The description of Alexander by Arrian as "always masterly" says a lot of his capability as a general, but Alexander had inherited numerous advantages from Philip II. This essay will seek to demonstrate whether or not Alexander was a tactical genius or not, on and off the battlefield. I will now go on to discuss the advantages that Alexander had inherited from Philip II."
Tags:alexander, great, ii, macedonia, military, philip, tactics, war, 336BC, greece, philip, II, persia
Abstract This paper discusses the death of Alexander the Great. The paper puts forward the circumstance surrounding his death and the various versions of his death as recalled by various people and cultures.
Abstract A paper on Alexander the Great. The paper answers the following questions: Where was he born, who was he, did people like him? What did he accomplish during his reign and what was the outcome and consequences?
Abstract This paper discusses how the life of Alexander the Great is one of the most well-documented lives of the time, and within all of that documentation, there is a sense that Alexander was either a tyrant or a saint-like human. It looks at how the mystery of his existence is challenged by the propriety of the ancient writings and the individual author's ideal of the hero, whom the writer wished to portray. It also examines how the value of Michael Wood's documentary film, ?In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great,? lies in the extensive manner with which Wood discusses the differences between right and wrong in Alexander's time versus our own.
From the Paper "Reading the Works of Arrian, Curtius, Diodorus, and Plutarch, regardless of the modern language interpretations still leaves the reader with his or her own impressions of right and wrong. It is therefore difficult to address the man Alexander as a whole. The author's all tell the story as historians, yet in a very different tradition of history. The historic fable, the genre of its time does two things, it retells the story as it has been retold before, either through other older epic poetry histories or through legend mixed with the narrators own idea of right and wrong for their time."
Abstract The paper conveys how the author, Paul Cartledge, attempts to read the mind of Alexander, speculating what motivated the great military leader. The paper discusses how the author centers on Alexander's great passion for hunting game and how it helped contribute to his career and fame. The paper relates that the historical situation is detailed and extensive, which helps the reader come to understand Alexander's world as well as Alexander himself. The paper recommends this book to those who are interested in Alexander's life or military history.
From the Paper "The main historical figure in this biography is Alexander the Great, as most readers would imagine. The biography covers his life, but mostly discusses his motivations and accomplishments, and what motivated him to continue to conquer other lands. However, the author does weave short but compelling descriptions of other conquers who almost reached the status of Alexander, such as Julius Caesar, so other great leaders of the epoch do make at least an appearance in the book, which helps add to Alexander's stature and overall influence to the age."
Abstract This paper first discusses the content and inaccuracies of Plutarch's historical documentation of Alexander the Great. It compares Plutarch's ancient views to that of N. G. L. Hammond, a modern historian. It focuses specifically on the documentation of the first crisis during Alexander's reign, the attempted secession of the Greek city-state Thebes and how it was conquered.
From the paper:
"Thebes had wished to break free of the alliance Alexander had enforced upon the formerly independent Greek city-states, including Athens. With Athens? support, Thebes declared itself independent of The Greek League, Macedonia's "alliance" with Greece that demanded none of the League's cities enter conflict with Macedonia or any of the members of the League, and would support Macedonia in any action it would take against Persia. Alexander determined to bring back into the league. He accomplished this within hours, razing the city."
Abstract The paper discusses whether Alexander's victories were inevitable or not and if Darius could have been successful in defeating him. The paper explains that there is no doubt that Alexander the Great had a tremendous impact on the world. The paper shows how Alexander's uncanny grasp of human behavior, combined with his apparent belief that he was, if not immortal, at least touched by divinity, made him an extremely formidable opponent. The paper concludes that because he was so formidable, it is highly unlikely that Darius would have been able to prevent Alexander from taking over the Persian Empire.
From the Paper "However, what if Alexander's desire to conquer the world had been thwarted? There can be no doubt that the face of the modern world would be dramatically changed if Alexander had not conquered the Greek city-states, and then gone on to conquer the known world. Since his death more than 2000 years ago, there has been a tremendous amount of discussion about the impact of his victories. In contrast, relatively little attention has been paid to discussing whether Alexander's victories were inevitable. Instead, the inevitability of Alexander's success has been treated as if it was a given. This attitude overlooks two critical facts."
Abstract The paper begins with a short biography of Alexander the Great. The circumstances that led to the execution of Alexander's trusted general Parmenion and his son are outlined. Alexander's position and the effects that this event had on his life and his role as a leader are discussed.
From the Paper "Alexander the Great was born sometime around July 20th, in 356 B.C., the son of Philip II of Macedon and Olympias, in Pella. As a child, the great philosopher and scientist, Aristotle, tutored him. His father was murdered in 336 B.C., and Alexander took the throne at the young age of twenty. He was one of the greatest conquerors in history, taking over Greece, Persia, Egypt, and part of India before he died. "He was not yet twenty-six. In six years he had won greater victories than any hero in Greek history had won in a lifetime, and he had done it, at several turning-points, in the teeth of all advice from his generals and Companions" (Burn 175).
He considered himself a relative of the god Hercules, and insisted that the residents of his vast realm must prostrate themselves before him. His affinity for Hercules was understandable, since "Hercules was, first, the son of Zeus, yet he also was a mortal who became a god. Creating a parallel to the life of Hercules would further strengthen Alexander's claim to be divine" (Untereker, Kossuth, and Kelsey). Alexander died of a fever on June 10, 323 B.C., in Babylon. He was only thirty-three years old when he died, and much speculation has been made that his enemies poisoned him with wine."
Abstract This paper explores the life of Alexander the Great, first defining Alexander the Great at the apex of his philanthropy and the nadir of tyranny. The paper also examines all the definitions this king of Macedonia had to fulfill in between. The writer believes that Alexander was able to accomplish much in the relatively short time of his military career and bestowed greatness on the world at the time and after.
Contents:
Introduction
Political and Military Impositions on Philanthropy
Religious and Cultural Toleration
Cultural and Governmental Assimilation
Reforms in Finance
Conclusion
From the Paper "Thus, as Alexander advanced deeper into Asia, taking the Achaemenid Empire into his hands, he was continually faced with the tricky problem of how to balance his role as the "Lord of Asia" (for the Persians) and as the conquering general (for his fellow Greeks back home). In all that he attempted, he may have been divided not so much by all that he wanted to be, but by all that others expected him to be. In Macedonia, he was a quasi-constitutional king who was expected to honor the customary rights of other Macedonians."
Tags: greek, history, conquest, war, ancient, macedonia
Abstract This paper examines the divinity of Alexander - promoted both during and after his lifetime - and asks whether it was purely propaganda or whether he believed it, whether his peoples believed it and how they reacted to it. These questions are answered by investigating such incidents in Alexander's life as his visit to the Temple of Ammon, the aborted issue of proskynesis and more generally the behaviour of Alexander and those around him in relation to this matter.
From the Paper "Curtius is equally implicit about the manipulative and cagey nature of Alexander in the matter of Ammon. He relates that "Alexander was" goaded by an overwhelming desire to visit the temple of Jupiter ? dissatisfied with elevation on the mortal level, he either considered, or wanted others to believe, that Jupiter was his ancestor? and mentions the popular anecdote that ?As the king approached, he was addressed as "son" by the oldest of the priests, who claimed that this title was bestowed on him by his father Jupiter.? The fact that he was "goaded by an overwhelming desire" suggests that Alexander was constantly driving himself on. This is incidentally reminiscent of the modern-day army advert, where we are told that no one will push you harder than yourself!"
Abstract This paper examines how Alexander III (or 'the Great') conquered the land starting from Greece in the west to India in the east to create the largest empire the world had seen until that time. This was achieved in just thirteen years between his ascension to the Macedonian throne at age twenty to his death at Babylon on 10 June 323 BCE. One of the issues surrounding Alexander's reign that has long been discussed by historians is whether he planned his conquest of Asia or if he made it up as he went along. This paper evaluates and discusses both possibilities by taking a somewhat chronological approach to Alexander's life.
From the Paper "Alexander was the son of King Philip II of Macedon and Princess Olympias of Epirus. Both his parents had strong personalities and influenced their son in different ways. Olympias had a fiery temperament and did not tolerate Philip having other wives and lovers. As Alexander was close to his mother, this bred further discontent between himself and Philip, who had a difficult relationship right up until Philip was murdered. Most importantly however, Philip was someone Alexander could emulate and because of his "passionate desire for fame," Alexander would attempt to surpass his father wherever possible. Philip II reinvigorated a formerly weak kingdom in Macedon to create the most powerful state in Northern Greece . From his childhood, Alexander had a legacy to continue and he was eager to prove himself in any way. Even Philip himself noted his son's great aspirations and perhaps put ideas in Alexander head; "My boy, you must find a kingdom big enough for your ambitions. "
Abstract This paper is a discussion of Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan as the greatest rulers of all time, arguing that Alexander the Great was the greater ruler. It compares and contrasts the empires of both. The armies and military strategies of the two are also discussed.
From the Paper "Both men developed large empires and although Genghis? empire was larger, Alexander's proved to be more influential to civilizations and empires to come. Alexander had inherited his throne from his father Philip of Macedonia in 356BC at the age of 20. He continued in his father's campaign to rid Greece of the Persians, but he did not stop there. In the span of four years he had conquered all of Persia. By the time of his death, his empire spanned from the Adriatic Sea to India. His main objective was to create a common cultural exchange throughout the world. Due to the extensive trade routes in highly populated areas of that time, he was able to achieve his goal. He succeeded in establishing Greek as the universal language and was able to pass the Greek culture to other countries."
