For the historic figure Alexander, it is a question of if he was corrupted by all his power. He started as a successor to the throne after his father passed away in Greece. From there his ambition gr
ew and he had decided to take on the world. His campaign would span almost ten years of bloody conflict and destruction. Alexander used whatever means available to him to gain more power.
Alexander started off in being born in Greece. He was born in 356 B.C. and died in 323 B.C. Alexander was the apprentice of the great philosopher Aristotle. Alexander was given a classical Greek education. Aristotle had radically different views of physical science. He also had many important conclusions in the field of logic. He changed how the rest of the theories about Western philosophy would develop (
http://www.in2greece.com/english/historymyth/history/ancient/aristotle.htm). Alexander’s mother was named Pella and his father was Philip II of Macedon. Philip had control over most of the city states that made up Greece. Philip was murdered when Alexander was 19 years old. Alexander then took the throne and had control over his father’s entire kingdom (see picture #1 from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alexander1256.jpg). Alexander was then known as Alexander III of Macedon. Alexander’s first act was to have the men who murdered his father killed. Alexander then led a large scale campaign so that he could expand the empire left by his father. The Persians attacked Greece, burned down Athens, and destroyed the Acropolis many years earlier. They also attacked Greek colonies on the coast. I believe that this injustice is what was fueling Alexander. Also he had an obsession to rule the known world and this would be powerful propaganda for recruiting Greek soldiers. He might have gone on his campaign to avenge the Greek empires attack by the Persians. Alexander’s lust for power would take him and his men far to the east (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great).
Alexander can’t resist the power the Persian Empire controls. He decided that he would be the first to conquer the Persian Empire which was the largest empire of its time (see picture #2 from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BattleofIssus333BC-mosaic-detail1.jpg). He would first go on a journey to try to prepare for this conquest. His fist order of business was to visit Troy. Then he traveled to Egypt. On the way to Egypt, while he was in a small town with his men when, he heard a local legend. The legend is if anyone can untie the knot that is in a cart in the field then they will confer the world. Many have tried and failed. His men think it is a poor idea but Alexander tries it anyway. He takes his sword and chops the knot in half. Once Alexander reaches Egypt he is greeted as a hero because he hates the Persians. He takes some men and goes to an oasis. At the oasi
s there is an oracle. The priest there greets him as the son of God. This is his final quest to prove he can take on the Persian Empire. He then took on the Persians in several major battles which usually resulted in Persian defeat. He took his men through Egypt, Syria, Persia, Mesopotamia, and Bactria. He overthrew the king of Persia who was named Darius III. To gain the trust of his new empire he hunted down and killed Bessus who was the man that betrayed Darius. He then took control of the entire Persian Empire. Alexander adopted the clothes of a Persian Emperor and even took a Persian wife. He tried to invade India but he met heavy resistance and decided to turn around. Alexander later died in Babylon (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great).
Alexander seems to have been corrupted by all his power but he managed to stay in control of his empire. It could be that his thirst for power was what took him westward. Power can corrupt you. It centers all your decisions on acquiring more strength power and wealth. Some great men can overcome this corruption but for others like Alexander it can lead to their down fall. Alexander’s drive for more power is what leads to his death at the age of only 32. Alexander created of one of the largest empires ever in the ancient world. Even though Alexander only lived to be 32 years of age but his impact was felt for centuries after his death. Alexander became so well known and famous in antiquity because of his many conquests and his skilled military tactical abilities. He also spread Greek culture and civilization to the East. He is remembered for his many battles and victories over the Persian army. He overthrew the king of Persia and conquered the whole Persian Empire. Alexander is remembered through history not only for his military cunning but for this vast empire that expanded far past Greece (
http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/AncientMacedonia/AlexandertheGreat.html).
Sources:
Aristotle. Web. 22 Feb. 2010.
Picture sources:
BattleofIssus333BC-mosaic-detail1.jpg. Web. 25 Feb. 2010.
The Roman Republic has a very bloody beginning. The Romans conquer the world because of the new freedom given by the republic. The Romans started the republic so a king couldn't be he sole person in charge. This was a very successful plan that split up the power. The stories about this period are about the combination of individuals and community. The Romans were very organized and powerful. The Romans were able to conquer the new world even though they were a not well known power when they started. The Romans were powerful because of there strong military and there strong constitution with checks and balances. The Romans bring in the conquered people as part of there republic. The history of the roman republic is filled with major victories but also major defeats. The Roman Republic gained its strength and was very successfully because of its new form of government. also the Republic would not have been that stable without checks and balances.
