Alexander The Great

There is a larger picture encompassing the portrait of Alexander's career, however. It is not always a clear picture, nor does it consistently portray Alexander as "successful." By way of introduction to any discussion of his conquests, one must examine those different perspectives.

Alexander of Macedon (356-323 B.C.) no doubt stands as one of the central figures of history - Western and Eastern. He is "Alexander the Great" in European civilization. Central Asia mythologizes him as "Sikandar." The Middle East embraces his legends; Egypt still is honored by the city he founded, Alexandria. As far away as India the influence of this Alexander, under whatever syllables the local dialect chose to translate the name, still bears witness to the fact that his decade of Hellenic expansionism was the marking event of East-West contact in pre-Christian era civilization. Even critics of Alexander's ca

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ther stirrups nor saddles had yet been devised; the rider sat bareback or on a cloth. The cavalry soldier in those days was not like a medieval knight, leading an impact charge with a lance. Nor were the horses themselves particularly large; both Plutarch and Arrian note, describing Alexander leading his troops in the fording of a river in India, that the men walked chest-deep in water while the horses could scarcely keep their heads above. Cavalry, then, was a harrying force. Mobile archers could be employed upon horseback, or men with jabbing short spears (Alexander reputedly favored a sword). Generals such as Philip and Alexander, of course, used their horses to see and be seen everywhere. Still, a mounted force was not used to crack through an infantry attack from head-on, nor could it maneuver very well over rough terrain. These were the tools Alexander inherited from Philip - plus an education. Philip imported from Greece different tutors for his heir-apparent, including the philosopher-scientist Aristotle (384-322 B.C.). It is interesting to note that Aristotle was one of the "homeless" Greeks, his native city of Stagira in coastal Thrace had been destroyed by war while he was studying in Athens. Hence this teach
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Approximate Word count = 5786
Approximate Pages = 23 (250 words per page)

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