Alexander the Great by Allyssa GARDNER

gar0019 — 2014-07-25 02:28:34 UTC

To most people this would seem really dramatic, that he just had his enemies executed and did not try to work anything out with them.

Alexander's Horse, Bucephalus

gar0019 — 2014-07-31 00:30:42 UTC

Plutarch tells us the story of wondrous horse, Bucephalus, the horse that Alexander the Great rode for thousands of miles and through many battles to create his mighty empire.

The legend begins with Philoneicus, a Thessalian bringing a wild horse to Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great. Philip was angry at Phinoneicus for bringing such an unstable horse to him but Alexander had watched Bucephalus and set his father, Philip, a challenge. Although Alexander was only 12 years old he had noticed that Bucephalus was shying away from his own shadow. Alexander gently led Bucephalus into the sun so that his shadow was behind him. Eventually Bucephalus allowed Alexander to ride him, much to the public humiliation of Philip. Philip gained face by commenting "Look thee out a kingdom equal to and worthy of thyself, for Macedonia is too little for thee". Alexander named the horse Bucephalus because the horse's head seemed "as broad as a bulls".

Bucephalus, the mighty stallion, died of battle wounds in 326B.C in Alexander's last battle. Alexander founded the city of Bucephala (thought to be the modern town of Jhelum, Pakistan) in memory of his wonderful horse.

http://www.alexander-the-great.co.uk/bucephalus.htm

The Death of His Horse

gar0019 — 2014-07-31 00:30:59 UTC

In the spring of 327 BC, Alexander and his army marched into India invading Punjab. The greatest of Alexander's battles in India was at the river Hydaspes, against king Porus, one of the most powerful Indian rulers. In the summer of 326 BC, Alexander's army crossed the heavily defended river during a violent thunderstorm to meet Porus' forces. The Indians were defeated in a fierce battle, even though they fought with elephants, which the Macedonians had never seen before. Porus was captured and like the other local rulers he had defeated, Alexander allowed him to continue to govern his territory.

In this battle Alexander's horse Bucephalus was wounded and died. Alexander had ridden Bucephalus into every one of his battles in Europe and Asia, so when it died he was grief-stricken. He founded a city which he named Buckephalia, in his horse's name.

http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/AncientMacedonia/AlexandertheGreat.html

gar0019 — 2014-08-08 01:26:12 UTC

gar0019 — 2014-08-08 01:27:23 UTC

gar0019 — 2014-08-08 01:30:40 UTC

gar0019 — 2014-08-08 01:38:36 UTC

It is interesting that Alexander was able to train the horse that no-one else could train. It is shocking because he was also only 12 years old.

gar0019 — 2014-08-08 01:47:49 UTC

The horses death was sad. It was very thoughtful for Alexander to name a city after the horse but it was also dramatic.

And it was the kind of thing a king
would do

Birth and Death

gar0019 — 2014-08-08 02:05:05 UTC

Alexander was born in 356 BC in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia. He was son of Philip II, King of Macedonia, and Olympias, the princess of neighboring Epirus. He died of a fever in Babylon in 323 BC. He died before he could see his accomplishments.

First Task on the Throne

gar0019 — 2014-08-08 02:12:29 UTC

Once he ascended on the Macedonian throne, Alexander quickly disposed of all of his domestic enemies by ordering their execution. But soon he had to act outside Macedonia. Philip’s death caused series of rebellions among the conquered nations and the Illyrians, Thracians, and Greeks saw a chance for independence. Alexander acted swiftly. He forced his way into Greece despite the roads leading to the country being blocked by the Thessalians. As soon as he restored Macedonian rule in northern Greece, he marched into southern Greece. His speed surprised the Greeks and by the end of the summer 336 BC they had no other choice but to acknowledge his authority.

gar0019 — 2014-08-08 02:13:40 UTC

It is interesting that Alexander died before he could see the accomplishments he had made and the effect he had made on history.

If It Wasn't For Alexander the Great

gar0019 — 2014-08-08 02:16:11 UTC

In my opinion without Alexander the Great many people would not make an attempt at cultural unity which is what Alexander strived for. Life would be very different for many people. Our world would be divided between nations, more than it already is. Also, many
things that contain Greek culture would not be so as much of the Greek culture was spread by Alexander the Great. Greece would also not have been bound together as one(instead of city-states) whether this is a good or bad thing.

What Alexander Acheived

gar0019 — 2014-08-11 06:22:22 UTC

Alexander conquered many countries. He conquered what was then the known world. He conquered all of Greece and even conquered many places that no other could conquer. He conquered an empire that stretched from the Balkans to modern-day Pakistan. Alexander was , in my opinion, one of the greatest leaders of all time. Alexander's father, Philp, conquered Greece in 338 BCE then Alexander went on to conquer Issus, Gaugamela and Persepolis, in Persia and Porus in India, from 333-326 BCE. When Alexander died, his empire fractured into 3 main parts, Macedon(including Greece), Egypt, and the Seleucid Empire(from Syria to Afghanistan). The age of the Greek city-states ended with Alexander, but he was devoted to greek culture and spread it through the east. The Greek ideas were spread far beyond Greek shores and were passed down through time.

gar0019 — 2014-08-18 05:51:45 UTC

Alexander conquered many places and I think he is one of the greatest conquerors of all time. Not only did he make all of those people bow down to him but he also spread the culture that he loved, which did a lot for us today.

Alexander's Parents and Child

gar0019 — 2014-08-18 06:27:04 UTC

Alexander's father was Philip II, the king of Macedonia, who put together a great army and crushed his foes. Under his superb political leadership, the once fractious Greek city-states codified into a confederation. He controlled everything and used the Corithian League for his own conquests.

One of Philips many wives was Olympia, Alexander's mother and Daughter of the late king Epirus. It was due to no small feat on her own part, that her son, the young crowned prince, succeeded as mightily as he did. She had an iron will, and did everything to protect and advance Alexander's interests, constantly instilling the notion of greatness.

Alexander IV, was Alexander the Great's child. He is often called in modern times Aegus, was the son of Alexander the Great and Princess Roxana of Bactria. Alexander IV was killed at the age of 12 when a man named Cassander realised he was going to be denied the throne he order the death of Alexander IV and his mother

gar0019 — 2014-08-18 06:27:50 UTC

Alexander had royal blood on both sides. It is also interesting that both of Alexander's parents affected his life so much and made him the man he was.

Alexander's Schooling

gar0019 — 2014-08-18 10:10:46 UTC

When Alexander was thirteen, Philip, to this point, had not much involved in his son's upbringing, decided to choose a tutor for him. The result would become one of the most famous mentors-student relationships in history. Philip's reasons for choosing Aristotle were not purely academic. First, there was Aristotle's family connection: his father had served as court physician to an earlier Macedonian king. Moreover, Aristotle had previously served in the court of Hermeias in Atarneus, and an alliance there would be useful for Philip's plans to invade Persia.

The position suited Aristotle as well. Not only did it offer a high honor and the chance to pursue his research under the most powerful of the Greek states, but it also gave him the opportunity to influence the development of that state's future leader. As the ultimate payment, Philip also restored Aristotle's native city of Stagira, which he had himself conquered years before.

Alexander's education took place in a setting removed from the capital city of Pella, in the more isolated village of Mieza, within the so-called Precinct of the Nymphs.

gar0019 — 2014-08-18 10:30:14 UTC

It is interesting that Philip chose Aristotle partly for his own gain not just for the wellbeing of his son. It would also be interesting to see if it affected Alexander's future life to start being taught at the age of thirteen where as most Australian children are taught at the age of six.