Alexander the Great

Max Miller

Alexander the “Great”

 

Hearing the name “Alexander the Great” might get people to think of an omnipotent being, someone so powerful that he is worthy of having great in his name. When people are asked about great ancient civilization the majority of people asked are going to answer with a civilization that still has relevance in today's world like ancient Athens and the olympics, Ancient china and the great wall, Ancient egypt and the great pyramids. The longer a civilization exists the more “great” it is considered. That is why the 7 Wonders of the World that are still standing today are most associated with “great” ancient civilizations and some of the first things people think of when talking about ancient times. In short most of the most successful civilizations are the civilizations that last the longest. Alexander's empire only lasted for roughly 13 years which is why he is unfit to be called “Alexander the Great” when his empire lasted for such a short time compared to other great ancient empires.

Alexander the Alcoholic is a more fitting name for the leader than Alexander the great. Alexander was a well known drinker, commonly known for his drunk rampages after battles. Cleitus the Black was a macedonian general who aided Alexander and his men in the battle of Granicus. An article written by a professor at Lincoln college shows how Cleitus’s aid helped Alexander and his men survive a crucial battle against darius. “Another persian commander, raised his own weapon to attack Alexander but Cleitus the Black attacked him first severing the commander's arm, saving Alexander's life” (Battle of Granicus by: Donald L. Wasson). Known as a hero amongst the Macedonian army and someone Alexander was forever to be in debt in, his glory was short lived after being killed by Alexander in one of his drunken rages only a couple years later shown in the painting “The killing of Cleitus”(Andre Castaigne 1898). How can someone be considered “great” when they frequently get sloppy drunk to a point where they kill one of their generals over a simple disagreement. These are definitely not the actions of someone who is considered to be a hero, and one of many reasons why Alexander should not be considered as someone “Great”.

“The Killing of Cleitus”

Ancient egypts first civilization lasted 550 years, ancient greece lasted 350 years and ancient china lasted for over 2000 years. All of those civilizations left something behind, something that resembles the height in human accomplishment at that time, the great pyramids, the great wall of china. But what did Alexander's empire leave behind? “Alexander's empire was little more than a vast territory improperly ruled by the king and his bureaucrats. Nations and peoples did not blend harmoniously together but were governed by Macedonians for their King. The empire collapsed at his death, and nations and generals vied for power.” (Alexander the Great by: Ulrich Wilken). This modern interpretation of Alexander’s empire supports my argument that Alexander’s kingdoms were nothing more than territory that was loosely governed. That when Alexander died everything that he had built fell apart, unlike a truly great empire that continues to thrive long after being created.

Painting of Alexander on his deathbed (ironically enough he was rumored to have died from alcohol poisoning).  

“I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.” (Alexander the Great). This quote from Alexander himself shows that his army is merely a group of “sheep” led by himself, a self acknowledged “lion”. A true leader is someone who who treats their soldiers as equals and does not think of them as below himself. These are the words of an egotistical leader that thinks too highly of himself. Definitely not the actions of a truly great leader.

Alexander the “great” might be one of the most overrated historical characters of all time. His empire in one of the shortest empires to exist and disintegrated upon his death, while drunk he killed one of his most loyal allies over a simple disagreement, and he thought of his army as a bunch of sheep while he was nothing without them. This is not the legacy of someone “great”, this is the legacy of a drunk egotistical failure. Which is why Alexander is without a doubt NOT someone that should considered someone “great”.

Basic Research:

"Alexander the Great." ABC-CLIO, ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/

    706351?terms=Alexander+the+Great&sType=quick. Accessed 29 Sept. 2016.

"Alexander the Great." ABC-CLIO, ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/

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"Ancient Macedonia." ABC-CLIO, ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/

    575648?terms=Alexander+the+Great&sType=quick.

"Ancient Persia." Salem Press, online.salempress.com/

    articleDetails.do?bookId=274&articleName=GLAW_3611012011&searchText=Alexander%20t

    he%20Great&searchOperators=any&category=History.

"Darius III." ABC-CLIO Database, ABC-CLIO, ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/

    Display/1444277?terms=Alexander+the+Great&sType=quick. Accessed 21 Sept.

    2016.

Quotes, Artifacts and Pictures

"Alexander's Empires." Alexander's Empires, by Ulrich M. Wilken. Ancient

    Encyclopedia, www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Alexander_the_Great.aspx.

    Originally published in Alexander the Great.

"Alexander the Great on His Deathbed." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras,  ABC-CLIO,     2016, ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/706351. Accessed 28 Sept. 2016.

Wasson, Donald L. "Battle of Granicus." Alexander the Great. Ancient History

    Encyclopedia, www.ancient.eu/Battle_of_the_Granicus/. Originally

    published in Ancient History Encyclopedia.

Alexander the Great Meme. Google Images, Google, www.google.com/

    search?q=alexander+the+great+meme&rlz=1C1NHXL_enUS705US705&espv=2&biw=1280&bih=61

    4&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi7sK7a57LPAhWCJiYKHXdqBuwQ_AUIBigB#tbm=isc

    h&q=alexander+the+great+quotes&imgrc=5ON7F2wyi6l5bM%3A. Accessed 29 Sept.

    2016.