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Alexander the Great Essay

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Alexander the Great Alexander the Great or Alexandros III Philippou Makedonan was born in July 356BC in Pella, Macedonia (Popovic intro). He conquered what was in his time, most of the civilized world. “Alexander accomplished greater deeds than any, not only of the kings before him but also of those later to come later down to our time (popovic intro).” He was one of the greatest military geniuses in the history of the world. Both of Alexander’s parents always dreamed of him someday being a great leader. Alexander’s mother was named Olympias, she was princess of Epirus, a small provincial kingdom. She was the high priestess of a religious cult. She believed that she was descended from …show more content…

Growing up, Alexander was trained in the art of war. He learned sword fighting, javelin throwing, horseback riding, and archery (Townson 3). He was well known for his ablility to tame horses. Alexander had the best education possible in his time. The great philosopher Aristotle taught him. Aristotle taught him about literature, and introduced him to science, philosophy, and medicine which he became interested in. His favorite work of literature was The Iliad, by Homer. Every night he slept with it and a dagger under his pillow (Townson 3). Soon he would be able to put all of his drive, ambition, and education to work. Phillip was assassinated in July 336BC on the way to the theater with his brother-in-law, Alexander of Epirus, by a Macedonian soldier, (Popovic death of Phillip). After this event , at the age of twenty Alexander quickly and firmly took charge of his father’s army, faster than anyone had ever thought possible (Popovic death of Phillip). Alexander quickly executed all of his enemies and people that had any chance of claiming the thrown; among these were Attulus, a general who claimed that his nephew was the rightful heir and Phillip’s other wife and child. There are stories that Olympia, Alexander’s mother tortured them to death (Wepman 37). After Phillip’s death Sparta and Thessaly claimed independence from Greece. Alexander quickly marched 30,000 men

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