1. 24 April 2014 [Rizal M Suhardi ^ Alexander the Great ^]
Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great, born in 356 BCE in Pella, Macedonia, was the son of Philip of
Macedon and Princess Olympias of Epirus. As a young boy he was always fearless, strong,
and eager to learn. He went on to inherit each of his parents best qualities. His father was an
excellent general and organizer, while his mother was extremely intelligent. At the age of
thirteen he became a pupil of Aristotle. It was Aristotle who inspired Alexander's great love
for literature. Through his mentor Alexander learned the Greek ways of living and the ideals
of Greek civilization. However, it was not all work and no play for the young Alexander. He
spent a great deal of time participating in sports and daily exercise to develop a strong body.
At a fairly young age Alexander was given many responsibilities. His father made
him his ambassador to Athens when he was eighteen. Two years later he became the King of
Macedonia. During this time the Greek states had become restless under Macedonian rule.
While Alexander was away fighting, the people of Thebes seized the opportunity and
revolted. When Alexander returned he attacked the city and destroyed almost everything in
sight. This dissipated any further attempts at rebellion and Alexander quickly united the
Greek cities and formed the League of Nations, of which he became president.
Soon after this victory, Alexander set out to conquer Persia. On the banks of the
Granicus River Alexander quickly defeated the Persian troops who had been waiting for him.
This victory made the rest of Asia Minor vulnerable. In 333 BCE Alexander marched into
Syria. Even though Darius III, King of Persia, had raised a large army he was unable to
withstand Alexander's powerful infantry and phalanx. The entire region soon submitted to
Alexander. Following this he went to Egypt, where he was welcomed as a deliverer because
the Egyptians hated their cruel Persian rulers. It was here that Alexander founded the famous
city that bears his name. Alexandria, situated on a strip of land between Lake Mareotis and
the Mediterranean Sea, became a world center of commerce and learning.
Alexander was soon drawn into battle with the Persians again. In the decisive Battle
of Gaugamela, Alexander routed Darius and forced his entire army east. After this the city of
Babylon surrendered, which allowed Alexander to easily capture Susa and Persepolis. Darius
was soon killed by one of his generals which made Alexander King of Asia. He did not rest
for long, as he had set his sights on India. In 326 BCE Alexander defeated Porus, the prince
of India.
Alexander was now at the height of his power. His empire stretched from the Ionian
Sea to northern India. However, Alexander had even greater plans. He wanted to combine
Asia and Europe into one country, and named Babylon the new capital. In order to attain this
goal he encouraged intermarriages, did away with corrupt officials, and spread Greek ideas,
customs, and laws into Asia. The great and many plans that he had abruptly came to an end.
While in Babylon Alexander became seriously ill with malaria and on June 13, 323 BCE he
died. During his time he conquered most of the civilized world and has been remembered as
one of the greatest generals in history.
Alexander III of Macedon, better known as Alexander the Great, single-handedly changed the
nature of the ancient world in little more than a decade.

2. 24 April 2014 [Rizal M Suhardi ^ Alexander the Great ^]
Alexander was born in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia in July 356 BC. His parents
were Philip II of Macedon and his wife Olympias. Alexander was educated by the
philosopher Aristotle. Philip was assassinated in 336 BC and Alexander inherited a powerful
yet volatile kingdom. He quickly dealt with his enemies at home and reasserted Macedonian
power within Greece. He then set out to conquer the massive Persian Empire.
Against overwhelming odds, he led his army to victories across the Persian territories
of Asia Minor, Syria and Egypt without suffering a single defeat. His greatest victory was at
the Battle of Gaugamela, in what is now northern Iraq, in 331 BC. The young king of
Macedonia, leader of the Greeks, overlord of Asia Minor and pharaoh of Egypt became 'great
king' of Persia at the age of 25.
Over the next eight years, in his capacity as king, commander, politician, scholar and
explorer, Alexander led his army a further 11,000 miles, founding over 70 cities and creating
an empire that stretched across three continents and covered around two million square miles.
The entire area from Greece in the west, north to the Danube, south into Egypt and as far to
the east as the Indian Punjab, was linked together in a vast international network of trade and
commerce. This was united by a common Greek language and culture, while the king himself
adopted foreign customs in order to rule his millions of ethnically diverse subjects.
Alexander was acknowledged as a military genius who always led by example,
although his belief in his own indestructibility meant he was often reckless with his own life
and those of his soldiers. The fact that his army only refused to follow him once in 13 years
of a reign during which there was constant fighting, indicates the loyalty he inspired. He died
of a fever in Babylon in June 323 BC.
Critical Thinking Questions
 Do you think that there is any possibility that Alexander’s death was a
complot?
 Do you believe that Alexander ambition lead him to do mostly good or bad
things for the humanity?
 Do you believe that the death of King Phillip of Macedonia was planned by
Alexander or Olympias or both?
 Do you think that Aristotle influenced Alexander later ideas, goals and
conquests? If yes how?
 Why do you think Alexander was kind of obsessed with Greek culture?
"LORD OF ASIA"
Soon, Alexander began taking Persian territory. At Issus, he faced the 600,000 men
of Persia's King Darius III. Alexander's great daring as a battlefield genius won the day.
Darius fled, stranding his mother, wife, and daughters. Alexander treated the women kindly.
By doing this, he showed respect for Darius as a fellow warrior, and may have symbolically
laid claim to Darius's throne.
Alexander then pushed south and east. In the places that welcomed him, he
proclaimed himself liberator, not conqueror. But cities that resisted were shown no mercy.

3. 24 April 2014 [Rizal M Suhardi ^ Alexander the Great ^]
Defeating the Phoenician (fuh-NIHSH-un) city of Tyre after a seven-month siege, Alexander
sold the women and children into slavery. In Egypt, he was crowned Pharaoh. There, he
founded Alexandria--the first of many cities to which he gave his name.
In 331 B.C., Alexander defeated Darius at the battle of Gaugamela. The following
year, he captured Persepolis, Darius's capital. When Darius was later found murdered by
one of his own generals, Alexander proclaimed himself "Lord of Asia." Still, Alexander kept
pushing east, taking on all armies in his path. Inspired by his bravery, his soldiers
worshipped him. Yet, as the years passed and deaths mounted, many of them began to
grumble. How long would this campaign go on? The Macedonian soldiers were also
offended when Alexander adopted Persian ways, wearing "barbarian" clothes. He even
married an Asian princess, Roxanna of Bactria (see map, p. 14).
"TO THE STRONGEST"
Alexander began to imagine that people were plotting against him. More often, he
gave into a cruel streak. He found an excuse to kill one of his best generals, with whom he
was feuding.
In time, he declared himself a god. In the summer of 327 B.C., Alexander invaded India. A
year later, after a costly victory at Hydaspes (hye-DAS-peez), his soldiers refused to go any
farther. Alexander took to his tent to pout. Legends say that he wept because there were no
more worlds for him to conquer. After three days, the great leader finally agreed to turn
back.
Alexander eventually returned to Babylon, which he had seized in 331 B.C. But after
many battles and wounds, his body was worn out. In 323 B.C., he was overcome by a fever
and died. He was 32. Alexander's generals had asked him to whom he would leave his
empire. "To the strongest," he had said. But there was no one that strong. By 300 B.C.,
Alexander's vast empire had split into several independent states. Still, his accomplishments
were enormous. Mythical tales have made Alexander a romantic hero. He was also one of
the greatest military commanders the world has ever seen.
READING A HISTORICAL MAP
Alexander came from Macedonia, a region north of Greece on the Balkan Peninsula.
In ancient times, Macedonia struggled with the city-states of Greece for influence. The most
important of these cities was Athens, which resented the power that Macedonia achieved
under Alexander's father, Philip II.
Pushing east into Asia, Alexander took on the Persian Empire, then more than two
centuries old. By the time Alexander died in 323 B.C., he had conquered a stretch of Asia
through present-day Pakistan and into India. (This month, an earthquake centered in the
mountainous Kashmir area of Pakistan killed more than 30,000 people. See page 4.) Study
the historical map above, then answer the following questions.