Alexander had a troubled relationship with his parents, who fought often. He was educated by Aristotle and became a skilled soldier and philosopher. After his military successes, Alexander's ego grew and he saw himself as a hero and god-like figure. He had a short temper and drinking problems later in life. His traits of inflated self-esteem, arrogance, and belief that others should fear rather than love him classify him as a megalomaniac.

1. ALEXANDER:
MEGALOMANIAC
Social Studies for 9th E.G.B. | Teacher: Mauricio Torres

2. What is a Megalomaniac?
 "Megalomania is
characterized by an
inflated sense of self-
esteem and overestimation
by persons of their powers
and beliefs.”
 In order words, you think
you are too cool, and it is
perceived by others as
arrogance.
 These people don’t expect
to be loved by others, but
rather to be feared.

3. Troubled relationship between his parents
 Their marriage was very
stormy, Phillip's volatility and
Olympias' jealous temper had led
to a growing estrangement.
 Growing up, Alexander rarely saw
his father, who was usually
involved in long military
campaigns. Olympias, a fierce
and possessive
mother, dominated her son's
youth and filled him with a deep
resentment of his father.
 This caused great tensions
between Phillip, Olympias and
Alexander.

4. A soldier and a philosopher
 Philip hired Leonidas (not the Spartan
king) to train the youth in math, archery,
and horsemanship.
 Alexander's favorite tutor was
Lysimachus. He made a game in which
Alexander impersonated Achilles.
 In 343 Philip asked Aristotle, to tutor
Alexander. For three years, Aristotle taught
Alexander philosophy, government, politics,
poetry, drama, and the sciences.
 When Alexander was 16, he led his first
military attack against a rival tribe.
 In 338 he led the cavalry and helped his
father smash the forces of Athens and
Thebes, two Greek city-states.

5. Being a God
 After his successful campaigns, Alexander’s
ego grew bigger, drunk with glory.
 He saw himself as a hero, a re-incarnation of
Achilles himself.

6. Drinking Problem and Short
Temper
 Recent studies show that
Alexander “turned to the bottle to
escape personal inadequacy.”
 Alexander's drinking marathons
are legend: in one, he killed his
friend Cleitus, who had saved his
life in battle and had been one of
his father’s generals.
 Prof. John Maxwell says:
 'In the last seven years of his life,
Alexander became increasingly
unpredictable, megalomaniacal, and
paranoid. He was driven to
extremes of behaviour, followed by
intense remorse.'
 This study showed that these are all
the classic symptoms of

7. A Brilliant General
 In short:
 He never lost a battle and was always able to
adapt to different battlefields and enemies.

8. Small Facts II
 Alexander had a favorite horse
named Bucephalus. According
to a historian, Alexander was
12 years old when he won the
horse. No one could tame the
animal, but Alexander wanted
to try. He promised to pay for
the horse if he failed.
 Alexander succeeded by
turning the horse towards the
sun, so it couldn’t see its own
shadow, which was frightening
it.
 He loved the animal so
much, that when Bucephalus
died, Alexander named a city –
Bucephala – after the animal.

9. Small Facts III
 Phillip had improved the phalanx by adding the
sarissa, which was a longer spear that could be
used as a dissuasive weapon.

10. Ask yourself
 By reading the three “Small
Facts”, what can you tell
from Alexander’s
character?
 List down at least three
attributes of his persona.
 How did his parents
troubled relationship affect
him?
 How was he educated?
 What kind of problem
affected him at his final
stages of his life?
 What traits did Alexander
have that could classify
him as a megalomaniac?

11. Bibliography
 Ellis, E. G., & Esler, A. (2009). World History.
(P. Hall, Ed.) Upper Saddle River, New
Jersey, US: Pearson Education INC.
 Burstein, S. M., & Shek, R. (2012). World
History (Teacher´s Edition) (1st Edition ed.).
(H. McDougal, Ed.) Orlando, Florida, US.:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing
Company.
 Images taken from Google.