First, the basic background
Alexander the Great, 20 July 356 BCE—13 June 323 BC
Nationality: Greek (Kingdom of Macedonia)
Profession: Emperor, military strategist, politician
Alexander's route to battle
II. Conquest and Territorial Expansion
In 13 years, it conquered about 5 million square kilometers of territory, from Greece and Macedonia, to the Indus Valley in the east, to the first waterfall of the Nile River in the south, and to the Syr Darya River in the north.
He conquered Greece and Egypt, destroyed the Persian Empire, and established Alexander's Empire.
Scope of Conquest: In just 13 years, Alexander the Great conquered vast areas from Greece to the east, including the Persian Empire, Egypt, Central Asia, and the Indus Valley.
Alexander (still)
Specific regions include:
1. Persian Empire: Alexander first challenged the supremacy of the Persian Empire in Asia Minor, successfully conquered Asia Minor, and defeated the army of the Persian prince Dario III at the Battle of Issus.
2. Egypt: In Egypt, Alexander founded the city of Alexandria, which was loved and supported by the Egyptians, while he also captured the ports of Memphis and Alexandria, and took control of Egypt's fortresses and shipping lines.
3. Central Asia: Alexander the Great made further conquests to the east, occupying Hilcania, Ariana, and other places, and finally marched south to begin his eastward conquest of India.
4. India: In India, despite the stubborn resistance of the local tribes, Alexander still managed to achieve some success.
Statue of Alexander
3. Integration of politics and culture
1. Political integration: In the process of conquest, Alexander did not take compulsory political integration measures, but respected the local culture and traditions, adopted a policy of gentleness, and co-opted and used the upper nobles in various places, appointing them as county guards, showing respect for local institutions and customs. This policy helped to reduce revolts and rebellions, consolidating Alexander's rule.
2. Cultural integration: Alexander's conquest not only brought about territorial expansion, but also promoted the exchange and integration of Eastern and Western cultures. He encouraged intermarriage between ethnic groups and advocated equality of status among ethnic groups, which made the ancient Greek civilization widely spread and prospered, and opened the era of Hellenism.
Statue of Alexander the Great
Fourth, military achievements
As a teenager, he studied under the ancient Greek scholar Aristotle.
At the age of 16, his father ruled Macedonia, and at the age of 20, he became king.
1. Military talent: Alexander the Great, with his outstanding military talent and strategic vision, successfully commanded many battles and repeatedly performed miracles on the battlefield. He employed advanced tactics and combinations of arms, such as spears and cavalry, which enabled his army to win multiple battles.
2. Military organization: Alexander also committed to establishing an efficient military organization and a perfect material support system, innovatively established a military organization composed of professional troops and generals, and adopted management methods such as split command and divisional rule.
3. Unified the whole territory of Greece, and then led an army to invade the east, defeating the Persian Imperial army in the Battle of the Granicus River, the Battle of Issus, and the Battle of Gaugamela.
In the course of 13 years of conquest, there was not a single defeat.
5. Evaluation and impact
The first of the four major (one to say seven) military commanders in Western history, he is known as one of the greatest military strategists in human history.
Alexander the Great, through military conquests and cultural exchanges, greatly contributed to the integration and development of the East and the West.
Despite the controversy, he is undoubtedly one of the most influential figures in human history.