Who in history deserves to be named great, and what is greatness compared to normality? Greatness is leading the world through a significant change that was create by reaching their mountainous personal goals. Alexander’s personal attributes such as intelligence, ferocity, compassion and compassion for other people gave him the abilities to reach goals impossible for other people in that time. This is also like the song, Chasing the Song. He created one of the most significant changes in culture throughout the Mediterranean territory and eastern Asia. He did this by attacking one of the strongest ancient civilizations in history, but was only able to because he brought together Macedonia and unified the rest of Greece, Persia. He had the attributes to do that because he was strong and smart enough to know what to do, how to do it, and to do what it took.
Alexander once said to Diogenes and recorded by Plutarch, during an assembly of the Greeks to at the Isthmus of Corinth to determine captain, “If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.”(Plutarch) During the meeting, he was unanimously voted to be the captain-general of the Greek army, and afterward he spoke to the Greek philosopher and be congratulated by him. Alexander asked Diogenes if he needed anything, and Diogenes responded to him, once again recorded by Plutarch “Only stand a little out of my sunshine”(Plutarch) This show that Diogenes thinks of Alexander and other people as equals, and while Alexander was not overly devoted to this process of thinking, he did not believe that he was a god or demigod himself living among normal people. He did have a sense of humility, and did wish to be praised by some people not because they should, but because they think that Alexander is the right person for the job. Alexander know the value of a human life, and that one reason why Alexander was a great leader.
Alexander did know the value of a human life, and which proves that he was more ferocious than anybody else to take a life to achieve his goal, to destroy Persia. Alexander was willing to take the step to free the world from the Persian empire, who had attacked Greece once before. He unified Greece lead it with an iron fist and was victorious at one province he visited, Egypt. This was once written by the philosopher Arrian, “His fleet had also set sail from Phoenicia to Egypt; and he found the ships already moored at Pelusium. When Mazacs the Persian, whom Darius had appointed viceroy of Egypt ascertained how the battle at Issus had resulted, that Darius [III] had fled in disgraceful flight, and that Phoenicia, Syria, and most of Arabia were already in Alexander's possession, as he had no Persian force with which he could offer resistance, he admitted Alexander into the cities and the country in a friendly way.”(Arrian) Alexander and his army was so strong and terrifying that the entire country surrendered and allowed them in unconditionally. Mazacs may not have had any force to fight against Alexander, but since Darius fled, he was already thinking of surrendering. The strength that Alexander possessed made the Egyptians crowns Alexander as his pharaoh. Alexander not only invaded and conquered the Egyptians, but they actually started to accept Alexander as their ruler. This gave Alexander another extra push to keep chasing the unbelievable. The strength that Alexander not only comes from his heart, but from his mind as well.
Alexander was a extremely intelligent man, one of the most important reasons that the Macedonians defeated Persia. Alexander’s amazing skills in the field of military tactics were proved brilliant as show through the success of every single battle that Alexander won. Especially with the size of the army he had to work with, he achieved unsurpassed goals to this day. This mainly originates from Aristotle being Alexander’s personal tutor. Once Aristotle started tutoring Alexander, his intelligence started to show. This was his biggest step toward greatness, because all of the great people of history have been intelligent such as George Washington, Bill Gates, and Christopher Columbus. “I hear from all that you are a lover of your kind, a lover of Athens, and a lover of wisdom; not pursuing an idle and foolish, but a prudent and intelligent course: that you do not bestow your regard upon such of our citizens as have no concern for their own solid interests, giving themselves up to their evil propensities, but upon those with whom the strictest intercourse and communion imparts no taint or injury to the principles of their associates…”(Isocrates) Isocrates wanted to tutor Alexander instead of Aristotle because of all of these great signs of intelligence. Alexander loved knowledge and tried to chose the logical way of making decisions. Also, Isocrates was a very successful educator, with many famous students, and he volunteered to tutor Alexander because of his intelligence. Alexander was smart enough to find and follow the path to his goal, even destroying the Persian Empire. He said that he was proud of Alexander for learning because he wanted to instead of having to learn as the heir to the throne.
Alexander lead the world through significant change because he believed that something was wrong and set out to eradicate that wrong, Persia. He did what he did to do to get his goal accomplished, and no less than what was need. The legacy that he left behind after he died still lives in the world today. He adopted and spread Persian culture throughout the world during his lifetime while he conquered his lands. He may not have meant to have such an impact on the world, but he did, and when he lead that part of the world into a new era, he had to leave the old one behind. His intelligence, strength, courage, and compassion for other people made him the great person that many people admire and aspire to today.
Works Cited
"Plutarch: Alexander the Great meets Diogenes of Sinope, Life of Alexander." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras.ABC-CLIO, 2015. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.
"Isocrates: letter to the young Alexander the Great (ca. 342 BCE)." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO,2015. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.
"Arrian: Alexander the Great founds Alexandria, Egypt." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2015. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.
