Alexander the Great - Early Civilizations

Roger A. Hayes
AC1106275
HS150 World Civilizations I
Assignment 02 “Early Civilizations”
August 8, 2011

Alexander of Macedon, commonly known as Alexander the Great, is widely considered to be one of the greatest military minds of history or, one of the greediest.   His conquest swept across the known world of his day. First of all, his reign began in 336 B.C.E and lasted until 323 B.C.E, after succeeding his father, King Phillip II, following his death. He then furthered his father’s campaign by, leading the army that had already been sent by Phillip, to occupy the opposite shores of the Hellespont. With an army of 30,000 men, he set out to conquer Arisbe, with success. Additionally, with Greece and the Balkan Peninsula under his control, in 334 B.C.E., Alexander then crossed the Hellespont and, as commander of an allied army, continued with the war on Persia that King Phillip II had in his sights. This was the beginning of one of the greatest advances in military history. At the Granicus River, he defeated the Persian forces and moved on to take Miletus and Halicarnassus. Persian forces had to battle a united Greece, and Alexander saw himself as the purveyor of Pan-Hellenic ideals to the world. After taking most of Asia Minor, in 333 B.C.E. he entered north Syria and met Darius III in the battle of Issus who ran after seeing his forces defeated. (Columbia Encyclopedia, 2008)

Alexander had a burning desire to conquer all of Persia so he then took Syria and Egypt. While in Egypt he founded the city of Alexandria, that still exist today.   In 331 B.C.E. in the battle of Guagamela, he encountered Darius III again. There Alexander again, became victorious. Battle after battle, Alexander always seemed to come out on top. His determination for world domination drove his desire for more. His strict rule, and conquer hungry attitude, was taking its toll on the relationship between he and most of his men. Finally, after domination of Bactria and Sogdiana, his...