MINOOKA COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT #111Social Studies Honors Application

Pre-AP Intro to World History & Geography Application

Directions: 1. Read the packet on Alexander the Great. 2.Usetheevidenceinthepacketto:fillinthechart,completethemultiple-choice questionsandwriteathree-paragraphessay. 3.Turninpages1,3-4inpacketandyouressay/workscited.

Chart:Checkagreeordisagreeforeachstatementthendefendyourposition. Statement Agree Disagree Why?-Citespecificreasonswhy;donotjust

repeatwhatthearticlestellyou.Canbelistedasbulletedfacts

Alexander’sbustconveyed“greatness”

Alexanderwasagreatgeneral,notagreatpolitical leader

Alexanderwastheembodimentofpurehumanambition

Alexanderwasbloodthirstyandtyrannical

ThequestionofAlexander’sgreatnessiscomplicated.

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WasAlexanderDeservingOfTheTitle‘Great’?ThesisandEssay-WritingInstructions:

1.AfterreadingthepacketthatincludestheperspectivesonAlexandertheGreat,decideifyou willtakethestancethathedeservestobecalledgreatornot.Inthreeparagraphs,defendyour

opinionwithaclearlydefinedthesisanddetailedhistoricalinformationtosupportyourthesis.Youressayshouldbetyped,double-spaced,12-pointfontinCambriaorTimesNewRoman.

2.Inparagraphoneofyouressaystartoffwithagrabberstatementthathintsatyouropinionandgetsthereader’sattention.Thenwriteyourthesisstatement.Yourthesisstatementshould

sayyesheisdeservingofthetitlegreatornohedoesnotdeservetobecalledgreatANDgivethreecategories/reasonsastowhyorwhynot.Spendthelastcoupleofsentencesofyourfirst

paragraphpreviewingdetails/factsthatwillsupportthethreecategories/reasonsyouareusing.

3.Paragraphtwowillbespentdiscussing/supportingyourthesisandyourthreecategories/ reasonswithspecificpointsthatarebackedupbyhistoricalfacts.Besuretoevenlydiscusseachofthethreecategoriesthatgotowardssupportingyourthesiswithrelevanthistoricalfacts.Rememberthatallofthefactsthatyouuseshouldbeanalyticalinnature(justnotlistingfactsforthesakeoflistingfacts).Theyshouldbeusedandexplainedinawaythatprovesyourthesis.*Thisisyourchancetoshowusyouranalyticalabilitiesandindividualthoughtprocesswithhowyoucanexplainthefactsyouareusingandthentiethemtoyourthesiswithwhy,how,because,statements.

4.Paragraphthreewillbethelastparagraphofyouressay.Restateyourthesisinadifferentway fromyourfirstparagraphandthendiscussthethreecategoriesyouusedtosupportyourthesis withpertinenthistoricalinformationthatbacksupyourthesis.Yourlastsentenceofthe paragraphshouldwrapupyourparagraphwithacommentaryorstatementoffactthatisbasedinrelated-historyandrelatestothepositionyouhavetakeninyourpaper.Itshouldbethoughtprovokingandgrabthereader’sattention. 5.Usestheinformationprovidedinthepacketandprovideinternal/parentheticalcitations(MLA format)foreitherdirectquotesorparaphrasingwithinthebodyofyourpaper.Remember thatanythoughtthatyoudidnotcomeupwithyourselfhastobecitedotherwisethatis committingplagiarism!!Pleasebeawarethatifyouareusingdirectquotestheyshouldnotbe longerthanoneline/sentenceinyourpaper.Over-quotingthatistoolongdoesnotimpressthe readerofyourpaper…insteadchooseaspecificquote/selectionfromthereadingmaterialsthat youfeelasanexcerptcanhelpsupportyouthesisandexplainwhy/howyourthesisiscorrect. Thegoalistohaveapaperthatisanalyticalandarguessuccessfullyyourthesisinsteadofa paperthatismerelydescriptiveandjustlistsfactswithnothoughttotyingyourthoughtsand evidencetoprovingyourthesis. 6.YourpapershouldhaveaseparateworkscitedpageattachedthatisalsoinMLAformat.You willnoticethatattheendofeverypageinthepacketthereareautomaticMLAcitationsfor eachessayreadatthebottomofthepaper.Usetheseasadirectexampleandcopytheexact formatintoyourworkscitedpage.Yourworkscitedpageshouldbearrangedinalphabetical orderstartingwiththealphabeticalorderoftheauthor’slastname.

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MultipleChoice/Comprehensionquestions

1.IanWorthingtonbestdescribesthe“greatness”ofAlexanderIIIinwhichofthefollowingways? a.Alexanderwasagreatking,butwasnotacompetentleaderincombat b.Alexanderexcelledinbothpoliticalandmilitaryleadership c.Alexanderwasapoorpoliticalleaderandapoormilitaryleader d.Alexanderwasagreatgeneral,butwasapoorking

2.WhatwasNOToneofthemainreasonsforconsideringAlexanderIIInotdeservingofthetitle“theGreat”accordingtoIanWorthington? a.Alexanderwouldmakedecisionsbasedonpersonalreasons,notstrategic b.Hisfather,PhilipII,didmuchmoreforexpandingGreecethanAlexander c.Whenchallenged,Alexanderwouldreactharshly,executingallies d.AlexanderdiedleavingtheMacedonianempirewithnoheir,eventuallyleadingtoitsbreak-up

3.WhatdoesIanWorthingtoninferwasthemainreasonforthedeclineinAlexander’spopularityamonghismilitary? a.Alexander’sbeliefinhisowndivinity b.Continuedmilitaryfailuresonthebattlefield c.RefusaltoexpandtheEmpireeastwardafterthedefeatofthePersians d.Alexander’srefusaltolead“fromthefront”asageneral

4.PhillipFreemanarguesthatAlexander’sgreatnessshouldbedeterminedbyhisactionsspreadingHelleniccultureacrosstheworld.WhichofthefollowingwasNOTaconsequenceofAlexander’sconquestsaccordingtoFreeman? a.DepictionsoftheBuddhainfluencedbyGreekart b.ThespeedofthespreadofChristianity c.Thespreadofdemocracyacrosstheconqueredlands d.TheformationofcitiesthatbecamelastingcentersforGreekcivilization

5.HowwouldFreemancountertheclaimsthathistoriansmakethatAlexanderwasa“bloodthirstydictator”? a.Alexanderwasunderconstantthreatsohehadtoactinextraordinaryways b.Hewasamanofhistime,andnodifferentthananyotherruler c.Hisactionsarejustifiedbecauseofhisaccomplishments d.Thoseaccountsareoverexaggeratedandfalse

6.ThemainpurposeofKeyneCheshire’sarticleistoarguewhichofthefollowing. a.WhereAlexanderwasfirstreferencedas“theGreat”inhistoryanditsvalidity b.StatingthatAlexandergavethetitletohimselfbecauseofhisviewsofself-divinity c.ThistitlewasgiventohimforhisconqueringofthePersianswhousedthetitle“GreatKing” d.Thetitlewasgiventohimbyhismilitaryforhisbenevolencetowardshissoldiers

7.WhatwasNOTanachievementofAlexandertohaveearnedhimthetitle“theGreat”accordingtoCheshire? a.Hisconquestsofvastterritories b.Hisruthlessnesstowardshisenemies,bothforeignandnative c.IntegrationofPersiantraditionsintolong-standingMacedonianones d.Hissuppressionofdissidentsinhisownmilitaryranks

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8.AccordingtoCheshire,whatwasthefirstreferencetoAlexanderas“theGreat”inrecordedhistory? a.PersianrecordsfollowinghisconqueringofthePersianempire b.InaRomancomedybyPlatus c.ContemporaryMacedonianscholarswhogavehimthetitle d.MedievalkingswantingtouseAlexanderasanexampleforrule

9.Whichofthefollowingauthorswouldmorethanlikelyagreewiththefollowingstatement.

“Alexanderwasnotdeservingofthetitle‘theGreat’becausehefailedtomaintaintheempirehecreatedfollowinghisdeath.”

a.IanWorthington b.PhillipFreeman c.KeyneCheshire

10.Whichofthefollowingauthorswouldmorethanlikelyagreewiththefollowingstatement.

“Thetitleof‘theGreat’hashadavarietyofmeaningsthroughouthistoryanditsapplicationtowardsAlexanderisstillahotlydebatedtopic.”

a.IanWorthington b.PhillipFreeman c.KeyneCheshire

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Ancient Greece, 2000-30 B.C./Was Alexander Really Great?/Does Alexander deserve the title “the Great”?

Thisimage,athird-century-BCEbustdiscoveredattheMacedoniancapitalofPella,isaportraitofMacedoniankingAlexanderIII,knownas“theGreat.”ThebustlikelyreflectsthetechniquesusedbythesculptorLysipposincreatingAlexander’sportraits;LysipposwastheonlyartistauthorizedtoportraythekingduringAlexander’slifetime.Lysippos’simagesofAlexanderweremarkedbytheiridealizedstyleandspecifictraitssuggestingAlexander’syouth,authority,andaspirationtogreatness;suchfeaturesareseeninthisbust,includingAlexander’sturnedhead,upwardgaze,andthicktousledhair.ScholarsconsiderthatsuchimageswerepartofAlexander’spropagandacampaigntocultivatethepublic’sperceptionofhimasasemidivine,powerfulrulerandconqueror.

Between334and324,Alexanderledhisarmytovictoryovertheonce-mightyPersianEmpireandpressedontoexploreandconquereasternlandsasfarawayasIndia.Bythetimehediedatage33,hismilitarysuccesseshadwonhimanenduringreputationforgreatness,bothasamilitaryleaderandasaforcefulpersonality.Nevertheless,modernscholarsalsoconsiderAlexander’sfailingsasarulerandhispersonalexcessesastheyinvestigatethequestion:DoesAlexanderdeservethetitle“theGreat”?endmaincontent MLA Citation

“WasAlexanderReallyGreat?:KeyQuestion.”WorldHistory:AncientandMedievalEras.ABC-CLIO,2015.Web.8Dec.2015.

Entry ID:1525034

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Ancient Greece, 2000-30 B.C./Was Alexander Really Great?/A Great General vs. a Great King

AlexanderIII(“theGreat”)becamekingofMacedoniaatage20in336whenhisfatherPhilipIIofMacedonwasassassinated.Twoyearslaterin334heinvadedAsia,andwhenhediedin323thePersianEmpirewasnomoreandhehadeveninvadedandforatimeconqueredBactriaandSogdianaandmadeinroadsintowhattheGreekscalledIndia(presentdayPakistan).ItiseasytoseewhyAlexanderwascommonlyreferredtoas“great”inantiquitytothepresentday.HedefeatednumericallygreaterPersianandIndianarmiesinspectacularbattles,prosecutedsomebrilliantsieges,andfoughtovertwoyearsoftoughguerillawarfareinBactriaandSogdiana.HecreatedavastempirefromGreeceinthewesttoIndiaintheeast,includingEgypt,Syria,andtheLevantinecoast,inonlyadecade,andhewasreadytoinvadeArabiawhenhedied.Moreover,someofhissubjectsworshippedhimasagodandsomeancientwritersattributedtohimadesiretounifytheraces.HenceAlexandercametobeseenasnotonlyagreatandvictoriousgeneralbutalsoaphilosophicalidealistandsoagreatmanandking.

WasAlexander,however,“great”?Alotdependsonhow“greatness”isdefined,andwhatancientwritersandpeoplesconsideredgreatmaybequitedifferentfromus,givenhowourWesternvalueshaveevolved.ButthequestionisanimportantoneasitaffectsourappreciationofAlexanderandhencetheroleheplayedinGreekhistory.

OnthebattlefieldAlexanderwasagenius.AttheBattleofIssus,forexample,in333(thefirstbattleatwhichtheGreatKingDariusIIIwaspresent),Alexanderwashopelesslyoutnumbered.Precisenumbersarenotknown,buttheMacedonianshadsome26,000infantryand5,300cavalryandPersiancasualtiesalonefromthebattleweresaidtobe100,000.However,byconcentratinghisstrategyonthecaptureorkillingofDarius,Alexandercausedhimtoflee,andoncethatnewspermeatedtheranksofthePersianstheylostheartandfled.TheMacedoniansgavepursuitand

massacredsomanythatonesourcespeaksofthemcrossingoveraravineona“bridgeofcorpses.”

Furthermore,Alexanderalwaysledbyexamplefromthefront,aswasexpectedofaMacedonianwarriorking,andhewillinglyenduredthesametrialsandtribulationsashismen.Forexample,duringamarchthroughtheharshconditionsoftheGedrosianDesertin325,hismenweresufferingterriblyfromthirstandmanyweredying.Alexanderledhismenonfootratherthanonhorsebacktoencouragethemtocontinuewiththemarch.Someofhismenfoundatrickleofwater;theyfilledahelmetwithit,andbroughtittoAlexandertodrink.Infrontofeveryonehepoureditout,sayinghewoulddrinkonlywhenallofhismencould.

MilitarysuccessesandstoriesliketheseareatestamenttoAlexander’sgeneralship.However,hewasnotjustageneral;hewasaking,andgeneralshipwasonlypartofhiskingship.WhenweevaluateAlexanderasking,adifferentpictureemergesthataffectshisgreatness.

Tobeginwith,onceAlexanderhadaddedthePersianempiretotheMacedonianitwastimeforhimtoreturntoGreece.Hedidnot,preferringtomarcheastwardsforpersonalreasonsasopposedtostrategicones.Asaresult,hewouldlosethousandsofhisownmeninarguablyneedlessfightingandeventuallytherespectofhisarmy,whichtwicemutiniedonhim(seebelow).Hischaracterwouldchangefortheworse:inCentralAsiaandIndiainparticularheputdownoppositioninthemostbrutalfashionandwasguiltyofgenocide.

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Alexanderwouldalsogrowtobelieveinhisowndivinity,andhisparanoiabecameevidentinhisreactiontoanywhocriticizedhim.Thusin330hegaveordersfortheexecutionoftwoseniorgenerals(PhilotasandParmenion)whohadahistoryofchallenginghisgrowingfavoritismoforientalpracticesattheexpenseofMacedonianones.MotivatingAlexander’sdesiretowinmilitaryrenownandbeseenasagodwashisdesiretooutdohisfatherPhilipII,butelevatingPhilipoverhimcouldbefatal.Thusin328afteradrunkenaltercationwithanotherseniorgeneral(Cleitus)whohadpraisedPhilip,Alexandermurderedhimincoldblood.

Evenaspectsofhisgreatgeneralshipcanbequestioned.Alexanderwonallhisbattlesandsieges,butincontinuouslymarchingeastwardsforlargelypersonalreasonsandwithnoendinsighthisarmyeventuallymutiniedontheHyphasisRiverinIndia(in326),forcinghimtoretracehissteps.Twoyearslaterin324atOpisAlexanderwasfacedbyanothermutiny,thistimeoverhispolicyofintegratingforeignersintohisarmyandhispretensionstopersonaldivinity.ThentherewasthemarchthroughtheGedrosianDesert,whichAlexanderundertookforpersonalreasons,butasaresultaboutathirdofthemenwithhimperished.AlthoughAlexandersuccessfullyendedthetwomutiniesandreconciledhisarmy,theyplusthelogisticalblunderoftheGedrosianDesertmarchmustbetakenintoaccountwhenconsideringAlexander’sgreatness.

TheimagethathasbeenpresentedofAlexandertheidealisttryingtounitetheracesislikewiseflawed.WhenAlexanderusedforeignersinhisarmyandadministration,forexample,thiswasforthepragmaticreasonofassistinghisruleovertheconqueredpeoplesandhadnothingtodowithtryingtointegratetheraces.ThesameistrueofhismarriagetotheBactrianprincessRoxana,whoseinfluentialfatherwouldproveusefultoAlexander’sattempttocontrolBactria.OtherexamplesthatappeartoindicateAlexanderwasthisidealistcanalsobeexploded.

Finally,comparingthelegacyofPhilipIItothatofAlexanderrevealsaquantumdifference.WhenPhilipdiedin336helefthissonaunitedandsecureMacedonia,thebesttrainedarmyintheGreekworld,nopretenderthreatstothethrone,andastableeconomy,allofwhichwereastarkcontrasttotheproblemsPhilipandMacedoniafacedwhenhecametopowerin359.ThearmythatPhilipcreatedallowedAlexandertowinthesuccessthathedidinAsia:withoutPhiliptherewouldhavebeennoAlexandertheGreat.Alexander’slegacyontheotherhandcamenowhereneartothatofhisfather.Thedissatisfactionofhispeopleandespeciallyhisfailuretoproduceanheir(despitetheinsistenceofhistopgeneralswhenhebecameking)ledtothedisintegrationoftheMacedonianempire.Hisgeneralsdivideditupamongthembutthenfoughteachotherforthree decades.

Theappellation“great”canbeusedtodistinguishakingwhohadseveralnamesakesbutwhodidmorethanthem.ThereisnoquestionthatAlexandertheGreatdidmorethanAlexanderI,II,orIV(hisson,whowasputtodeathduringthewarsofthegenerals);hewasagreatgeneral,butthatdoesnotmakehimagreatkingforMacedonia.

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About the Author

Ian WorthingtonIanWorthingtonisaprofessorofhistoryattheUniversityofMissouri.Hehaspublished14sole-authoredandeditedbooksandover80articlesonGreekhistory,epigraphy,andoratory,including,mostrecently,thebiographiesAlexandertheGreat:ManandGod(London,2004)andPhilipIIofMacedonia(NewHaven,CT,2008).HeiscurrentlywritingabookonDemosthenesandisEditor-in-ChiefofBrill’sNewJacoby,anewedition,withtranslationsandcommentaries,of856fragmentaryGreekhistoriansinvolvingateamof120scholarsin16countries.In2008hiscourseTheLongShadowoftheAncientGreekWorldwasreleasedonDVDandCDbyTheTeachingCompany.In2005hewontheChancellor’sAwardforOutstandingResearchandCreativityintheHumanitiesandin2007theStudent-AthleteAdvisoryCouncilMostInspiringProfessorAward.

MLA CitationWorthington,Ian.“WasAlexanderReallyGreat?:AGreatGeneralvs.aGreatKing.”WorldHistory:AncientandMedievalEras.ABC-CLIO,2015.Web.8Dec.2015.

Entry ID: 1525039

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Ancient Greece, 2000-30 B.C./Was Alexander Really Great?/Alexander: His Empire and Legacy

Intheyear323BCE,AlexanderdiedinBabylonattheageof32.DuringhisshortlifeheexpandedhisfatherPhilipIIofMacedon’skingdomfromthesouthernBalkansintoAsiaMinor,Mesopotamia,Egypt,Persia,CentralAsia,andtheIndusRivervalley.Withlittlemoneyandonlyasmallarmy,hetookontheempireofthePersiankingDariusIIIandrepeatedlydefeatedhissuperiorforcesinbattle.HiskingdomstretchingfromtheAdriaticSeatotheplainsofIndiawasshortlived,buthisinfluenceonlatercenturieswasenormous.

Alexanderwasvictoriouswhentheoddswereheavilyagainsthimbecauseofacombinationofinnovativetechnologyandunfetteredambition.HeusedthelongsarissaspearsofhisMacedonianinfantrytooutreachtheweaponsofhisenemiesinbattle.Healsowasamongthefirsttoemployaprofessionalengineeringcorpsinhisarmyandtousesiegeenginestotakeresistantcities.Alexandercouldmovehisarmyfasteroverroughterrainandthroughadverseweatherthananygeneralbeforehim.WhenthePersiansblockedhiminanarrowmountainpassoutsidetheircapitalPersepolisinthemiddleofwinter,heledhismenaroundthemoversnow-coveredgoattrailsthatwouldhavebeenunthinkableforanarmyeveninsummer.InthetoweringHinduKushrange,localwarriorstoldhimhewouldneverconquerthemunlesshismenhadwings,yethetookeveryfortress.ThroughthedesertsofEgypt,themonsoonsofIndia,andthemountainsofAfghanistan,Alexanderwasabsolutelyrelentlessinhisdrivetoconquertheknownworld.Ifheistobejudgedonpurelymilitaryterms,evenhisharshestcriticsinancientandmoderntimeswouldhavetoconcedethathedeservestobecalled“theGreat.”

ButasremarkableasAlexanderwasasageneral,itishisimportancetosubsequentculturesthattrulyearnshimhistitle.AlthoughAlexanderwasMacedonianandnotGreek,hisfascinationwithandembraceofHelleniccultureledhimtospreadGreeklanguage,literature,andculturethroughouthisempireandbeyond.Yetthiswasprimarilyatoolforcontrollingtheindigenouspopulation,nottheresultofadesiretomaketheworldabetterplace.Hefoundedanumberofcities—allmodestlynamed“Alexandria”—fromtheMediterraneantoIndia,manyofwhichbecamelastingcentersofGreekcivilization,especiallythegreat

coastalcityofAlexandriainEgypt,homeofthefabledlibrary.Rome,althoughneverconqueredbyAlexander,embracedtheHellenisticculturethatgrewfromhiscampaignsandspreaditthroughoutEurope.BecauseofhisconquestsinIndia,imagesoftheBuddhastillshowtheinfluenceofGreekart.AlexanderappearsintheHebrewBibleandtheKoran,aswellasbeinganimportantfigureinmedievalliteraturefromIcelandandArmeniatoWestAfrica.AndwithouttheunifyingforceofGreeklanguageandculturethatAlexanderbroughttotheNearEastandMediterranean,itisunlikelythatChristianitywouldhavespreadasfarorasfastasitdid.

NoteveryoneinhistoryhasviewedAlexanderinapositivelightorwouldadd“theGreat”afterhisname.TheItalianpoetDanteAlighieriplacedhimintheseventhcircleofHellboilingforeverintheverybloodofothershesofreelyshed.ManyotherssincehavereadilyagreedthatAlexanderwasanothingmorethanamurderoustyrantwithagiftforwinningdifficultbattles.ViewsofAlexanderhaveswungbackandforthlikeapendulumoverthecenturiesdependingontheflowofhistoryandthepredispositionofthosewhohavewrittenhisstory.FortheBritishVictorians,hewasamirrorofthemselvesasenlightenedpurveyorsofcivilizationtotheworldthroughasuperiorculturebackedbyapowerfulmilitary.Thisrosyviewcollapsedwiththedevastatingwarsofthe20thcenturywhenthehorrificrealityofabsolutepowersweptawayanyromanticnotionsofbenevolenttyranny.Todaymanymodernscholarsprefertoseehimaslittlemorethanabloodthirstydictator.

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ThisviewofAlexanderismuchtoosimplistic.Hewasamanofhisownviolenttimes,nobetterorworseinhisactionsthanJuliusCaesarorHannibal.Hekilledtensofthousandsofciviliansinhiscampaignandspreadterrorinhiswake,butsodideveryothergeneralintheancientworld.Ifhewerealivetoday,hewouldundoubtedlybecondemnedasawarcriminal—buthedidnotliveinourage.Asrepulsiveasitmaysoundtous,Alexanderconqueredmuchoftheancientworldsimplybecausehecould.IfhisrivalthePersiankingDariuscouldhavecrossedintoEuropeandslaughteredeveryMacedonianinhispathtoaddtheirlandtohisempire,hewouldhavedonethesamewithoutremorse.

Asforhismotives,weerrgreatlywhenwetrytomakeAlexanderanythingmorethanamanofsuprememilitaryabilitywhowantedpassionatelytoruletheworld.ViewsoftheMacedoniankingasPrometheusbringingthelightofGreekcivilizationtothepoormassesofAsiaarebothunsoundandinsultingtotheadvancedculturesoftheancienteast.TotrulyunderstandAlexanderwemustrealizethat—perhapsmorethananymaninhistory—hehatedtolose.Alexanderwasandistheabsoluteembodimentofpurehumanambitionwithallitsgoodandevilconsequences.Wecanshakeourheadsatthedeathanddestructionheleftinhiswakeashestrodeacrosstheworldlikeacolossus,thoughintheendwecan’thelpbutadmireamanwhodaredsuchgreatdeeds.endmaincontent About the Author

Philip FreemanPhilipFreemancompletedhisundergraduatedegreeandMAinClassicsattheUniversityofTexasatAustin,wherehestudiedLatin,Greek,ancienthistory,andclassicalarchaeology.HethenearnedajointPhDinClassicsandCelticstudiesfromHarvardUniversityin1994,withadissertationontheearlyinteractionofclassicalandCelticcivilizations.AftercompletingaNationalEndowmentfortheHumanitiesPostdoctoralFellowshipatBostonUniversity,hetaughtintheClassicsDepartmentatWashingtonUniversityinStLouisforsevenyearsbeforeacceptingapositionastheendowedQualleyProfessorinClassicsandchairoftheClassicsDepartmentatLutherCollegein2004.HehasbeenavisitingscholarattheHarvardDivinitySchoolandhasheldfellowshipsatPrincetonUniversityandtheAmericanAcademyatRome.

MLA CitationFreeman,Philip.“WasAlexanderReallyGreat?:Alexander:HisEmpireandLegacy.”WorldHistory:AncientandMedievalEras.ABC-CLIO,2015.Web.8Dec.2015.

Entry ID: 1525040

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Ancient Greece, 2000-30 B.C./Was Alexander Really Great?/ The “Great”-ness of Alexander III of Macedon

AlexanderIIImayhavebeenthefirstGreekkingtoreceivetheepithet“Great”(homegasinGreek)andsincethenmanyothershavebeensohonored.Suchsubsequentusesoftheepithet,oftenbestowedonpoliticalormilitaryleaders,naturallyhearkenedbacktoAlexanderhimself,theideabeingthattheindividualdubbed“Great”hadattainedalevelofachievementthatrecalledthefamousMacedonianking.AlexandertheGreathimself,however,wasmostlikelynotcalledhomegasduringhislifetime,afactthatmayleadmodernstowonderattheappropriatenessofthisposthumoustitle.

Therearetwoplausibleoriginsfortheepithet’sapplicationtoAlexanderIII.WhenAlexanderlaunchedhiscampaignagainstthePersianempireofDariusIIIin336BCE,thePersianmonarchshadbeengoingbythetitle“GreatKing”atleastasearlyasthereignofDariusI(522–485BCE).Ashisinvasionprovedsuccessful,AlexanderassumedthisPersiantitlehimself,tolegitimizehisruleoverthenativepopulation.Thereisnoevidence,however,thatAlexandereverwentbyacorrespondingtitleinGreek,thelanguagewidelyfamiliartotheeasternMediterranean.TheearliestextantreferencetoAlexanderas“great”infactappearsnotinGreekatall,butinLatin,inacomedybyPlautus.Andeveninthatcontext,thewordmagnusdoesnotappeartobeaformaltitleatall,butapracticalmeansofdenotingthemostfamousAlexander,asopposedtooneoftheotherthreeroyalMacedoniansbythatname.

WhenconsideringwhetherornotAlexanderIIIdeservesthetitle“Great,”oneshouldkeepinmindtheoriginalintentionbehindtheepithet.AlthoughtheEnglishword“great”canmean“verygood”andmightsometimesimplymoralorethicalsuperiority,theGreekandLatinterms(megas,magnus)denoteonlysizeorgrandeur.WhethertheepithetoriginallyemphasizedAlexander’skingshipovertheformerPersianEmpireormerelydistinguishedAlexanderfromtheotherAlexanders,itwashardlyintendedtocelebratetheman’smorality.EveninEnglish,“theGreat”carriesaconnotationfardifferentfrom“theGood.”

TherearemanyreasonswhyAlexanderwouldnothavereceivedthelattertitlefromGreeksorMacedonians.Alexander’sownarmycriticizedhimforadoptingelementsofPersianandMedianculture,apracticethattheyinterpretedasalapseinmoralsandaperversionoftheirowntraditions.Forexample,heselected30,000PersianboysformilitarytrainingandincorporationintowhathadformerlybeenwhollyMacedoniancontingents.HebeganwearingacombinationofPersianandMedianclothing,andencouragedhismentohonorhimbyproskynesis,agestureusedbyPersianstowardaking,butreservedforthegodsalonebyMacedoniansandGreeks.Inadditiontomarryingnon-Macedonianwomen(Roxana,daughteroftheSogdianianlordOxyartes;Barsine,daughteroftheformerPersiankingDariusIII;andperhapsParysatis,daughterofformerPersiankingArtaxerxesIIIOchus),heheldamassweddingatSusa,withover10,000marriages(manyapparentlyforced)ofMacedonianstoPersiannoblewomen.Andfinally,therewereindicationsthathemeanttomakeBabylon(inmodernIraq)thecapitalofhisnewempire.

Amodernmind,too,wouldfindmanyofAlexander’sdeedsreprehensible,perhapsmostnotablyhisharshlyretributiveactionstowardthosewhoopposedhim.WhenThebesrebelledagainstMacedoniancontrol,AlexanderrazedtheGreekcityandsoldthesurvivingoppositionintoslavery.OnthesurrenderofthePhoenicianislandcityTyreafteraseven-monthsiege,Alexanderexecutedareported2,000ofitspopulation.Andstilllater,aftermarchingintoPersepolis,withhisconquestofthePersianEmpirealreadywellinhand,AlexandersetfiretothePersianpalace,allegedlyontheadviceofanAtheniancourtesan.But

AlexanderpracticedsuchactsofviolentretaliationagainsthisfellowMacedoniansaswell.Inhisteenageyearshewasexiledforinsultinghisfather,KingPhilipIIofMacedon,andalthoughitcannotbeproven,some

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scholarsbelievethatAlexanderplayedsomeroleinhisfather’sassassination.Onbecomingkinghimself,Alexandercontinuedtoguardhisrulejealously.HeexecutedhiscommanderPhilotasonwhatmanyancientsbelievedwerechargestrumpedupinordertoeliminatethemalemembersoftherivalMacedonianfamily.Onanotheroccasion,inafitofdrunkenrageAlexandermurderedtheopenlycriticalCleitus,adistinguishedveterancommanderwhohadpreviouslysavedtheking’slifeinbattle.Perhapsmoreinsidious,hemanagedthearrestanddeathofthecourthistorianandphilosopherCallisthenes,allegedlyforencouragingaconspiracy,butcertainlyforhisoutspokencriticismofAlexander’sadoptionofPersiancustoms.

Whiletheabovecatalogueishardlycomprehensive,itsufficestoshowthatthosefamiliarwithAlexander’sreignwouldnothavestressedhis“goodness.”ButevenAlexander’s“greatness”mightarguablybequalifiedtosomeextent,assomeinAlexander’sowndayargued.ThePersianEmpirethatAlexanderwouldinvadewasalreadyindisarray,afterall,plaguedbyaseriesofrevoltsandtherecentassassinationofitsking.Furthermore,Alexander’sfatherPhiliphadsignificantlyimprovedMacedon’sterritory,wealth,andpower,subjugatingtheGreekcity-statesintheprocessandrallyingtheirsupportforacommoninvasionofthePersianEmpire.

AlexandercertainlywouldnothaveachievedwhathedidwithoutPhiliptopavetheway.AndyetitseemslikelythatfewbutAlexandercouldhaveachievedwhathedid:theconquestoflandsnorthtotheDanube,southintoEgypt,andeasttothemodernIndia-Pakistanborder.Hiscampaignrequiredbothbraveryandintelligence,andwhileagreatmanyofhisactionswillbemorallyoffensivetomoderns,andagreatmanymoretohisownMacedonians,hisunscrupulousjealousyofhisrule,hisruthlessnesstowardhisenemies(foreignandnative),andhiswillingnesstointegratePersiantraditionsintolong-standingMacedonianoneswerevitalingredientstohissuccessandconsequentlytothehistoricalgreatnessthathasearnedhimhisenduringtitle.endmaincontent About the Author

Keyne CheshireKeyneCheshireisassociateprofessorofClassicsatDavidsonCollegeinNorthCarolina.HisbookonAlex-andertheGreatoffersselectionsfromancientauthors,withnotesandquestionsdesignedtoencouragethereader’sinformedcritiqueoftheMacedonianking.CheshirealsopublishesonGreekpoetryandiscurrentlywritingabookonacollectionofhymnsbyCallimachus,wholivedandwroteinancientAlexandria.Inhissparetimethesedays,Cheshireenjoysthecompanyofhiswifeanddaughter,practicestheartofbeekeeping,andtrieshishandatcastingaSophocleandramaasamusicalwestern.

MLA CitationCheshire,Keyne.“WasAlexanderReallyGreat?:The“Great”-nessofAlexanderIIIofMacedon.”WorldHistory:AncientandMedievalEras.ABC-CLIO,2015.Web.8Dec.2015.

Entry ID: 1525032

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