1. Alexander III (the Great)

2. Great Man theory
“19th-century idea that history can be largely explained by the impact of great men, or heroes who, due to either their skills in a way that had a decisive historical impact.”
Problems:
One mans great is another mans terrible
Almost always MEN

3. #dadsofhistory Son of Phillip II Creator of the Phalanx United Greece
Dreamed on conquering Persia

4. Macedonian Phalanx
18 foot spears called Sarissas
16-32 men deep

5. Alexander background Taught by Aristotle
At 16, led an army over invaders
Tamed the impossible horse Bucephalus

6. “O my son, look thee out a kingdom equal to and worthy of thyself, for Macedonia is too little for thee..”

7. Death of Phillip II X X Assassinated at his daughter wedding 
(Macedonians really liked assassination BTW)
Alexander becomes king at age 20
Solidifies rule by killing rivals and crushing rebels X X

8. Alexander III Alexander Invades Persia Unties the Gordian Knot
Now refers to a difficult problem
Wins multiple battles and conquers Persia
Invades Indus River region, wins a costly victory
Been fighting for a decade, men tired, turns back to Babylon

9. Death X X Planning a new campaign in Babylon Suddenly died
Most likely sickness, injured in India
Maybe alcohol, drunk a lot because his male lover and horse died
Maybe assassinated (remember how much Macedonians love that!) X X

10. Point/Counter-Point
Was Alexander Great

11. GREAT:
Created the Largest Empire in history up to the point!

12. Not GREAT: Ignored his own kingdom Destroyed Tolerant Persia
His Empire collapsed immediately
“To the strongest”

13. GREAT:
Never lost a battle

14. Not GREAT: Used his fathers army Minimum of 100,000 people died
Died at 32, so small sample size

15. GREAT:
Built Many cities, including Alexandria Egypt

16. Not GREAT:
Destroyed many cities, and sold inhabitants into slavery

17. GREAT: Accidently created a more connected, Hellenistic world
Coins with Greek language found as far Afghanistan
Learned about other cultures

18. Not GREAT: Personality: Angry Drunk Megalomaniac
Killed foster-brother for saying Macedonians helped him
Drunk
Some say he died of alcohol poisoning
Megalomaniac
Wanted to conquer the world