Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great (356–323 BC) was a king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon and a student of Aristotle. He succeeded his father Philip II to the throne in 336 BC at the age of 20, and spent most of his ruling years conducting a lengthy military campaign throughout Western Asia and Egypt. By the age of 30, he had created one of the largest empires in history, stretching from Greece to northwestern India. He was undefeated in battle and is widely considered to be one of history's greatest and most successful military commanders.
Alexander was born in Pella, the capital of the Kingdom of Macedon, in 356 BC. His father was Philip II, king of Macedon, and his mother was Olympias, the daughter of the king of Epirus. Alexander was a brilliant student, and he was tutored by Aristotle, one of the greatest philosophers of all time.
When Alexander was 20 years old, his father was assassinated. Alexander succeeded to the throne and immediately began to prepare for war. He wanted to conquer the Persian Empire, which was the most powerful empire in the world at the time.
In 334 BC, Alexander led an army of 35,000 men across the Hellespont into Asia. He defeated the Persian army at the Battle of the Granicus River, and then he conquered all of Asia Minor. In 333 BC, Alexander defeated the Persian army again at the Battle of Issus. This victory forced the Persian king, Darius III, to flee.
Alexander then marched south into Egypt and conquered the country. He established a new city in Egypt, called Alexandria, which was named after him.
In 331 BC, Alexander turned his attention to the heart of the Persian Empire. He defeated the Persian army at the Battle of Gaugamela, and then he entered the Persian capital of Babylon. Darius III was killed by his own satraps, and Alexander became the new ruler of the Persian Empire.
Alexander continued to expand his empire eastward. He conquered Afghanistan and Pakistan, and he reached the Indus River in India. However, his army was exhausted and refused to go any further. Alexander was forced to turn back in 326 BC.
Alexander returned to Babylon in 323 BC, where he died at the age of 32. The cause of his death is unknown, but it is possible that he died of malaria or typhoid fever.
Alexander the Great was one of the most important figures in world history. He conquered a vast empire and spread Greek culture throughout the world. His military campaigns led to the development of new trade routes and the exchange of ideas between different cultures. Alexander the Great's legacy continues to inspire people today.