Alexander the Great

本文主要一篇讲述亚历山大大帝一生的历史事迹的essay范文，文中主要从他的生平，事件，遗产等几个方面来阐述描述其伟大，并进一步对已亚历山大大帝的贡献进一步的肯定。

INTRODUCTION
When talking about ancient Greek history, we must mention Alexander the Great. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/alexander_the_great.shtml ) 
When he was 20 years old, he was just an anonymous king in Macedon, a tiny state which was located in the north of ancient Greece. (http://www.soros.org.mk/konkurs/090/Ant/antika.htm ) However, when he died at the age of 33, he had processed a vast empire which cross three continents including Europe, Africa and Asia. In thirteen years, he had occupied the whole Greece, and beat Persians, Arabs and Indians, then founded an incredible empire without parallel in history. ( http://www.livius.org/aj-al/alexander/alexander_chrono.html )
WAS ALEXANDER GREAT
In my opinion, Alexander is an incredible hero, but not great enough.
What is the mean of “great”? What kinds of persons deserved to be called “The Great”? From where I stand, the word “great” suggests not only one’s outstanding ability or amazing achievement, but, more importantly, depends on whether he or she has a considerable positive influence on the past or today’s world. Thus I think a great person who can be called “The Great” must have a positive effect on the world history. Those only have strong power can never be called “The Great”.
When people nowadays speak of Alexander the Great, the topics of conversation always focus on two parts: one are his legend stories and the other are his tidbits, like “was he really a gay?” “Had he once loved Hephaestion?” and so on. Hardly have anyone once say: “If it weren't for Alexander the Great, today’s world would be completely different.” The truth is, what impresses us most is his heroic, not his contributions. On the contrary，he started plenty of wars and invaded lots of counties, which will not be appreciated by humanists like me. If he did not make obvious contributions, only destroyed the political system of the three continents and brought death and enslavement to other nations, I do not think he is deserved to be called “The Great”.
IN WHAT AREAS WAS HE SUCESSFUL
But he still succeed in many areas. He hardly had a battle lost. He was always a winner at his time. Furthermore, he may be the first man who have the ability to “rule the world”. He spread the brilliant Greek culture to other countries. He also had unique attractions to his soldiers, he made them fight for him. (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/arrian-alexander1.asp )
EXPLAIN TWO MAJOR FAILURES
What he did can really make him a shining hero in history, but he still have two major failures. ”With his campaign suffering from "mission drift," Alexander succumbed to his men's pleas and turned back. But he decided on a circuitous route: down India's rivers to the ocean, then along the coast back to Persia. As 15,000 of his men died of starvation or heat in the Gedrosan Desert -- more than all those he lost in battle. At a banquet back in Babylon, he drank excessively, then fell ill of a fever. He died a few days later.” ( http://www.livescience.com/11315-top-10-reasons-alexander-great-great.html ) Undeniably, the first failure—also the direct reason for his retreat—is his military tactics. For one thing, the Greek army had difficulty adapting the hot and damp weather of India, which led to serious consequences, for example, diseases and demoralizing had been spread to the tired army. Indians act just like what Russians did to Napoleon and Hitler over two thousand years later. In fact, the Greek army had suffered a lot. Since then, Alexander had no ability to protect his huge empire.
The other major failure is indirect but still fatal. Later in the war, Alexander did not have enough power to control the generals and soldiers who had been used to fight under his command. He unified Greece because that was his father’s dream, he conquered Persia because Persians had hired a killer to assassinate (maybe). It seems that he did not find good excuses to invade Arab and India. Thus, I do not think the Greek army will have the passion to fight for one man’s greed. What’s more, he even killed a subordinate when he was drunk. Many people think Alexander is a man who in welcomed in the national, but, in my opinion, maybe only national who stayed in Greece, not his army. He thought he was God, which is benefit for him to rule the whole empire, and, maybe he just narcissistic. 
HIS LEGACY
Although I disagree that Alexander have made OBVIOUS contributions, however, his war has indeed promoted the communications among Europe, Asia and Africa. He had left precious legacy: the communication among the three continents becoming closer and closer, the Greek culture had been widespread in a short time, and, of course, his heroic, incredible stories.
WHY HE IS CONSIDERED SO IMPORTANT
   Why is he considered so important? I have three reasons to explain: 
First, his military record, he hardly had a battle lost. He was always a winner at his time. Furthermore, he died at the right time, which is he had all the glory he could have. His legendary life is attractive to later generations. 
Second, he did deeply influence the historical process of the world, especially the three main continents. At his time, the communication among the three continents becoming closer and closer, he Greek culture had been widespread in a short time. 
Finally, I think it is the power of propaganda, no matter the rulers or historians. (http://classics.mit.edu/Plutarch/alexandr.html ) It may seem strange, but when I read about him, many rulers and dictators appreciate him very much. After Alexander’s death, hundreds of dictators wish to “unify the whole world”, and Alexander is the man who have the nearest distance to rule the whole world. So dictators propagate him to prove: “ruling the whole world is possible, because I am as great as Alexander, come on let’s fight for me guys~” meanwhile, soldiers wish to have a commander as great as Alexander to lead them to win all the battle. The dictators wish to become him, the civilian adore him. He is becoming a symbol, maybe a spiritual sustenance of the later generation. ( http://wso.williams.edu/~junterek/index.html )

REFERENCE
Alexander the Great (356-323BC)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/alexander_the_great.shtml
TEN! GREAT Reasons Why Alexander Was Great!
http://www.livescience.com/11315-top-10-reasons-alexander-great-great.html
Macedonia in Ancient Times: Brief History
http://www.soros.org.mk/konkurs/090/Ant/antika.htm
Alexander's Speech to His Reluctant Soldiers
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/arrian-alexander1.asp
Plutarch's ALEXANDER:
http://classics.mit.edu/Plutarch/alexandr.html
Great Homepage of Alexander, or Something Like That
http://wso.williams.edu/~junterek/index.html
Alexander the Great - Chronology
http://www.livius.org/aj-al/alexander/alexander_chrono.html