I.++Alexander+the+Great



** AND ** ** write ** ** a persuasive essay OR persuasive speech. **
 * Assignments to hand in: A completed graphic organizer **, [[file:AlexandertheGreatHeroorVillian.pdf]]

** Background Information on Alexander the Great: Hero ** // Alexander the Great was born in 356 BCE in the kingdom of Macedonia, north of mainland Greece. Although he lived only to the age of 32, and ruled for just 13 years, many historians consider him the greatest military leader of all time. During his reign, Alexander conquered Greece, the Near East, Persia, and India, ruling an empire that stretched 3,000 miles from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indus River. His was the largest empire the world had ever seen. //
 * Step 1: Introduction - Read the Background Information on Alexander the Great **

// Historians often view Alexander's conquests favorable because of several notable attributes. His sheer military genius and bravery drove him to conquer many new lands. His philosophy of not plundering the lands he conquered often made him a favorable leader to the natives of those lands. In addition, historians have praised him for allowing his subjects to continue practicing their own customs and beliefs, often showing an interest to learn about them himself. Most importantly, Alexander was responsible for the rapid spread of Greek culture and ideas throughout the ancient world during his reign. In the course of his career, he founded more than 20 new cities, many named Alexandria after him. During the Hellenistic Age--the three centuries immediately following Alexander's lifetime--many of these cities rose to prominence, helping to preserve the finest aspects of Greek and Near Eastern culture. //

// Alexander grew up as a clever and precocious child. According to one legend, he tamed a wild stallion around the age of nine, after its trainer failed to do so. His proud father, King Philip II, said, "My son, you must seek a kingdom worthy of your talents, for my kingdom of Macedonia is too small for you." The king brought the Greek philosopher Aristotle to Macedonia to teach his intelligent young heir. Aristotle taught Alexander political philosophy, literature, natural history, and medicine. Alexander is said to have greatly admired Aristotle for his knowledge and incorporated his teachings into his life. //

// Alexander was a very capable warrior from the time he was a young boy. At the age of 16, he had his first battlefield command, and defeated an enemy tribe on Macedonia's northern frontier. However, it was two years later (339 BCE) in the war against Athens and Thebes--at the Battle of Chaeronea (pronounced kee-ROH-nee-ah)--that he first displayed his legendary bravery and tenacity. While Philip's troops drove the Athenian soldiers away, Alexander led a daring cavalry charge through the strongest part of the Theban line. The resulting victory allowed Philip to win control of all of Greece. It also allowed Alexander to share in the glory of conquest--a glory he would soon spread on his own far and wide as the leader of a vast empire. //

** Background Information on Alexander the Great: Villain ** // Despite Alexander the Great's legacy, some historians tell a less complimentary version of his story. First, some attribute Alexander's military accomplishments to the formidable army left to him by his father, King Philip II. During his reign, Philip had reorganized, reformed, and strengthened the Macedonian army. When a Macedonian noble assassinated Philip in 336 BCE, Macedonia's army was the dominant military force in the region. At the time of Philip's death, the Macedonian army was prepared to pursue a goal he had set out to accomplish years earlier--the conquest of the powerful Persian Empire. With this force Alexander was able to spread Macedonian rule thousands of miles across Egypt, Persia, and India over the next 13 years. //

// Second, although Alexander"s military conquests of foreign lands were impressive, he neglected his own kingdom of Macedonia. Two years after he succeeded his murdered father, Alexander set out for the East to begin his military campaigns. He never returned home to Macedonia. In his absence, local military leaders abused their powers and rarely responded to the needs of the people. //

// Critics of Alexander also decry his extreme emotional temperament, which may have resulted from his upbringing. Alexander's mother, Olympias, is said to have been a tempestuous woman who help strange religious beliefs. For example, Olympias supposedly kept a giant snake as a pet and spiritual adviser. Though she and Philip were married for 20 years, they were not happy. Alexander and his mother were very close, and he often sided with her in arguments against his father. With Olympias' encouragement, Alexander grew up believing he was destined to accomplish great things and convinced he could surpass even his father in military greatness. When the bitterness between Philip and Olympias ended in divorce, Alexander and his mother fled to her homeland in northwestern Greece. Although Alexander and his father eventually reconciled, Alexander's unstable childhood made him prone to emotional out bursts throughout his life. //

// Alexander's troops and closest advisers were most likely to feel his wrath and emotional instability. Alexander demanded and received the utmost allegiance and obedience from them. Yet, he was often brutal to them despite their loyalty. Furthermore, his fierce temper and heavy consumption of alcohol frequently caused him to make poor decisions, resulting in excessive casualties in battle. Alexander's mistreatment of his men, and his relentless pursuit of conquering new lands, eventually caused his own troops to rebel against him. In 326 BCE, after they had journeyed thousands of miles for months in brutal weather, his army demanded that they return home. With reluctance and anger, Alexander agreed. On his return trip, Alexander became very ill while his forces were in Babylon (present day Iraq), and he dies in 323 BCE. //

// Finally, Alexander failed as a ruler in one important area: he neglected to designate a legitimate heir to succeed him. Shortly after his death, his empire crumbled. Various people, including his own relatives and generals, fought for control over the vast lands he had conquered. //

** NEXT... **
 * Read the handout : ** Key Events in Alexander's Military Career


 * Read the map below. **




 * Step 2: Graphic Organizer ** - Complete the Alexander the Great: Hero and Villain graphic organizer by looking at the pictures below and reading the corresponding handouts.




 * DIRECTIONS: ** Read each article accompanying the events. You will be taking notes (as we did in the practice activity) from the conqueror's perspective and from the conquered's perspective. All conqueror's notes/details support the idea that Alexander was a **HERO**. All the conquered's notes/details support the idea that Alexander was a **VILLAIN**. Be sure to write in note form on the correct side of the graphic organizer. Ask yourself: "What information demonstrates that Alexander was a **HERO**?" or "What information demonstrate that Alexander was a **VILLAIN**?"

When you have completed the graphic organizer, you will be prepared to make a decision, "Was Alexander the Great a Hero or a Villain?"


 * Event A: Alexander in Thebes **

This is Alexander the Great on horseback during his conquest of Thebes. In the background, his soldiers are destroying one of the city's buildings. The Thebans in the foreground are asking him for mercy. Although Alexander destroyed much of Thebes and sold many of its citizens into slavery, he spared some of its inhabitants, including the women kneeling by his horse in this image.


 * Alexander from different perspectives: **

**OR**

This is Alexander and his troops marching in front of the Sphinx in Giza, after taking over Egypt. Prior to this conquest, Egypt was ruled by the Persian Empire. The people in the foreground are Persians who have just lost control of Egypt. They are chained to be taken away as captives by Alexander's troops.
 * Event B: Alexander in Egypt **

**Alexander from different perspectives:**

** OR **

This is part of a Roman mosaic showing Alexander and the Persian king, Darius III, meeting in the battle of Issus. Alexander appears on the far left, while Darius is shown in a chariot toward the center. Based on a Greek painting that dates to the fourth century B.C.E., this first-century C.E. mosaic is believed to be the most reliable representation of Alexander's appearance in existence.
 * Event C: Alexander in Persia **

Alexander's troops burning and looting the main palace in Persepolis, the capital of Persian Empire. When Alexander conquered the Persians, he burned many of the grand buildings in Persepolis and destroyed or stole many of its royal treasures.

**Alexander from different perspectives:**

**OR**

Alexander the Great and his troops approaching the Indian king, Porus, along the River Hydaspes in India. Porus is offering his sword to Alexander as a gesture of surrender.
 * Event D: Alexander in India **

**Alexander from different perspectives:**

**OR**

** OR ** **Write a persuasive speech** taking the position that Alexander was either a HERO or a VILLAIN. With the speech you will also be required to use quotes and evidence to support your position. You may use multiple resources to complete the assignment including Journey Across Time, your new text, the Internet, or this wiki page. You will turn in a hard copy of your speech at the time your speech is presented.
 * Step 3: Persuasive Essay or Speech ** - **Write a** **5 paragraph persuasive essay** on whether you believe Alexander was a HERO or a VILLAIN. Use quotes and evidence to support your position. You may use multiple resources to complete the assignment including Journey Across Time, your new text, the Internet, or this wiki page.