As I've been teaching through church history there have been certain individuals that have been obvious hinge points. People that have completely changed the face of the world by their actions. Alexander the Great is one of those individuals.
Alexander was born in 356 BC and died of unknown causes in 323 BC at the age of 32. Of all of Alexanders accomplishments he is widely considered one of history's most successful military commanders and is known for his tactics and strategy he used in battle.
Philip II of Macedon, Alexander's father, was a strong and ambitious king as well who had united the various city-states of Greece under his rule. He began training Alexander in military tactics from a young age and instilled in him a desire for conquest and glory.
In 336 BC, Philip II was assassinated and Alexander took the throne at the age of 20. He immediately began expanding his kingdom by conquering the nearby city-states of Greece and then turned his attention to the Persian Empire. This was no small task however as the Persian Empire was the superpower of its day.
Alexander's conquests of Persia were legendary. He defeated the Persian king Darius III in several battles and eventually conquered the entirety of the empire, no small task given its size. He also defeated the armies of Egypt, India, and even parts of modern-day Pakistan. In doing so he amassed an enormous empire unified under greek culture, also known as hellenization.
Alexander's military genius was not only in his ability to defeat his enemies but also in his ability to incorporate the cultures and customs of the people he conquered into his own empire. He was able to maintain control over his vast empire by promoting cultural exchange and encouraging the spread of Greek culture throughout the conquered territories. Something that was also carried on by his generals after his death.
Alexander's conquests were not without their drawbacks. He was known for his harsh treatment of defeated enemies and his campaigns resulted in the deaths of thousands of people. He also implemented policies that resulted in the displacement of many people and the destruction of cities.
Despite his untimely death and the power struggle between his generals, Alexander's legacy lives on. He is remembered as a great leader and military strategist, and his conquests had a profound impact on both the ancient world and ours today. His empire paved the way for the spread of Greek culture and ideas, which had a lasting impact on Western civilizations for thousands of years.
Alexander the Great was a complex, controversial, and pivotal figure in history. He was a brilliant military strategist who expanded his kingdom to become one of the largest empires in the ancient world, but it wasn't with out the heavy price of death and destruction.
The legacy he left behind changed the face of the planet and paved the way for the politics, philosophies, and cultural exchange. Alexander's actions set in motion a domino effect that would change the Jewish world that would have ripple out for centuries.