Greatest Soldier of All Time: A Look into the Life of Alexander the Great

Ancient Greece is considered to be the seat of Western civilization. It served as the

breeding ground for the development of ideas of political liberty and democratic government.

Appreciation and observation of certain standards for art, science, literature, and philosophy

were actually rooted in ancient Greece (Cawthorne 23).

The very influential Greek civilization was not always a colourful one. It was also beset

by conflicts between Greek city-states, causing them to be at war against each another. How

these Greek city-states evolved into an empire is attributable to a person possessing nearly deity

qualities—Alexander the Great (Alexander of Macedon) (Gergel 40).

The Makings of a Great Warrior

Indeed, the result of Alexander’s conquests was no small feat. It is one of history’s most

treasured accounts of a military leader with unrivalled in military skills and brilliance. However,

Alexander’s seemingly innate qualities were not developed overnight. He laboured hard to

become who he was in history (Roisman 45).

Alexander the Great honed his skills and enriched his intellect through the guidance of a

respected great thinker in the person of Aristotle. He taught Alexander to develop a scientific

curiosity for things. He moulded him to better understand and appreciate the Greek culture,

which is evident in Alexander’s love for the arts (Roisman 45).

Through Aristotle’s influence, Alexander devoted a part of his life to acquiring

knowledge and skills. He nourished his mind and spirit by viewing various works of art and by

reading Greek classics. He absorbed philosophical ideas derived from written classics, and he

dreamed of one day matching the skills of the heroes depicted in Iliad and Odyssey.

Establishment of a Great Empire