Highlights of the career of Alexander the Great...

1. Alexander the Great From “Peoples and Empires”,by Anthony Pagden Reviewed by Terry Onley

2. Alexander’s empire was the largest the ancient world hadknown, although it only lasted from 336 – 323 B.C. His vision was of universal empire, diverse cultures living together in peace…

3. In order to achieve this, he put together the largest army ever to leaveGreek soil, armed with long pikes and advancing in phalanxes, whopunctured many people and thus brought peace to a large portion of the ancient world. Especially the ones whowere punctured… There were some 5,000 horsemen, too, who also did a fair bitof puncturing and whatnot.

4. When confronted with the puzzle of the Gordian Knot,Alexander just drew his swordand cut the knot, thus creating an aura of divineapproval for his campaign of conquest… Oops Good thing he had sharpened his sword earlier that day;My, wouldn’t that have been embarrassing?!

5. Alexander died in the spring of 323 B.C., apparently of acutealcoholism. His empire pretty much died withhim. The idea that such conquest and empire was possible did not, however. His vision of empire lived on,as a model for many aspiring empire-builders to come…

7. Images, all slides: Google Images