- Alexander was known as a great military genius, yet he overused his power and was a megalomaniac. He was obsessed with his own power. He was tutored by Aristotle in his earlier years of life. The Greeks worshiped him, they showed proskynesis towards him, even though he was only 18/19 years old. In the years of his reign he never lost a battle, but he was only in power for a short period of time. He died at the hight of his power, and he never got time to obtain a downfall. In the “abortive war or Agis III of 331” Alexander took things out of hand. He was constantly recruiting more and more soldiers, even though he left Macedonia behind with very few reinforcement soldiers, so when he wanted more soldiers he threatened to take them form other countries. He used money to get things, and to solve his problems. He didn't necessarily earn his “greatness”, he inherited (Tim Cooke 142-143) it from his father Phillip II. His father brought Macedonia this far, but Alexander did do a fine job of keeping it that far if not farther. Alexander took the position as king after his father was murdered without question. After he took this position he murdered his fathers baby son, son through Cleopatra, and later informed people to murder his uncle Attalus. (Lesley Adkins, 43) His father gave Alexander a mandate to pursue the plan for punishing Persia. Alexander did as he was told and defeated Persia, but he also went beyond that. He left Macedonia behind with his Antipater in charge and was off to take over Persia. He defeated more than just Persia, but when he fought in foreign countries he behaved very poorly. He relied on money, he was an alcoholic, he was constantly wanting more soldiers, and he was just reckless. He was a pothos, meaning he was longing for, and was never content with what he had. (from the perspective of Professor Worthington) In my opinion that isn't great leadership quality because he only cared about himself, not the well-being of others around him. After the battle of “Issos in 333” Commander Darius decided to go towards Media, but Alexander did not agree. Alexander decided to go to Egypt even though Darius did not. Alexander didn't try and pressure Darius into it though. Alexander wanted the money in Egypt so he left Darius alone. All of this led to another battle for Alexander. Alexander looks at things that are directly in front of him, he doesn't quiet see the big picture of things, causing him to make decisions that solve the current problems, but causes much more room for later problems to come.
- What a country is revolving around has much to say about the things they value. Macedonia revolved around expanding their land, and fighting to do so, to win over the land. Due to that it shows they value the expansion of their land. They find it important to expand. Macedonia was large in size in the beginning. It was made up of a large plain surrounded by mountains and hills. (Lesley Adkins, 145) After defeating Greek, during the battle of Chaeronea (338 BC), Phillip II gained control of Greece. His son Alexander defeated Persia in the short amount of years in his reign. They focus much on expanding and winning land. The Macedon's value land and land expansion. If I were to say my mom was great because she gets me a lot of food, then I would be saying that I value food. In Athens they revolve around military, meaning they value protection of there people. Say my parents put me in a great school, and made me always study, that would mean they value my education. People in Ancient Greece found Alexander to be "great". He did do many great things, but they worshiped him. They thought he was amazing and treated him like he was a god to them. Alexander was smart, good with the military, and a hard worker, but due to the fact that they loved him so much they missed the fact that he only cared about himself. They way they viewed Alexander as great is telling us that they value a person who will take action, and and work hard, but it also showed that they don't see the bad in people and they don't see how a person could be selfish. A person calling something "great" is basically saying they love everything about it. They are saying its perfect and "I love it". What someone thinks is great has much to say about what they value as a whole.
- In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Adam and Eve did as God told them not too. They ate from the garden of good and evil so that they could see evil. God gave us a second chance and sent His son (Jesus Christ) to earth to save all of our sins. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not parish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) We are forgiven. Jesus paid it all, all to him we owe. When Jesus was on earth he lived a perfect life, he never sinned. Yes, He was tempted but yet He never once sinned. People thought He was a lier and they hated Him for it. They treated Him so terribly it was like they hated Him. They beat Him, wiped Him, mocked Him, and crucified Him. Yet He still loves and forgives us all. When Jesus was on the cross people were fighting to have His clothes, and He prayed for them to be forgiven as he was dying slowly in pain. Over the years more and more people have started to believe that He is the son of God, but there are still so many people who do not believe. People's perspective of Jesus have changed over years and He is still the same perfect Jesus. He died rose again three days later, ascended into heaven, and the Holy Spirt was left on earth to live inside our hearts. God is three in one. In the bible it says "Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory." (1 Timothy 3:16) When you except Jesus as your Lord and Savior you are being recreated. It is a spiritual change, you are reborn in Jesus Christ. People made a rumor that Jesus didn't actually die and resurrect, but that He was stolen, and released on the day He claimed to have rose from the dead. The jewish religion believes that, they believe we are waiting on the first coming of Jesus Christ, while Christians believe we are waiting on the second coming. Alexander was well loved in his time, but now people are starting to realize that some stuff he did was not great. As people are also starting to believe Jesus is God. Over the years our opinions changed as well did our perspective on people. Yes, time and distance do impact someones "popular perception".
Sources:
Adkins, Lesley, and Roy Adkins. Handbook to Life in Ancient Greece. New York: Facts On File, 1997. Print.
"Alexander the Great." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2014
Cooke, Tim, and Peter Levi. The New Cultural Atlas of the Greek World. London: Brown Reference Group, 2009. Print.
How "Great" Was Alexander? [P.1]." How "Great" Was Alexander? [P.1]. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2014.
"Now Are We In Christ Jesus." Kenneth Copeland Ministries. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2014.
The Holy Bible: New International Version, Containing the Old Testament and the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Bible, 1978. Print.
I really liked what you had to say but make your sentences flow better. Also back up what you say with more clear examples instead of moving on so quick. For an example you said that he was tutored, then you said that the greeks worshiped him
ReplyDeleteI think you need to be more clear on if he deserves the title "great" or not but other than that I thought it was pretty solid
ReplyDeleteIn question 1, I like how you talked about the good things and the bad things about him. You talked more about the bad, so it shows that while he did many great things, he did many bad things as well. I also liked how in question 2, you reffered to yourself and then talked about how they did that in Athens.
ReplyDeleteI like your first sentence. You talked about his obsession with power, then went to him being tutored by Aristotle. It would have been awesome if you expanded on his teachings by Aristotle.
ReplyDeleteI love how you use Jesus's story to answer question 3. You did well showing how people didn't believe him before and hated him, and that now more and more people are believing in him and love him.
ReplyDeleteI thought you did a really good job in question number 1 on looking at it from the negative perspective. I think you could have said a little more on how the Greeks worshipped him, i was a little confused with that part.
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