Alexander the Great in His World

Alexander the Great is one of the most celebrated figures of antiquity. In this book, Carol G. Thomas places this powerful figure within the context of his time, place, culture, and ancestry in order to discover what influences shaped his life and career. The book begins with an exploration of the Macedonia that conditioned the lives of its inhabitants. It also traces such influences on Alexander s life as his royal Argead ancestry, his father, Philip II, and his mother, Olympias. The author examines Alexander s engagement with Greek culture, especially his relationship with Aristotle, and contemplates how other societal factors especially the highly militarized Macedonian kingdom and the nature of Macedonia s relationship with neighboring states contributed to his achievement. What was the significance of these influences on the man who succeeded in conquering most of the known world from the Adriatic Sea to the Indus River? The author focuses on this question in exploring ancient landscapes and resurrecting key figures from antiquity in order to penetrate the motivation, goals, and inner being of Alexander the Great.

Alexander the Great is one of the most celebrated figures ofantiquity. In this book, Carol G. Thomas places this powerfulfigure within the context of his time, place, culture, and ancestryin order to discover what influences shaped his life andcareer.The book begins with an exploration of the Macedonia thatconditioned the lives of its inhabitants. It also traces suchinfluences on Alexander's life as his royal Argead ancestryhis father, Philip II, and his mother, Olympias. The authorexamines Alexander's engagement with Greek cultureespecially his relationship with Aristotle, and contemplates howother societal factors - especially the highly militarizedMacedonian kingdom and the nature of Macedonia's relationshipwith neighboring states - contributed to hisachievement.What was the significance of these influences on the man whosucceeded in conquering most of the known world from the AdriaticSea to the Indus River? The author focuses on this question inexploring ancient landscapes and resurrecting key figures fromantiquity in order to penetrate the motivation, goals, and innerbeing of Alexander the Great.

List of Figures viList of Maps viiiPreface ixIntroduction 11 Basic Facts, Generally Uncontested, of Alexander's Life 92 Being Macedonian 223 Being an Argead 554 Being a Neighbor of Greece 985 Surviving by Might 1326 Meeting the Distant Threat 1597 Reconstructing Alexander 191Bibliography 224Index 237