8/6/2019 Cultural Encounter 1a....Alexander the Great: What Motivated Him?

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Humanities 2270Harry A Wilson

January 20, 2011Cultural Encounter 1

Alexander the Great, What Motivated Him?

A study of the vastness of Alexanders empire, his skill as a military general, and the

lasting impact of his conquests on the world, through the centuries, would make onecontemplate what motivated him.

A major influence on Alexander was his father Phillip . He introduced him to

leadership at a young age, making him regent in charge while Phillip was on a militarycampaign. Later, when Alexander was eighteen, he rode into battle with Phillip, learning

military tactics and strategy first hand. Phillips desire to unify the Greek Peninsula andconquer the Persians greatly influenced the young Alexander. It was Alexanders desire

to outdo his fathers exploits, though, that was the real motivator . He complained to hisfriends that his father would not leave enough heroic deeds for them to accomplish.

Alexanders mother Olympias was another major influence on him. She told him at anearly age that he was related to Hercules and Achilles and was destined for great things.

She instilled a mystic sense in Alexander. Later, she told Alexander that his father wasnot Phillip and was in fact Zeus, making him a demi-god. These relationships influenced

Alexander greatly, as he firmly believed that he would lead a heroic life. After he haddefeated the Persians, and had taken Egypt, he took a Pharoh like role, a divine ruler.

Aristotle was Alexanders tutor at age thirteen. He taught him music, mathematics,linguistics, ethics, science and surely gave him a desire to explore and examine other

cultures. He gave Alexander an annotated copy of Homers Illiad, which he is said tohave kept under his pillow through out the rest of his life. His telling of the epic Greek

stories surely inspired Alexander, as did the desire to spread Greek culture.Mimesis and homonia played parts in Alexanders life. He tried to emulate the heroic

deeds and stories he had learned as a child in his own life. His belief in mans

commonality, or being of one mind, seemed to motivate him in trying to merge the manycultures and bring men together under one rule. He took a Persian wife, encouraged hismilitary leaders to do the same, dressed partly in Persian clothes and kept Persian rulers

in some areas. He showed respect for Persian culture and religion, while commingling itwith Greek culture . This led to the development of the Hellenistic period in art and

architecture.Revenge was another motivator for Alexander. He used previous battles, massacres,

defeats and injustices to motivate and excuse his own exploits.Alexanders physical attributes may have also motivated him. He was relatively short

in stature and had a curvature in his neck, which caused him to gaze upwardly at things.History has shown that people with physical challenges often over compensate. The

Napoleon complex being a prime example.Alexander was a complicated man destined for heroic deeds. He was shaped by his

parents, Aristotles teachings, and his own ambitions.

Alexander the GreatHistoric World Leaders.1994. Gale Biography in Context. Web.19January, 2011.