'Alexander the Great' Summary

Alexander the Great was born in Pella, the capital of the Kingdom of Macedon, in 356 BC. His father was King Philip II, a skilled military leader who had united most of the Greek city-states under his rule. Alexander's mother was Olympias, a princess from Epirus. From an early age, Alexander showed signs of great intelligence and ambition. He was tutored by the philosopher Aristotle, who instilled in him a love of learning and a thirst for knowledge. In 336 BC, when Alexander was just 20 years old, his father was assassinated. Alexander succeeded Philip as king and quickly set about consolidating his power. He defeated several rebellious Greek city-states and then turned his attention to the Persian Empire. In a series of brilliant military campaigns, Alexander conquered the Persian Empire, stretching from Greece to India. He founded numerous cities, including Alexandria in Egypt, which became a major center of learning and culture. Alexander died in Babylon in 323 BC, at the age of 32. His empire was divided among his generals, but his legacy as one of the greatest military leaders in history lives on.