Alexander the Great

By the time most people are settling into a career, Alexander had already conquered an empire stretching from Greece to India, and he did it without ever losing a single battle.

A Prepared Successor

Alexander inherited the throne of Macedon at just age 20 following the assassination of his father, Philip II, who had already built Macedon into the dominant military power in Greece. Alexander was educated in his youth by the philosopher Aristotle, gaining a broad education in science, philosophy, and literature.

The Persian Campaign

Alexander launched his campaign against the powerful Persian Empire in 334 BCE, winning a series of decisive battles against King Darius III. His victories at Issus and Gaugamela shattered Persian military power and opened the way for Alexander to claim vast Persian territories.

Founding Alexandria

During his campaign through Egypt, Alexander founded the city of Alexandria in 331 BCE, which would grow into one of the ancient world's greatest centers of learning and commerce, home to the legendary Library of Alexandria.

Pushing to India

Alexander continued his conquests eastward, pushing as far as northwestern India, where his exhausted troops eventually refused to advance further, forcing him to turn back toward Babylon despite his own desire to continue.

Death and Divided Empire

Alexander died in Babylon in 323 BCE at just 32 years old, likely from illness, though the exact cause remains debated by historians. His vast empire fractured almost immediately among his generals, but his conquests spread Greek language and culture across the Middle East and Central Asia in what became known as the Hellenistic period.