Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great

 The smartest and greatest war leaders 

This is certainly not an ordinary historical figure, as this man combined the qualities of intelligence, courage, wit, cunning, wisdom, good management, political and military acumen, as well as nobility, loyalty, magnanimity and acceptance. Not to mention the science, culture and vast knowledge enjoyed by this man, who had a special vision for the world that was completely different from his contemporaries among world leaders; a new world order based on the acceptance and respect of all religions and sects, and then the meeting and fusion of the civilizations and philosophies of all humanity with the Greek civilization and philosophy to which he belonged.

It is worth mentioning that Alexander was the first to come up with the idea of a new world order that unites and integrates the West and the East for a real development of human civilization that is equal for all human beings and accepts all religions, cultures and philosophies.  Alexander the Great was born in Macedonia, the capital of the northern Greek province of Macedonia, in 356 BC 356BC, in the late classical period of Hellenistic Greek civilization. Of course, Macedonia was considered a relatively backward province of Greece, compared to neighboring Greek states such as Athens (the center of science, philosophy, arts and democracy) or Sparta (the center of military power and disciplined methodology) in the classical Greek world at the time. 

Alexander's campaign against the East began in 334 BC. He crossed the Dardanelles Strait from Europe to Asia Minor with his army, and after fierce battles with the armies of Darius III, the last king of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, he conquered the coastal cities of the Aegean Sea. He was able to conquer the coastal cities on the Aegean coast one after another. Then he conquered the coastal cities on the Mediterranean Sea and took control of the Levant and Palestine, from where he entered Egypt through Gaza. 

The Nile Valley countries under the Achaemenid state did not resist, but on the contrary, they received Alexander as a liberator, and the people of Egypt were happy with this change, even the priests of the Temple of Amun in the Siwa Oasis on the border of Egypt and Libya welcomed him and called him the son of the god Amun. Alexander, in turn, accepted the Pharaonic religion and Egyptian philosophy and tried to find commonalities between the Greek and Egyptian civilizations, and he succeeded to a large extent. Alexander the Great did not impose Greek civilization on the peoples he included in his system, but aimed to merge new civilizations with Greek civilization to achieve better philosophical and practical results. 

He believed in the principle of complementarity between different civilizations, not differentiation. Alexander's campaign extended into Anatolia, conquering cities until reaching northern Mesopotamia. The final battle, Gaugamela, ended the Achaemenid Empire. Alexander loved Babylon and decided to make it the capital of his state in the East, showcasing its palaces, temples, and scientific institutions. In 323 BC, Alexander the Great began building a harbor on the Arabian Gulf in southern Iraq. However, fate betrayed him when he died at 33 in Babylon, possibly poisoned in a conspiracy.

His New World Order project, which sought to unite the globe and incorporate all faiths, civilizations, and philosophies for harmonious coexistence and progress, came to a stop with his death. The Ptolemaic state in Egypt, the Seleucid state in Mesopotamia, the Antigonid state in Anatolia, and the Greek state were among the states that made up his empire. These states lasted for three centuries before the Roman Empire took control in 31 BC. This period, known as the Hellenistic era, was characterized by flourishing science and commerce, distinctive architecture, and city-building styles.

Alexander the Great, also known as Alexander III of Macedon, was a famous ancient Greek military leader and conqueror who lived from 356 BC to 323 BC. While he was not Egyptian, his conquest of Egypt in 332 BC had significant contributions and impacts on ancient Egypt. Here are some details about Alexander the Great and his contributions to ancient Egypt:

Conquest of Egypt: In 332 BC, Alexander the Great and his Macedonian army invaded Egypt, which was then under Persian rule. He defeated the Persian governor Mazaces in a swift battle at Pelusium, opening the way for his forces to enter Egypt unopposed.

Foundation of Alexandria: One of Alexander's most significant contributions to Egypt was the establishment of the city of Alexandria. He chose the location strategically on the Mediterranean coast, near the western edge of the Nile Delta. Alexandria would later become one of the most important cities in the ancient world, known for its libraries, scholars, and cultural richness.

Cultural Exchange: Alexander's conquests were accompanied by cultural exchange between the Greeks and the Egyptians. This interaction, known as Hellenization, influenced Egyptian art, architecture, and even the Egyptian pantheon, as Greek deities were often syncretized with Egyptian gods.

Support for Egyptian Religion: Alexander respected Egyptian religion and made offerings to Egyptian gods during his stay. He also visited the Oracle of Amun at the Siwa Oasis, where he was declared the son of the god Amun.

Dynastic Rule: Following Alexander's death in 323 BC, his general, Ptolemy I Soter, took control of Egypt and established the Ptolemaic dynasty. This Greek dynasty ruled Egypt for nearly three centuries, continuing the Hellenization of the country and its cultural fusion.

Library of Alexandria: Under the Ptolemies, particularly during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, the famous Library of Alexandria was established. It became a center of scholarship, attracting scholars from various parts of the ancient world.

Cultural and Scientific Achievements: The Ptolemaic period witnessed advancements in various fields, including mathematics, astronomy, and medicine. Prominent scholars like Euclid, Eratosthenes, and Hipparchus worked in Alexandria during this time.

Trade and Prosperity: Egypt under the Ptolemies remained a prosperous and economically significant region due to its fertile Nile Delta and strategic location for trade.

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