7 The 100 Most Influential World Leaders of All Time 7

BCE, at the age of 73. According to the Records of the
Historian, 72 of his students mastered the “six arts,” and
those who claimed to be his followers numbered 3,000.

Alexander the Great

(b. 356 BCE, Pella, Macedonia—d. June 13, 323 BCE, Babylon)

A

lexander the Great (also known as Alexander III)
was the king of Macedonia (336 –323 BCE) who over-
threw the Persian Empire. Already in his lifetime the
subject of fabulous stories, he later became the hero of a
full-scale legend bearing only the slightest resemblance to
his historical career.

Life

Alexander was born in 356 BCE at Pella in Macedonia to
Philip II and Olympias. From the age of 13 to 16 he was
taught by Aristotle, who inspired him with an interest in
philosophy, medicine, and scientific investigation. He
soon showed military brilliance, helping win the Battle of
Chaeronea at the age of 18.
In 336, after his father’s assassination, Alexander suc-
ceeded without opposition. He promptly exerted his power
over other Greek states, taking Thessaly and Thrace
before marching on to Thebes, which his army brutally
razed. Some 6,000 Thebans were killed, and all survivors
were sold into slavery. The other Greek states were cowed
by this severity and surrendered to him.

Beginnings of the Persian Expedition

In the spring of 334, Alexander crossed the Dardanelles
Strait with his army, accompanied by surveyors, engineers,
architects, scientists, court officials, and historians. From