7 Alexander the Great 7

and emotional instability. The cities perforce complied, but

often ironically: The Spartan decree read, “Since Alexander

wishes to be a god, let him be a god.”

The next year, Alexander suddenly fell ill in Babylon

after a prolonged banquet and drinking bout; he died 10

days later. His body, diverted to Egypt, was eventually

placed in a golden coffin in Alexandria. He received divine

honours in Egypt and elsewhere.

Assessment

As a general, Alexander is among the greatest the world

has known. He showed unusual versatility, both in the

combination of different arms and in adapting his tactics

to the challenge of enemies who used unique forms of

warfare. His strategy was skillful and imaginative. His use

of cavalry was so effective that he rarely had to fall back

upon his infantry for the final defeat.

Alexander’s short reign marks a decisive moment in

the history of Europe and Asia. His expedition and his

own personal interest in scientific investigation brought

many advances in the study of geography and natural his-

tory. His career led to the moving of the great centres of

civilization eastward and initiated the new age of the

Greek territorial monarchies; it spread Hellenism in a vast

colonizing wave throughout the Middle East.

Shihuangdi

(b. c. 259 BCE, Qin state, northwestern China—d. 210 BCE, Hebei)

B

orn in 259 BCE, Shihuangdi (also known as Zhao

Zheng or Ying Zheng) was emperor (reigned 221–210

BCE) of the Qin dynasty (221–207 BCE) and creator of

the first unified Chinese empire. His gigantic funerary