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The Very Short Introductions Podcast
Alexander the Great – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 50
May 26, 2022
Hugh Bowden, Professor of Ancient History at King’s College London, introduces Alexander the Great and discusses his legacy. Topics include the limited information about Alexander's life, various sources of evidence, his conquest of the Persian Empire, and his adoption of local practices.
12:03
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Quick takeaways
- Alexander the Great's integration into the lands he conquered can be understood through inscriptions, depictions, clay tablets, and portrait busts, shedding light on his role as a Pharaoh in Egypt and a Persian king.
- Alexander's empire-building efforts focused on consolidation and maintaining control over conquered territories, adopting Persian court protocols to become the Persian king, which some historians viewed unfavorably as signs of autocracy.
Deep dives
Alexander the Great's Conquests and the Paradox of Knowledge
Alexander III of Macedon, also known as Alexander the Great, is the first person in Western history to be given the title 'the Great.' In his brief reign, he led a remarkable military campaign, conquering territories from Greece through Turkey, Syria, Egypt, and even reaching as far as India. While there are numerous accounts of his life from antiquity, the paradox lies in the fact that we actually know less about Alexander than we think. Historians have presented different perspectives on him, ranging from a torchbearer of Greek civilization to a genocidal tyrant. It is important to examine how Alexander appeared to his contemporaries, which can be gleaned from inscriptions, depictions, clay tablets, and portrait busts. These sources provide insights into his integration into the lands he conquered and shed light on his role as a Pharaoh in Egypt and a Persian king.
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