Alexander the Great is considered one of the greatest military leaders of all time. His Macedonian empire spread from Greece to northwestern India and was conquered before the age of 32. His accomplishments are owed to his military genius in utilizing infantry, cavalry, and extraordinary courage at the right time. Alexander the Great’s impact made an everlasting change to the world, both in the East and the West.
It would be more appropriate to state that Alexander the Great opened the East to the West by uniting massive lands and establishing trade and cultural contacts between Greece and the Mediterranean, Egypt, Syria, and Bactria. To become a true tzar of Asia, Alexander was combining in his clothing features of Persian and Macedonian styles. The leader brought to Macedonian people luxuries, perfume, and odorous oils. The such interchange between the cultures is saved until current days.
Alexander the Great’s achievements have inspired many of the strong men of history, such as Ceasar, Charlemagne, and Napoleon. According to Plutarch and Suetonius, Ceasar cried when he saw the statue of Alexander, realizing that Cesar was the same age when Alexander died because he had not achieved nearly the same. Thus, Alexander served as a source of encouragement in the classical era. Additionally, Alexander the Great was a large inspiration for Napoleon’s campaign in Egypt and Syria. Yet to this day, world leaders take notes from Alexander the Great. Alexander was trained by the philosopher Aristotle and was especially interested in Homer’s literature. That is why Alexander respected the culture of the places where he was fighting and paid special attention to art and literature development. During long military routes, Alexander took with him scientists and historical writers to discuss philosophy and his thoughts on the way.
Overall, Alexander the Great influenced the Western world in many ways. The leader spread and developed Greek culture, united various nations, and spread knowledge and inspiration to others. Additionally, he inspired many leaders to focus not only on military prowess but also on their academic achievements. This led to an increase in the quality of the Western leaders with a focus on governing and improving the efficiency of the state instead of dominating the population. This made perpetual changes so leaders became educated and more successful than previously, and such trait in leaders is still sought after in contemporary times.