8. Doomed to die: Alexander in Babylon

‘Doomed to Die: Alexander in Babylon’ looks at the final chapter in Alexander's life, which was set in Babylon. When Alexander entered Babylon after his victory at Gaugamela, he was following a long line of previous victors. None of the surviving narratives mentions a coronation of Alexander in Babylon, but he was definitely recognized as king from the point of his arrival and described as such since. What do we know about the end of Alexander's life? Plutarch and Arrian both give detailed accounts of the last days of his life. They describe how he caught a fever, his health gradually declined, he lost the power of speech, and died. He was only 32. Shortly after, stories circulated claiming that he was poisoned.

6. King of the world: Alexander and Persia

‘King of the World: Alexander and Persia’ examines where the title ‘King of the World’ to describe Alexander came from and his image as a ‘King of the World’. It first appears in the narrative of Alexander's campaign in the story of the Gordian knot. Babylonians had no distinct concept of ‘Asia’, and ‘King of the World’ may have been a Babylonian way of rendering the term ‘King of Asia’. The issue that most concerned ancient writers, and many modern scholars, is the question of whether Alexander wanted his companions to prostrate themselves in his presence. Alexander historians seem to have believed that it was normal for Persians to do so, but in fact only defeated enemies were required to do this.

4. Commander: Alexander and the Greeks

‘Commander: Alexander and the Greeks’ describes what is known about Alexander's treatment of the Greek cities. The narrative accounts of Alexander's life tell us a great deal about how Alexander dealt with the Greek cities. Ancient orators and modern scholars have analysed the question of whether Alexander was a liberator or an oppressor. A better understanding of the issues can be found by looking at the inscriptions put up by the cities themselves at the time. These tell us a great deal about Alexander's actions and their impact. There are two central issues that are important for understanding Alexander's relationship with the Greek cities: the meaning of the word autonomia and the existence of factionalism and rivalry.

2. Prince: Alexander in the Macedonian court

‘Prince: Alexander in the Macedonian Court’ looks at Alexander's childhood and at a number of women who played an important part in his upbringing, such as his mother, Olympias; Eurydice, wife of Amyntas III; and Cleopatra, his sister. Of the Alexander historians, only Plutarch talks about Alexander the Great's childhood, telling many stories about Alexander's mother. Alexander maintained a close relationship with his mother throughout his life and he corresponded with her regularly. Alexander's life in the Macedonian court was interrupted when he went into exile and shortly after his father was assassinated at his sister's wedding leaving Alexander heir.

5. Pharaoh: Alexander and Egypt

‘Pharaoh: Alexander and Egypt’ chronicles Alexander's journey into Egypt, which was the first of the major Near Eastern kingdoms to come under his control. Egypt had a system of government that had been in existence for over two-and-a-half millennia. Two events are important for Alexander's time in Egypt: the foundation of the city of Alexandria and the visit to the oracle of Amun at Siwa. Ancient writers disagree about the relative chronology of the two events. This adds mystery to the first of the two stories. Ancient Alexander Historians all emphasize the personal involvement of Alexander in the construction of Alexandria. They also provide versions of a prophetic story about the foundation. What did the Egyptians think of their new ruler?

3. Warrior: Alexander’s army

‘Warrior: Alexander's Army’ describes Alexander's military campaigning, which he continued throughout his reign and for which he is perhaps most famous. The title of ‘Undefeated’ is deservedly attached to him. Despite the fact that much has been written about Alexander's generalship, the evidence on which these accounts and plans are based is not easy to use; there is much about his achievements that remains a matter of guesswork. The ancient accounts of Alexander's battles and sieges were less concerned with the details of military formations and command structures, and more interested in illustrating the less obvious aspects of war.

9. After Alexander

‘After Alexander’ looks at Alexander's afterlife, and how many of the views of Alexander that are prominent in popular culture came into being. The Alexander that has come to us from ancient historical narratives developed under certain circumstances. He is the creation of Roman authors writing for a Roman audience. However, authors and scholars since Roman times have influenced how we see Alexander as well. The terms of the modern debate about Alexander were set in the Enlightenment. Historians are still trying to decide whether he was a romantic hero or a bloodthirsty tyrant. Did his campaigns bring good or harm? Whatever we think of Alexander the Great, the bigger question is, what did his contemporaries think of him?

7. Traveller: Alexander in Afghanistan and Pakistan

‘Traveller: Alexander in Afghanistan and Pakistan’ considers Alexander's five-year tour away from Persepolis from the Spring of 330 onwards. This journey to the East attracted more unusual stories, and more moralizing commentary, than any other aspect of his career. It is a time in his life that we are still fascinated with. For modern scholars, Alexander's difficulty in dealing with insurgency in Afghanistan and the surrounding areas is the earliest evidence of the impossibility of governing that country. For ancient writers, he was seduced by the idea of luxury in the East. Until recently, there existed little firm evidence to show what Alexander's eastern campaign involved.

1. Before Alexander

‘Before Alexander’ gives a brief history of the Achaemenid Persian Empire and the kingdom of Macedon before they came into conflict, to set the scene for Alexander the Great's era. The Achaemenid Empire was the creation of Cyrus the Great (c.559–530). To maintain hold over such a large and disparate empire required effective organization. Central to the Achaemenid system was the person of the king himself. The Persians established in power the family that would, 180 years on from that point, bring down their own empire. Alexander III (Alexander the Great) was the great-great-great grandson of Alexander I, the son of Amyntas, a Macedonian.

Introduction

The Introduction outlines the life of Alexander the Great, born in 356 bc, king of Macedon from 336 until his death in 323 through what we can glean from the pictorial and literary evidence we have to hand. A further vision of Alexander can be found on coins issued in the period after his death by those who took control of parts of his empires. There are also other images of Alexander that can help us build up a picture of how he was seen by his contemporaries or near-contemporaries. A great deal about the man can be understood by giving greater weight than is usually given to contemporary documents.