Another theory regarding the death of Alexander the Great is that he had been poisoned. However, details of his death do not consistently support this notion. It’s typical to think that a conspiracy took place whenever a well-known young person dies without warning. One doctor stated that because of healthy eating and constant physical activity, ancient Greeks lived well into their 70’s if they didn’t fall victim to dying on a battlefield or a childhood disease.
All in all, the previous article suggests that all signs show that Alexander the Great most likely died from typhoid fever, where salmonella typhi (an organism that lives only in humans and spreads through contaminated water or poor hygiene) is most likely to blame. In this article, we will take a look at some of the achievements that Alexander accomplished during his reign.
Achievements of Alexander the Great
If you’ve been living under a rock and are unaware of the glowing accomplishments of Alexander the Great, below are just a few milestones in his relatively brief military career:
After crossing the Hellespont into Asia in 334 BC, Alexander took more than 100 boats with oars to bring his entire Macedonian army to fight the Persians. However, the Persians disregarded his actions, as they relied on their numbers instead of strategic planning when it came to preparing for battles. They didn’t view the Macedonians as a threat and didn’t launch a full attack against Alexander. Instead, the leader of the Persians, Darius, failed to use his resources and as a result, Alexander liberated several Greek towns throughout Asia Minor.
At the Battle of the Granicus River, Alexander positioned his army in such a way that his tactics of immediately attacking Persian forces with intriguing maneuvers that cut down his opponent’s numbers. Alexander was able to gain an advantage by engaging in battle on the riverbanks.
To teach a lesson to Greeks who worked for the enemy, Alexander sent captured Greek mercenaries back to Greece so they could work in the mines. This was to show that any Greek who decided to fight alongside the Persians, would be punished. After battles, Alexander would bury the dead of both Greeks and Persians.
Alexander crossed cultural line to make bonds with others that would help him in the future. For example, he established a bond with Ada of Caria , the former queen of Halicarnassus. She was driven from her throne by a relative and became in possession of the fortress of Alinda, which she surrendered to him. The bond deepened to the point that Alexander looked to Ada as a mother figure. He showed his support for her and in return, she sent gifts, such as the best cooks in Asia Minor to satisfy his sweet tooth. Later on, Ada would formally adopt Alexander as her son, which would ensure the rule of Caria would pass down to her when she eventually passed away.