Levon Fletcher
G Block
September 29, 2014

#1.)  Does Alexander deserve to be called "Great"?

I think Alexander does not deserve to be called "Great".  Other than his battles won, and conquers of states he was not a great man.  He was more of just a commander than a king.  He lead his people into battle, but could not show them the example of a true leader.  Even with his many great wins in battle he put the Macedonians in bad conditions.  In the war of Agis III of 331 he left only 13,500 Macedonian soldiers with Antipater.  This was a perfect chance for other states to attack the Macedonian people.  Instead of sending soldiers back home to protect, he asked for more to be sent off to war.  The people started to worry, and to make them feel comforted he just sent them money.  He gave the people money as if that would protect them.  Another problem with Alexander is that he was a drunk.  When drunk he would throw violent tempers and kill his own friends!  What man that kills his own friends and people should be consider great?  Alexander also brought trouble into other states and countries. He would slaughter natives of other conquered states. For example when the Tyrians resisted him he slaughtered the males, and sold the females and children into slavery.  He destroyed the Persian culture.  He raged their city and took over.  Forcing them to fight for him in his wars, he raged Persepolis after getting drunk.  He let his social ranking get to his head.  He tried to enforce Proskynesis on his people, which made them bow before him as if he was a God.  The people didn't believe in this.   Alexander should not be called great because most of his actions weren't great at all and hurt everybody around him.

#2.) What can one learn about the values of society based on their views of greatness?

 One can learn the differences in society based off their view off greatness.  When a person looks at one as a great, then looks at another as not such a great they realize the differences between the people.  People usually look at someone great for the things they have accomplished, as some look at Alexander.  But then when they look at the person that really hasn't accomplished much in life they view them as a nobody.  That one that they view great is really equal to the "nobody" in society.  The only difference is that the one they view great has had a bigger impact.  So based off who you view as a great you will realize the difference between others in society.

#3.) Do time and distance impact someone’s popular perception?

 Time and distance does impact someone's popular perception.  For the people that was there to live in the time with Alexander they have a better perception on him.  They had the chance to view his actions up close.  Now people in this time have a choice on their perception, because of papers written and information gathered on Alexander.  The information given could not be all true, causing a person to have the wrong perception.  Time and distance in our generation causes us to not be able to expierence time with Alexander.  So we really don't know the truth of his actions.  Time and distance has a big impact on a person's popular perception.

Citations 

Varin, Andra. "What Made Alexander So Great?" ABC News. ABC News Network, 24 Nov. 2004. Web. 30 Sept. 2014.

"Alexander the Not so Great." BBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2014.

"How "Great" Was Alexander? [P.1]." How "Great" Was Alexander? [P.1]. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2014.

"Pothos.org." - Introduction to Alexander the Great. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2014.

Fox, Robin Lane. Alexander the Great. New York: Dial, 1974. Print.

"Leadership Wired Blog." The John Maxwell Company. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2014.