Exploring enduring influence of Alexander the Great across three continents

According to its recent article, CNN features that Alexander the Great's remarkable conquests and legacy continue captivating historians and enthusiasts alike, more than 2,000 years after his death. 

By the time of his death at just 32, Alexander the Great had dramatically reshaped the map of the northern hemisphere, conquering territories across three continents and ruling over regions stretching from Egypt to present-day India—more than 2,000 years ago.

Since his death in 323 BCE, the world has remained fascinated by Alexander, who began his journey from his kingdom of Macedon (modern-day Greece) at the age of 20, determined to overthrow the powerful Persian Empire. He journeyed as far as the Indus River in present-day Pakistan, crossing into modern India, before passing away in Babylon (present-day Iraq).

Over two millennia later, remnants of his empire can still be seen in places like Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan, as well as Greece. In 2024, archaeologists opened the Royal Palace of Aigai to the public, where Alexander was crowned following the assassination of his father, Philip II. This is just one of many historical sites where visitors can connect with the legend of Alexander.

What Alexander accomplished in his brief 32 years is described as “unique” by Paul Cartledge, AG Leventis professor emeritus of Greek culture at the University of Cambridge. He notes that the Macedonian ruler “redrew the map of the world” through sheer force, a stark contrast to his father, who had preferred diplomacy.

Crowned king of Macedon in 336 BCE at just 20, Alexander spent only two years consolidating his power in Europe after the assassination of his father, Philip II, quelling revolts in southern Greece and the Balkans.

In 334 BCE, he set out to fulfill Philip’s ambition of conquering the Persian Empire, the largest empire of the time, leading his army into Asia. Over the course of a decade, Alexander fought through modern-day Turkey, the Middle East, and as far as Afghanistan and Pakistan, decisively defeating Persian King Darius III and claiming the empire for himself. By the time he was 30, his domain stretched from the Adriatic Sea to the Indus River.

He then ventured into the Indian subcontinent and Pakistan’s Punjab province, continuing his conquests into India. However, his exhausted army ultimately revolted. On their way back, Alexander contracted a fever that lasted two weeks, leading to his death in Babylon.

His body was transported to Egypt, where it was said to be entombed in Alexandria, a site venerated by figures like Cleopatra and Julius Caesar. By the fifth century, however, the tomb and his remains mysteriously disappeared, and they have never been found.

Alexander died undefeated in battle, and although his empire fractured soon after his death, Greek remained the official language of administration in much of his former domain for centuries. “That’s why Greek spread throughout the Middle East, and why the New Testament was written in Greek,” explains Cartledge.

Despite being despised by many Athenians who valued democracy over monarchy and empire, and despite some followers of Zoroastrianism, an ancient monotheistic faith, still viewing him as a villain for destroying their sacred records in Persepolis (modern-day Iran), Alexander achieved a near-divine status after his passing.

By Naila Huseynova