Alexander the Great by Charlotte Tauss

 1) Even though at times I disagree with Alexander's decisions, I believe he is a great man and a great leader. He fought against armies from Greece, the Persian Empire, Illyria, Thrace, Getae, and Sogdiana, and he never lost a battle. To do that, you have to be a great leader and general. He expanded his empire more than I could've ever expected when we first set off after Darius. Alexander is always in the front line. He's always fighting with us, not just ordering us around. He inspires all of his men, including me. Before every battle he talks to as many of us as possible, preparing us to fight, and actually calling us by our names. He cares about his men, and knows almost everyone's name, including mine. He also understands that we miss our families. When homesickness strikes, moral becomes low. Since I've been fighting for Alexander for quite some time, he allows me and many other soldiers to occasionally visit our wives and children. Alexander may have killed many people, but he has accomplished much, and he is a kind person. That is what makes him great.

2) I have seen firsthand how the cultural diffusion Alexander has caused has helped his empire, and the world in general. The blending of cultures has created a new language. This new language helps immensely with trade. Merchants can communicate easily, and exchange ideas with out linguistic barriers. This mix of people also helps discoveries and ideas to be passed around. I've heard of many new developments in Science, Mathematics, and Physics. One man even calculated the circumference of the earth. I visited Alexandria briefly and saw what an impact the new Hellenistic culture has made on the city. After seeing all the trade, and hearing of all the new discoveries and advancements I can't see why this cultural diffusion could be bad. It has brought people together, that under other circumstances would have never met, and these people are changing the world. Knowledge is power, by sharing all these ideas with different cultures we are spreading and gaining more knowledge, and therefore gaining more power, that definitely aids Alexander's empire.
3) Alexander the Great is a lot like Thomas Jefferson. Alexander took the small Macedonian empire and expanded it so that there was a very large amount of land under his control. Thomas Jefferson doubled the size of America during his presidency. Both men took their "kingdoms" and expanded them, helping their economies, and generally helping their citizens. Also, they both made a lasting impact on the world. Alexander spread Greek influences, created a new culture all together, and brought together people who created ideas and developed those ideas. Thomas Jefferson expanded America, gaining more resources and eventually living area for Americans. Without him, central America could not be part of America, or have more French influences. In some ways, time has changed the opinions of Thomas Jefferson. Back when he was president, not all Americans were happy about expansion. But today, we know that expansion benefited America, and we can't imagine our country being contained to those thirteen colonies. Back then, not everyone thought Thomas Jefferson made the right decisions, but today most Americans recognize him as one of the most influential presidents in our history.

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