Alexander the Great in His World

Blackwell Ancient Lives

by Carol G. Thomas

Alexander the Great is one of the most celebrated figures of antiquity. In this book, Carol G. Thomas places this powerful figure within the context of his time, place, culture, and ancestry in order to discover what influences shaped his life and career.
The book begins with an exploration of the Macedonia that conditioned the lives of its inhabitants. It also traces such influences on Alexander's life as his royal Argead ancestry, his father, Philip II, and his mother, Olympias. The author examines Alexander's engagement with Greek culture, especially his relationship with Aristotle, and contemplates how other societal factors - especially the highly militarized Macedonian kingdom and the nature of Macedonia's relationship with neighboring states - contributed to his achievement.
What was the significance of these influences on the man who succeeded in conquering most of the known world from the Adriatic Sea to the Indus River? The author focuses on this question in exploring ancient landscapes and resurrecting key figures from antiquity in order to penetrate the motivation, goals, and inner being of Alexander the Great.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Greece

304 pages, Paperback

First published November 17, 2006

Reviews

[Dreams At Dusk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting look at the context into which Alexander was born and how that is likely to have influenced his life’s path. The writing felt weak at points, especially in the final chapter. But overall a useful read; I made a lot of notes.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 2,5

I suppose there is in fact little to be said that hasn't already about Alexander, but this book's approach (it can hardly be called a biography), is not one I enjoyed. Obviously Alexander's world impacted him, but to offer up facts of the politics, religion and society of the years surrounding his life without even bothering to match any of them up with any of the actions of his campaign? I know the author wanted to avoid creating Alexander's personality and character, which is sadly forever lost to us, but there is very little in this book about his actions, which are in fact recorded and backed up.

I do think Philip is portrayed in a very interesting light here, but that's basically it. Barely any mention of Hephaestion, going as far as mentioning him as equal to Barsine, about whom all that can be said is that she (might have) born a child of Alexander's? Yikes

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much has been written about Alexander that I hardly expected to anything new. This book was a pleasant surprise. Thomas reconstructed a probable Alexander from the culture and tradition he grew up in. Her comparison of Macedonia and Persia was unique and refreshing.

[Enes Bilginkaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing book, it really goes into the character of alexander and shows him and his character from many point of views. And the writer helps us understand why he did what he did and how it happened. Great book, cant recommend it more, especially for history lovers.

[Jeanmarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything you ever wanted to know about Macedonia but were too bored to ask. Didn't learn much about Alexander I didn't already know. . . but this is the most readable Macedonian history I've read, told through stories, not lists of facts. Excellent writer.

[AskHistorians]

A fairly academic but very good biography of Alexander.