In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great: A Journey from Greece to Asia

by Michael Wood

Between 334 and 324 B.C. the Macedonian army, led by Alexander the Great, marched relentlessly across Asia. An event of bravery and cruelty, endurance and greed, Alexander's expedition was a turning point in human history. His conquest opened up contacts between Europe and Asia, unleashing astonishing historical energies that continue to affect the world today. This extraordinary book recreates Alexander's 22,000 mile, ten-year expedition from Greece to India, following as much as possible the actual route of his journey. Historian Michael Wood traversed seventeen countries, trekking through the Zagros Mountains to find the lost site of Alexander's battle at the "Persian Gates," drinking black tea in the Hindu Kush, listening to ancient stories of Sikander e Aazem, and crossing the Makran Desert with twenty-three camels. He traveled with Lebanese traders, Iranian pilgrims, Afghan guerrillas, and other local people on a journey that took him through many of the twentieth century's major trouble spots, including Beirut and Kurdistan. Wood bases his account of Alexander's conquest on the texts of Greek and Roman historians, but he also reconsiders the Greek adventure in terms of modern ideas on colonialism, orientalism, and racism. The Macedonian conquest, which has mainly been seen through Greek sources, is illuminated for the first time by medieval travelers' narratives, newly discovered oracles, and prophecies on papyrus or clay tablet. At the heart of Wood's powerful story is the towering, enigmatic character of Alexander the Great. He ascended the throne at twenty, conquered much of the known world before he was thirty, and was dead by the age of thirty-two. A ruthless politician, brilliant military tactician, devoted son, family man, lover of both women and men, Alexander was known for his extreme generosity as well as his ferocious cruelty. Following in the conqueror's footsteps centuries later, Michael Wood overhears the words of the fabled Greek mermaid who calls to passing "Great Alexander still lives!"

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Travel, Ancient History, Biography, Greece, War

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Librarian Note: There's more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Michael David Wood is an English historian & broadcaster. He's presented numerous tv documentary series. Library of Congress lists him as Michael Wood.

Wood was born in Moston, Manchester, & educated at Manchester Grammar School & Oriel College, Oxford. His special interest was Anglo-Saxon history. In the 70s Wood worked for the BBC in Manchester. He was 1st a reporter, then an assistant producer on current affairs programmes, before returning to his love of history with his 1981 series In Search of the Dark Ages for BBC2. This explored the lives of leaders of the period, including Boadicea, King Arthur, Offa, Alfred the Great, Athelstan, Eric Bloodaxe & William the Conquerer (& gave rise to his 1st book, based upon the series).

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 5 out of 5]

March 14, 1015pm ~~ Review asap. Gorgeous book!!

March 18, 1pm ~~ Like most people, I learned about Alexander The Great in school. I loved the story of how he tamed his horse Bucephalus, but other than that he was just another person to learn about in history class.

Then at some point during my early high school years I read Mary Renault's novel The Persian Boy. That was my introduction not only to an awesome writing talent, but also to the idea that there was more to Alexander than dates to memorize.

I noticed this book by Michael Wood while browsing at my favorite online used bookseller and of course had to order it. It sat around waiting for me until I realized that since it is an unusual size I needed to read it and get it onto the only bookshelf I have left with space for books that are bigger than 'normal'. So off I went, following Wood in his journey.

I expected this to be a travel journal type of book, telling the author's adventures along his trek. But Wood concentrates more on Alexander than on himself, which makes the book a fascinating history lesson with a few personal touches here and there. This was not a dry text, the book lived for me. Especially when Wood made comments about standing in the very room where Alexander had stood so many centuries before. There are not many places where it is possible to know such a detail, but Wood was able to find at least two of them. That idea still gives me shivers.

The pictures are stunning. And so many of them show that some places have hardly changed since Alexander's day. It was very easy to look at a picture here and see the army marching, or a picture there and see them in a battle or camping.

This book shows Alexander warts and all. While it acknowledges his achievements, and the fact that he was a world-changing force (he is still talked about in many areas as if he passed through just last week) Wood shows us that Alexander was still merely a man with the typical man's need to prove himself to not only himself, but to his father and the world. Of course this comes from looking at his life through modern eyes with a psychological angle to one's thinking, but Wood's ideas made a lot of sense.

And I ended up wondering about something. Why is it that so many men are so insecure that the need to prove themselves creates a monster in a man suit? So many 'leaders', called great or otherwise, have had this problem. Must prove to Daddy that they are real men. This is a sad thing, and yet it has shaped our world since....well, probably since ever. Proving oneself is part of growing up and becoming an adult. But why is it that certain men get twisted in the process, obsessing over becoming a better king, better conqueror, better anything than their fathers were? Is it really worth all the bloodshed, heartache, and destruction that such a twisted approach to life can cause?

Well, to avoid getting into a maze of critical thinking here, let's just say that on the one hand our world would not be the way it is without all the insecure men of history. But on the other hand our world would not be the way it is without all the insecure men of history.

I enjoyed this book so much that I went back and ordered a few other Wood titles. And I can already say that In Search Of The Trojan War is just as fascinating as this book was. I'm very glad to have finally discovered this author and I am looking forward to all the amazing places we will be visiting together.

[Faustibooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this wonderful book, Michael Wood tells the history of Alexander’s conquests, while at the same time following in his footsteps from Greece to India. The book has many stunning pictures from the different landscapes and ruins Wood and his companions went through during their great travels. By jeep, bus, train, camel, horse, mule and on foot they traversed the more than 30,000 kilometres of Alexander’s campaigns. From the deserts of Egypt, the beautiful ruins in Turkey, the stunning sights in Central Asia or the mountains of the Hindu Kush and the crossing of the Indus, Wood tells an entertaining tale of adventure and history.

For obvious reasons, this has not been attempted by many, as Alexander’s campaigns crossed harsh territories with unforgiving nature, blistering heat and desolated mountains. Unfortunately many of the countries involved also suffered and still are suffering from war, political instability, banditry and warlords. This made Wood’s accomplishments even more remarkable to me.

I loved how many of the ancient sources were consulted on the ground and how things where seen from different perspectives once you’re on the site of a certain event, be it the ruins of an unknown city, the secret path Ptolemy may have taken to flank the Persians at the battle of the Persian Gates or the oysters Nearchus and his companions ate before continuing their naval voyage.

However my favourite part of this book was the legacy of Alexander the Great and the many different interpretations people have of him, which was obvious in Wood’s many interactions with the locals he and his crew came across. Some saw Alexander as a legend whose actions were unparalleled, but to others he was an “Accursed Devil”. Sometimes he was even some sort of bogeyman that would catch children if they didn’t behave or didn’t want to go to bed!!

A very good book! I will definitely have to watch the television series now!

“Great Alexander Still Lives. And Rules.”

[Kelly Grice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the show of this book. The series was magical sadly the book is dull, often boring and phrases and quote’s are repeated. It also shows Alexander, as a murderous despot hell bent on conquering the known world and if any of his men spoke up about when they were going home, he murdered them. Others he tortured and crucified because he was a megalomaniac. The battles are explained in a dull and lifeless manner too.
If you want a decent biopic on Alexander than I suggest you read the works of Mary Renault. I actually wrote my thesis on Alexander and his father, Philip the second of Macedon. I’m glad I never used this work, as part of my bibliography.

[GoldGato · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the printed accompaniment to the television series of the same name. I can be truly objective, as I've never seen the telly portion, so this is reviewed as a stand-alone book. Given the many biographies about Alexander the Great, I was looking for something which integrated the countries and cultures he overran, so this seemed a good fit. While the reader gets the historical overview of Alexander's life and the wars he produced, one also gets a present-day travelogue which actually makes a rather nice combination.

Every biographer seems to have their own perspective on their subject and Mr. Wood comes out on the Alexander-as-power-hungry side. He makes valid arguments and one walks away from this believing that Alexander was a bit of a corrupted maniac who, by the end of his short life, couldn't see the forest for the trees. The photographs and maps are appreciated, as I felt I was right there in the Hindu Kush or the Fortress of Hercules. For such a brief lifespan, I was struck by the lasting impact the young Macedonian made as he basically destroyed each nation he travelled through.

Book Season = Autumn (Persian Gates)

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was given me by Jim DeVoto, at that time a professor of Classics at Loyola University Chicago where I worked with his wife, Paula, in the part-time undergraduate division. Later, Jim and I would both work for the Ares Press and its journal, The Ancient World.

Jim, a specialist in ancient Greek, especially Spartan, history, recommended both Wood's book and the documentary based on it as being substantially accurate, noting that this was unusual for popular works. And popular it is. This is a very accessible introduction to the life (and legend) of Alexander of Macedon.

[Thomas Healy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the finest work by my favorite non-fiction author. Michael Wood brings history to life and makes the reader what to explore and discover more about the events and people he covers. Highly recommended.

[Caleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexander of Macedonia was a somewhat mysterious figure in history but in this book it clears up what his family life and military campaigns were. Alexander was believed to be the son of Zeus but this is not true he was the son of Phillip II and Olympias. He was mainly raised by his mum and really loved the works of Aristotle and was actually taught by him. He grew up to be a proud warrior philosopher and had great potential. When he was 18 he was allowed to be a commander in the Greek army. The campaign was to take over Athens he commanded the Calvary of 2,000 men. In the battle he was successful and was praised for his help in the victory. After some time Phillip remarried Cleopatra and that angered Olympias because the child could take away the throne from Alexander. After the pay were married they had a party where the men got really drunk. One of the generals said something about there soon to be son and how he would rule. This angered Alexander so he threw a drink in the mans face. Phillip drawing his sword made his way to Alexander. Falling down on the way Alexander mocked him on how he could march arcross nations but not across a room. In the theater for the gods Phillip is assassinated and Alexander is made king. With his rule he wanted to conquer Asia. For 11 years he tried but eventually failed causing him to retreat to Babylon. He died of malaria at age 32 in 323 BC.

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this “companion book” to the BBC TV series. I actually believe that I liked the book better because you get to take it at your own pace, and because in the video, the emphasis seemed to be on the modern day journey of Michael Wood and of his actual trail in tracking the path that Alexander and his armies followed in their conquest of the (known) world.
In the book, you get closer to Alexander.
On the screen Wood comes off as another travel writer, however in print, he is a rather good writer and historian. You learn a lot in this book and he doesn’t get to heady or obscure, lost in detail. It is very informative and you get a much better picture of Alexander’s life than perhaps you ever thought possible because Wood sources the oldest and best records of the King’s life.
An interesting take away is in his journey, Wood finds so many people that were taught about Alexander in their upbringing that it shows how deep an impression that he made in Asia and how the memory of him still brings fear in those villages.

[Johan Keppens · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interessant uitgangspunt om de tochten van Alexander de Grote na te reizen, zoals bvb eerder gedaan werd rond Napoleon. Nederlandse vertaling is niet goed geschreven en bevat veel kromme zinnen. Ik wilde al lang een biografie over Alexander de Grote lezen, maar dit was niet de juiste keuze. Het werk is te beknopt om een degelijke achtergrond te geven. Plaatsnaam na plaatsnaam wordt vermeld, maar als je niet erg bekend bent met de geografie van Azië zegt dat allemaal niet veel en wordt het lezen snel saai.
Onbegrijpelijk dat een boek dat veroveringstocht beschrijft geen enkele kaart bevat. Extra onbegrijpelijk voor een ebook. Afrader.

[Victoria Schreiber · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

A really enjoyable book that explores different aspects of Alexander the Great - his biography including his personal relationships, his wars and his legacies among the different countries and people he touched directly or indirectly. Especially the widely varying versions of Alexander the Great in different myths and folklores were interesting to read about. The book is also equipped with beautiful photographs of the countryside Alexander saw and of artefacts that feature him or are related to him. A really enjoyable read!

[Marcella · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book absolutely sounds like the narrative for a PBS show, they must have had the same writers working on it. It was a pretty good overview, I thought. I liked the photos. In the wrap-up / summary, it talked about the long-lasting cultural implications of Alexander's journey; it would have been nice to see more of this throughout the book. As is, I felt like it was a long narrative of conquest, destruction, and murder (which I guess are the main contributions of Alexander himself) and less about what people did about it + how cultures changed.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This read more like a history book than I thought it would. And the chapters seemed a little disjointed, repeating earlier information but maybe the author thought we needed the reminders. I still enjoyed the book and gaining the information about Alexander. It also made me more curious about this time period.

[Christian Tvede Steffensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Den bedste beskrivelse der er om Alexanders episke rejse igennem Asien.
Michael Wood er en verdensklasse historiker der ikke bare har skrevet endnu en bog om denne antikke helt, men selv har rejst hvert en kilometer i Alexanders fodspor og er derfor mere en berettiget til at blive kronet som den største Alexander historiker.

[Wendelle]

Plucky host dude is lucky he was treated throughout his travels as an honored guest with diplomatic immunity, and not a foreign colonial who inspires resentment and memory of the wars flaming all around the area at the time

[Robbin Van Der Linde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tracing every step of Alexanders conquest, in todays world. Loved it.

[S. D. Howarth · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable, very interesting series and an easy to read account on an inspirational individual. Well worth a read.

[Kieran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexander of Macedon is a mysterious figure. In the West, he is Alexander the Great, the Greek king who invaded and conquered Egypt and Persia, taking his army into India, before they forced him to turn back. He was the basis for many classical and medieval works, all focusing on the heroism and kingship qualities of this remarkable leader. This continues today; barely a military history book on the ancient world is published without at least a reference to Alexander the Great.

But there is another Alexander. In the East, where his campaigns took him, he is Iskander, the two-horned devil, prophesied in the Old Testament, recorded in the Quran, and countless local legends and traditions, as a whirlwind that tore through much of the known world. He destroyed all who stood before him, and caused suffering and misery in his wake. Not even the King of Kings was safe from his wrath. And it was in desperation that Alexander's army refused to follow him over the edge of the world. Increasingly despotic, he died as his destructive energies were starting to seek a new outlet.

By following the route of Alexander, Michael Wood uncovered both these men. The fact that Alexander's trail of blood and destruction is still remembered in a region which has seen so much since speaks volumes about what happened. And Michael Wood is the man to bring this story to life.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came back for a second read of Wood's footsteps across continents as he told is visual history of Alexander the Great because a friend commented on the pleasure he derived from a second reading. Me too. I've enjoyed the historic travelogue as much as when I first watched Wood's dramatic telling for BBC TV of Alexander's journey to the edges of the known world. It's still stirring history, especially given that Nato forces and the American military are now in their 11th year in Afghanistan. We seem doomed as a species to dismiss the past as prologue.

The fact that Wood and his crew made this journey across the same routes as Alexander and is vast array of staff and military adds to the emphasis of this history. The photography is stunning. The selection of pieces of art enrich the narrative, as do the maps. Wood is a story-teller, rather enjoying the act of retracing and retelling the story of Alexander as he conquered the world. It's a story we don't seem to learn from, despite its retelling . . .

[Myridian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is half a history of Alexander the Great's rampaging conquest through Egypt, Persia and India, and half Michael Wood's travel journal. There is also a documentary of the same name, which I haven't seen. Throughout I found myself longing for more detail, both about Alexander's and Wood's journeys. I can excuse the lack regarding Alexander (since that was 333 B.C. so there probably isn't a lot of really good detail left), but for Wood's journey I would have liked to hear more about the sociological impact of the Hellenic conquest, and more about the people he met and spoke with. I'm curious about how all of this is played out in the present day. While the book was a fast read and interesting as far as it went, I was left vaguely dissatisfied. I have really liked other documentaries Wood has done in the past, but this book really is probably better as a companion to the show. It does have great pictures.

[Richard Olney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Michael Wood's programmes, his books too. His In Search Of The Dark Ages is the best DVD i've bought this year. Alexander II of Macedon as i recently discovered to my surprise that he is now is now commonly referred to, is an endlessly fascinating, terrifying and sometimes inspiring character.

There are so many versions of Alexander, and this is an excellent late 20th CE perspective of the story, Alexander as conqueror and war criminal is the impression i took. The telling of his tale told while, as much as seems possible, following in Alexander's tracks, going to the places he went to, and searching for traditions among the peoples now living in those places. It adds an extra layer to the book, a very Michael Wood way of doing things.

It really makes me believe there is such a thing as folk memory, even in today's worlds.

[Carlos · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is for anyone who has wondered how exactly Alexander the Great achieved all the things that he did. Wood takes the reader not just through the geography of Alexander’s conquests but also through his impact, more often than not devastating, on the cultures that he came across. He also honestly portrays the psychological profile, as best as he can uncover, of a man so driven to excess. Wood’s honest discussion of his growing despotism and maniacal behavior is particularly eye opening to anyone who has only head the sanitized version of the story. I certainly recommend it to anyone who would like a more down-to-earth understanding of this figure of history.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een zeer boeiend en uitgebreid boek over de veroveringen van Alexander de Grote. Het behoort bij een BBC documentaire en in de Nederlandse vertaling (die ik heb gelezen) bij een Teleac cursus. Helaas heb ik de bijbehorende dvd's niet gezien en dan is het wel erg jammer dat de uitgave geen historische- en moderne kaarten (en eventuele illustraties) bevat. Natuurlijk kun je die kaarten ook op internet vinden, maar dat is wat omslachtiger. Mocht er nog een herziene uitgave hiervan komen, dan graag aanvullen met kaarten.

[Mr. Omar Fakhoury · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Amazing Read!

I have been fascinated by Alexander since first hearing about him in high school, yet never did read a complete book about him. I tore through this one in two days! The author's words convey incredibly solid, delightful images...so detailed and romantically beautiful, I could almost walk into them. The writing brings Alexander to life.

A highly recommended read, full of adventure and mountains of historical information. I can't wait to watch the companion video.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly dated, and with a plethora of editorial comments that reveal the political leanings of the author, "In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great" is intended as a companion book to a TV series. As a stand-alone work, however, the book largely works. I would have appreciated more time spent on Alexander's time in Egypt, but that's a personal bias. Overall I thought this book was a nice summary of Alexander's exploits that serves as an interesting alembic on our times.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Michael Wood's books and this is no exception. Though I've not seen the show which this book accompanies, his text and the beautiful photos throughout are easily a fine substitute.

Alexander is a difficult person to admire, or speak positively about. True, he was a brilliant leader, but he brought nothing but death and destruction to the lands he conquered. I realize this is exactly what conquerors do, but it is hardly admirable.

[Nicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is interesting, but I already know much of the stuff they're talking about from studying Alexander. I think it'd be very, very interesting for someone who doesn't know as much about Alexander as I do, but for me, it got kind of boring.

[Pete daPixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Macedonia through Persia, into Afghanistan, down through Pakistan and India. In typical Wood style of his 'in search of' books, he takes us on the mind boggling journey, even finding modern day remnants of Alexander's army.

[Rick Brindle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book, goes very well with the BBC TV series. Informative and accessible, it tells the story in a very easy to read way, but still leaves you thinking you've learned something. The author's passion for this subject is clearly apparent, and adds to the impact of this book.

[Emma Docherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting as a snapshot of the life of Alexander and really brought home how much he did and how much destruction he caused in a few short years. It would have been good to have a bit more about the journey today but I can see that that wasn't the focus of the book.

[Don Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a literary book. It is a simple but clear Bio on Alexander and between the pictures, maps and pictures it is an enhanced book. The old saying is that a picture is worth a thousand words. Well this book then has hundred of thousands of words.