Collections: On the Reign of Alexander III of Macedon, the Great? Part I

The author discusses the legacy of historical figures such as Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, and Darius. They note that Genghis Khan's airport in Mongolia is named after him, while King Gezo of Dahomey has an officers' academy named after him in Benin. The author also reflects on Alexander's leadership style, suggesting that his youthful age (he was 18 when he became king) and lack of experience may have contributed to his mistakes. They also mention Philip II's role in preparing Alexander for kingship and the importance of considering the context in which historical figures made their decisions.Some specific points mentioned in the text include:* Alexander's military successes, but also his questionable off-battlefield decisions* The possibility that Alexander's flaws were largely due to his father, Philip II, failing to prepare him adequately* The idea that "great" leaders are often those who have a significant impact on history, regardless of their personal qualities or characterThe text also touches on the concept of intuition and instinct in leadership, citing Alexander's ability to survive close calls in battle as evidence of his uncanny judgment.