Poll - the relevance of Alexander today

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What is the relevance of Alexander today? Vote for as many as you agree with.

Alexander is relevant today because he changed the course of history. His reign began an era of European empires, without which the shape of the present world would be very different.
4
17%
Alexander changed the world as he knew it, but his achievements have little relevance to the shape of today's world, having been overtaken by centuries of subsequent change.
1
4%
Alexander was a major force in world history and by studying his life and times, we can learn lessons on the nature of leadership, the use and misuse of power, the personal motives that impel historical figures, the nature of the world he lived in and by comparing it to our own, better understand our own world and the personalities that shape it.
4
17%
Alexander was a charismatic personality who provides a focus for studying the history of his era - a never-ending subject as new information comes to light and new insights are revealed.
2
9%
Alexander is relevant today because he was a record-breaker who provides an example of what can be achieved by will-power, determination and force of personality.
3
13%
Alexander is relevant today as an example of the destruction, greed and chaos that ensue when absolute power is concentrated in one man's hands.
3
13%
Alexander is relevant today for his impact on western art and culture that still resonates today as the archetype of the hero who achieves greatness and then ensures his immortality by dying young.
4
17%
Alexander is relevant today as gay icon and his alleged love of Hephaestion.
2
9%
Alexander deserves to be forgotten as none of his achievements had any lasting impact.
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 23

Alexias
Strategos (general)
Posts: 1100
Joined: Thu Nov 26, 2009 11:16 am

Poll - the relevance of Alexander today

Post by Alexias »

Presumably Alexander has some relevance to people today as we are talking about him here. But what, and why? An interest in ancient history? But why is that relevant today - a yearning for a time of heroes, knowledge for the sake of knowledge, or because the past has shaped the present? Some options above. Vote for as many statements as you agree with.
Yak_NN
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2018 5:42 am

Re: Poll - the relevance of Alexander today

Post by Yak_NN »

As much as I admire Alexander's life and feats, I don't think that he shaped the Eurocentric world as we know it: even centuries and millenia after he died, the Arab califates and Ottoman Empire, Genghis Khan's Mongol empire and, later on, the USA, all became key world powers that were or are at least as important in as "traditional" powers such as France, Germany or Russia.
Plus, today, the balance of power in the world looks like it's swaying towards China, but that's a whole different topic already...
derek
Pezhetairos (foot soldier)
Posts: 125
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 4:47 pm
Location: Rhode Island USA

Re: Poll - the relevance of Alexander today

Post by derek »

I voted that he changed the course of history, but his actions and achievements have been superseded by everything that's happened since. And I think that holds true for most things. The fall of Constantinople was an earth-shattering event at the time, but means nothing to us now. Hitler started a world war, but the map of Europe is little changed today.

Derek
Alexias
Strategos (general)
Posts: 1100
Joined: Thu Nov 26, 2009 11:16 am

Re: Poll - the relevance of Alexander today

Post by Alexias »

I'm in two minds about the relevance of Alexander's achievements today. Up until the 20th century, Europe was fundamentally shaped by the Roman Empire and its successor, the Catholic Church, followed by Protestantism. Without Alexander's conquests, the New Testament would not have been written in Greek and it would not have been accessible to western Europe. Christianity might not have spread to be the world's biggest religion and ethical philosophy. So is that Alexander's legacy?
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