Question about Alexander

[Sean]

Hi folks-first time poster. Anyway, my history teacher mentioned, in passing, that there was some speculation that Alexander was amking plans to invade the Italian pennsula around the time that he died, via a massive naval action. This idea has facinated me, but I've had little luck finding anything that expands apon it. What's everyone's opinion on this? Furthermroe, if anyone knows a source or two that might have evidence, so I could look it up online or at my local library, I'd be very appreciative. -Sean

[ruthaki]

Allegedly he was making plans to go to Carthage (modern Tunisia). Who knows, from there?

[beausefaless]

Ruth is so correct, I wrote a short article on this subject in the past, I'll have to dig deep to recall my sources on this one. Alexander was very interested in the silver minds in Spain and he wanted to create a trade route from Macedonia to the far west by land. The Romans had a Greek king in the early days and were slowly being influenced by the Greek colonies from the south shying away from simplicity until Cato "the censor" tried to make his mark on Roman culture(234-149 BC), you could call him an old fashion Republican, anyway Rome wasn't worried about Alexander and Alexander was not worried about Rome plus many leaders from the continent of Italy came to Babylon to pay homage to Alexander.

[Kit]

Hi Sean,There is a lot of speculation surrounding Alexander's future plans. His planned expedition to the Arabian peninsular was believed to be just a prelude to, amongst other things, -1. A Circumnavigation of Africa!
2. A land expedition across north Africa, taking in Carthage, before continuing to the pillars of Herakles (straits of Gibralter).
3. An expedition to the Italian peninsular-the Greeks had many colonies in the south/Sicily, and Alexander's uncle 'Alexander of Epirus' had died campaigning there, later Pyrhus would also campaign there.
4. An exedition to the Caspian Sea.Nicholas Hammond discusses the likely legitimacy of these plans in his book 'Alexander the Great: King, Commander and Statesman' which you should be able to get hold of from your local library.regardsKit.