Was Alexander the Great really that great? - Stephanie Honchell Smith (Level 1)

Alexander the Great was a famous king from Macedon. He lived a long time ago and is remembered for being a very strong leader. Alexander was a brilliant soldier who conquered the huge Persian Empire. He also built many new cities and named over twenty of them "Alexandria" after himself. Supporters say he was a hero because he fought next to his soldiers and spread Greek culture to new places. However, not everyone thinks he was great. Some historians say he was cruel and wanted too much power. He destroyed some cities and may have even hurt his own family to become king. When he tried to conquer India, his soldiers became tired and forced him to stop. Alexander died when he was only 32 years old. He did not plan for the future, so his generals fought over his empire. Whether he was good or bad, Alexander changed the world forever.