Alexander Early Life

• Plutarch aimed to explore the motives and character of Alexander
• Diodorus aimed to write accessible history of the world and used a variety of sources
• Arrian's aim as a historian was to present his readers with the truth as he understood it and praise deserving people in a worthy style
• Alexander was the son of Phillip II of Macedon and his wife Olympias
• How was Alexander thought to be related to the Gods?

  -A thunderbolt fell on her womb

  -Phillip dreamt that he was putting a seal on his wife's tomb

  • A snake was seen stretched out next to Olypmias' body
• How did Alexander tame Boucephalas?

  Alexander realised that the horse was disturbed by seeing his own shadow. so he calmed the horse down and mounted him and started to ride him.
• As a teenager, Alexander were taught by the philosopher and polymath Aristotle.
• Phillip, while he was in the city of Thebes he began to improve the Macedonian Army in terms of equipment , tactics and professionalism
• Phillips love affairs resulted in many quarrels between Alexander and his father
• Alexander became King suddenly and unexpectedly when his father was assassinated in the summer of 336