World Rulers: Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Genghis Khan

World Rulers

Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Genghis Khan

This paper will explore the lives of three of the most well known

rulers in human history, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and

Genghis Khan. This will first consist of an examination of the

personalities and gifts of each of these rulers. Details of the course

and extent of the conquests and achievements of each individual will

follow this. The lasting contributions made by these three men will

then be noted. The first ruler under consideration is Alexander the

Great. He was the son of Philip II , King of Macedonia, and his wife

Olympia, in the year 356 B.C. (^Alexander^). He was a student of

Aristotle, and gained interests in the areas of philosophy, medicine,

and scientific investigation (^Alexander^). Aristotle took great care

in providing Alexander with a very structured and disciplined education

(Williams 7-9). However, Alexander^s father, Philip II, would not

allow Alexander to form the habits of a recluse.

Bust of Gaius Julius Caesar in the National Archae...

Bust of Julius Caesar from the British Museum

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Philip initiated

Alexander early with the duties of his high station. It was in this

role that Alexander showed his ability to lead men, and be a great

administrator. At age sixteen, Alexander was appointed Regent of

Macedonia, while Phillip was detained at the siege of Byzantium

(Williams 10). It has been noted that Alexander, by this point, had

already astonished some Persian deputies by the pertinency of his

questions, and the acuteness of his intellect (Williams 10). By the

time he was eighteen, Alexander had commanded the left wing of the army

at the battle of Chaeroneia, and defeated the Thebans (Williams

10-11). The following is an account of the words of Arrian, an

acquaintance of Alexander. He spoke these words Alexander^s death on

June 13, 323 B.C.:

Let him who would vilify Alexander, not select...