The figure of Alexander the Great gained great fame in Western history due to his extensive conquests and undeniable victories. The image of Alexander is still widely used in legends and myths, which is why he was assigned the label of “the first true superhero of Western civilization”. Nevertheless, not everyone agrees with the reputation given to Alexander, refuting the heroism of his motives and the ability to govern the state. Thus, despite the irrefutable victories of Alexander the Great, it is difficult to call him the first true superhero of Western civilization because of the methods to which he resorted.
Firstly, Alexander’s reputation was deserved mainly due to major territorial expansion. One of the key battles of Alexander the Great was the conquest of Persia. He was a brave young man and often took part in battles himself, becoming one with his army. Alexander’s resources were much less significant than those of his opponent. Having a weaker fleet and a precarious financial situation, he risked enough by attacking Tyre (Spielvogel, 2020, p. 93). However, he managed to win, and victory in the battle revealed his magnificent military talent and strategic skills, which determined his title as the first superhero of Western civilization. Subsequently, he also managed to significantly expand his territories, which complemented his heroic image in the eyes of the people.
Secondly, under Alexander, Greek culture developed vastly, becoming one of the key cultures in the Western world of that era. Alexander’s intellectual talent was manifested not only in matters of warfare but also in the concept of universal humanity, which he tried to expand (Spielvogel, 2020, p. 96). Uniting Macedonians, Greeks, and Persians, he created a new era of Hellenism (Spielvogel, 2020, p. 96), distinguished by the spread of Greek culture far beyond the country’s borders. Alexander the Great firmly cemented his big name in history and elevated the nation for many years, confirming his reputation.
In my opinion, the label of the first superhero of Western Civilization cannot be assigned to Alexander the Great, given the sacrifices he resorted to during his conquests. Alexander’s generalship talent cannot be denied, but his authoritarianism and cruelty are difficult to associate with the title. Breaking the reputation of a “superhero”, it is worth paying attention to how historians reveal the motives for developing Greek culture in different ways. Thus, some see the reason for the spread as the desire to strengthen the power and create an autocratic monarchy (Spielvogel, 2020, p. 96). During his campaigns and conquests, the king thoughtlessly risked the lives of his soldiers for completely selfish reasons (Spielvogel, 2020, p. 96), not thinking about the welfare of the people under his command. He brutally killed indigenous peoples and neglected administrative duties, which eventually weakened his kingdom (Spielvogel, 2020, p. 96). From my point of view, a person with the title of a “superhero” cannot resort to such methods even to expand the territory.
From all of the above, it follows that Alexander the Great is indeed a significant figure in the development of Western civilization. He contributed to securing his name for many years, not disdaining the cruelest methods to achieve his goals. However, historians evaluate Alexander’s actions differently despite all the conquests, which gives a more objective assessment of his actions. Thus, the “superheroism” of Alexander the Great is a question in the context of modern historiography.
Reference
Spielvogel, J. J. (2020). Western Civilization: Volume I: To 1715. Cengage Learning.