Please write a brief biography of Hannibal and explain whether or not you think his reputation (in Roman eyes) as a monster was deserved.
Hannibal was the general of the Carthaginians. He was born in 247 BCE, in Carthage. When he was born, Carthage was already about to lose the First Punic War to Rome. Rome had completely stripped Carthage from everything, and at the time Carthage was one of the wealthiest and nicest sea ports in the world. He father was a general for Carthage, and between his dads career and Carthage losing the war. This left an everlasting scar on Hannibal. Once his father died, he decided that he wanted to be apart of Carthage's military. As soon as Hannibal became the leader of the Carthage army, he decided to invade Italy and completely destroy Rome with his troops, calvary, and even elephants. I think his reputation in the Romans eyes was deserved because he completely destroyed their towns and everything they had out of no where. He even used elephants. If I were a Roman, I'd think Hannibal was a monster too.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Daily 1- Week 5
How was the Struggle of the Orders influential on later Roman politics?
The Struggle of the Orders influenced Roman politics an extraordinary amount. Once the Plebeians finally realized that they needed to do something in order for their word to be heard against the Patricians. The Roman government decided that the Plebeians would select one person to speak for their group, and that one person had the right to either accept Patrician laws or veto them. When this happened, the Patricians finally didn't have complete control over Roman politics. Also, the less wealthy of the Roman world- the Plebeians, were finally able to accept laws and deny laws that they thought were fair or unfair to their own people. The Plebeians opinion was now just as important, or more important, than the Patricians.
The Struggle of the Orders influenced Roman politics an extraordinary amount. Once the Plebeians finally realized that they needed to do something in order for their word to be heard against the Patricians. The Roman government decided that the Plebeians would select one person to speak for their group, and that one person had the right to either accept Patrician laws or veto them. When this happened, the Patricians finally didn't have complete control over Roman politics. Also, the less wealthy of the Roman world- the Plebeians, were finally able to accept laws and deny laws that they thought were fair or unfair to their own people. The Plebeians opinion was now just as important, or more important, than the Patricians.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Special Question
Please write a five paragraph essay on the question: Was Alexander's adventure really worth it? In your body paragraphs, you must cite specific examples to back up your thesis -- examples must include one from each of the following: Egypt, Persepolis, Afghanistan, India.
Alexander's main goal was to become a legend and to avenge Persian wrongs. From what history shows and tells us today, Alexander's adventure was 100% worth it. He fulfilled both goals, along with a million other goals that no one could ever dream of doing at the age, place, and time Alexander was at in his life. Between his adventures and accomplishments in Egypt, Persepolis, Afghanistan, and India, Alexander's adventures were truly astonishing.
While in Egypt, Alexander helped them a great deal. He built homes, work centers, towns, and most importantly libraries. This was a huge impact on the Egyptian world, and they loved Alexander for what he did for them. Even though this seems like a waste of money and time, Alexander was slowly building up an ally so he could take the entire Persian Empire. This was an extremely smart decision of Alexander to make. The time, money, and power spent to make Egypt as big and strong as it was due to Alexander, was completely worth it. The Egyptians helped him take the Persian Empire, not only because Alexander did all of those things for him, but also because they had a deep hatred for Persia also. For Alexander to pick Egypt to spend time, money, and power on was an extremely smart decision.
Once Alexander reached Persepolis, he destroyed and killed everything and everyone he saw. Nothing was going to stop him and his army. His goal was to make it to the Persian Empire and that was exactly what he was going to do. By destroying Persepolis, it showed how daring and powerful Alexander was. Persepolis was the wealthiest city in the world at that time. For Alexander to destroy this entire city and kill everyone in it was extremely brave, and it showed the Persian Empire that he didn't care what he had to do to get to Persia, he was going to do it. This adventure was worth it because it showed everyone that he didn't care what he had to do to avenge Persian wrongs, he was just going to do it.
Afghanistan was also one of the many places Alexander won in battle. This battle took 3 years, but in the end Alexander gained Afghanistan and joined it to his growing empire. Even after Alexander's death, Afghanistan was never regained by its original people. This conquest was also extremely worth it. Slowly, Alexander was making his empire bigger and bigger before he had a chance to take over the entire Persian empire. This was an unbelievably smart decision because by the time he would take over the Persian Empire, he would already have the biggest empire in the history of the world. Even though Afghanistan didn't seem like that big of an accomplishment, it truly helped Alexander prove himself in the end.
India was one of Alexander's final, yet still astonishing, accomplishments. Once Alexander had found India, he decided he automatically wanted to go into battle. He wanted India, and there was nothing stopping him. Even though Alexander's army faced elephants, he still won and added India into his huge empire. India was a definitely worth it. By adding India into his empire, he gained an extra ordinary amount of land. Also, he gained many friends and allies, including the leaders he had defeated, which helped him to keep on conquering and to become stronger and stronger as he went on.
As you can see, every single one of Alexander's adventures was worth it. Everything he did for this new claimed lands, and everything he gained helped him out in the long run. Every battle and every injury made him stronger as he went on. Alexander the Great's adventures made him famous, still to this day, and helped him fulfill his and his father's dream of avenging Persian wrongs.
Alexander's main goal was to become a legend and to avenge Persian wrongs. From what history shows and tells us today, Alexander's adventure was 100% worth it. He fulfilled both goals, along with a million other goals that no one could ever dream of doing at the age, place, and time Alexander was at in his life. Between his adventures and accomplishments in Egypt, Persepolis, Afghanistan, and India, Alexander's adventures were truly astonishing.
While in Egypt, Alexander helped them a great deal. He built homes, work centers, towns, and most importantly libraries. This was a huge impact on the Egyptian world, and they loved Alexander for what he did for them. Even though this seems like a waste of money and time, Alexander was slowly building up an ally so he could take the entire Persian Empire. This was an extremely smart decision of Alexander to make. The time, money, and power spent to make Egypt as big and strong as it was due to Alexander, was completely worth it. The Egyptians helped him take the Persian Empire, not only because Alexander did all of those things for him, but also because they had a deep hatred for Persia also. For Alexander to pick Egypt to spend time, money, and power on was an extremely smart decision.
Once Alexander reached Persepolis, he destroyed and killed everything and everyone he saw. Nothing was going to stop him and his army. His goal was to make it to the Persian Empire and that was exactly what he was going to do. By destroying Persepolis, it showed how daring and powerful Alexander was. Persepolis was the wealthiest city in the world at that time. For Alexander to destroy this entire city and kill everyone in it was extremely brave, and it showed the Persian Empire that he didn't care what he had to do to get to Persia, he was going to do it. This adventure was worth it because it showed everyone that he didn't care what he had to do to avenge Persian wrongs, he was just going to do it.
Afghanistan was also one of the many places Alexander won in battle. This battle took 3 years, but in the end Alexander gained Afghanistan and joined it to his growing empire. Even after Alexander's death, Afghanistan was never regained by its original people. This conquest was also extremely worth it. Slowly, Alexander was making his empire bigger and bigger before he had a chance to take over the entire Persian empire. This was an unbelievably smart decision because by the time he would take over the Persian Empire, he would already have the biggest empire in the history of the world. Even though Afghanistan didn't seem like that big of an accomplishment, it truly helped Alexander prove himself in the end.
India was one of Alexander's final, yet still astonishing, accomplishments. Once Alexander had found India, he decided he automatically wanted to go into battle. He wanted India, and there was nothing stopping him. Even though Alexander's army faced elephants, he still won and added India into his huge empire. India was a definitely worth it. By adding India into his empire, he gained an extra ordinary amount of land. Also, he gained many friends and allies, including the leaders he had defeated, which helped him to keep on conquering and to become stronger and stronger as he went on.
As you can see, every single one of Alexander's adventures was worth it. Everything he did for this new claimed lands, and everything he gained helped him out in the long run. Every battle and every injury made him stronger as he went on. Alexander the Great's adventures made him famous, still to this day, and helped him fulfill his and his father's dream of avenging Persian wrongs.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Weekly 4b
Does Power Corrupt? How or How Not? Why or Why Not? Do you think Alexander was corrupted? And who influenced whom the most: Did Persia become more Greek or did Alexander becoming more Persian?
Power can corrupt, but it doesn't necessarily always happen. Many rulers and leaders in the past have had a HUGE amount of power. But, some of them didn't know how to deal with it, therefore, they were overthrown or killed. These rulers either became too controlling, lost their minds, or just became plain evil. In some cases, leaders and rulers actually know how to use their power for the better. They use it to help the people, and to benefit their countries. Power is a very hard thing to handle, and in some instances rulers just can't handle it.
Alexander was corrupted, to a point. Alexander knew how to use his power to protect himself and his land, but he also knew how to use it to manipulate people. Before conquering other cultures and people. Alexander used his power to build up his army and to become strong enough to conquer other parts of the world. Also, he used his power to convince his army that they needed to fight as much as they could in order to avenge Persian wrongs. By having this power and authority, he was able to build the best army in the world at that time and he was ready for anything that ANYONE threw at them.
Alexander also used his power to show other parts of the world that he was the greatest and the best. He conquered anywhere he could, and he even slaughtered an entire village of Greek people that fought with the Persians when they went against Greece. This shows that Alexander had too much power for himself, and he thought that he could do anything; including killing an entire village of people. Alexander was not as corrupt as he could have been; many times he was civil with Persians and his army. But, he still didn't use his power to benefit sometimes; he used it to show the world that he controls.
Alexander used his power mainly to make himself a myth. As soon as his father died, he decided to hire a biographer to write about his future adventures, and set out on a journey to "avenge Persian wrongs." Yes, avenging Persian wrongs was a thing that the Greeks had wanted to do for years, but why hire a biographer? Obviously he wanted to be remembered and he wanted people to know how great he was. Also, he changed his name to "Alexander the Great;" this shows that he thought highly of himself and he wanted other people to think the same way. Finally, Alexander seems as if he only avenged Persian wrongs, hired a biographer, and killed thousands of people just to be remember.
In the end, Alexander seemed to become more Persian. During the wars, he took mercy on many different Persian people, and occasionally when the Persians complained about how he treated them and their traditions, he would stop. For example: When Alexander took over the Persian Palace, he flipped the table over and stood on it. One of the Persian people cried that it was such a disgrace what he was doing and how he could disrespect the Persian leader's table like that. Alexander actually felt bad about and was about to turn the table back to its original position before one of his soldiers stopped him and told him that what he was doing was perfectly okay. Alexander also took in many Persian traditions towards the end, which really upset his army. Alexander didn't truly care about what his army thought, he wanted to pursue Persian traditions so he did.
As you can see, Alexander had many rights and many wrongs. Overall, he kept himself together and fulfilled his dream of conquering the Persian empire; along with many other empires. Alexander the Great kept moving on no matter what anyone had said, or who got in his way.
Power can corrupt, but it doesn't necessarily always happen. Many rulers and leaders in the past have had a HUGE amount of power. But, some of them didn't know how to deal with it, therefore, they were overthrown or killed. These rulers either became too controlling, lost their minds, or just became plain evil. In some cases, leaders and rulers actually know how to use their power for the better. They use it to help the people, and to benefit their countries. Power is a very hard thing to handle, and in some instances rulers just can't handle it.
Alexander was corrupted, to a point. Alexander knew how to use his power to protect himself and his land, but he also knew how to use it to manipulate people. Before conquering other cultures and people. Alexander used his power to build up his army and to become strong enough to conquer other parts of the world. Also, he used his power to convince his army that they needed to fight as much as they could in order to avenge Persian wrongs. By having this power and authority, he was able to build the best army in the world at that time and he was ready for anything that ANYONE threw at them.
Alexander also used his power to show other parts of the world that he was the greatest and the best. He conquered anywhere he could, and he even slaughtered an entire village of Greek people that fought with the Persians when they went against Greece. This shows that Alexander had too much power for himself, and he thought that he could do anything; including killing an entire village of people. Alexander was not as corrupt as he could have been; many times he was civil with Persians and his army. But, he still didn't use his power to benefit sometimes; he used it to show the world that he controls.
Alexander used his power mainly to make himself a myth. As soon as his father died, he decided to hire a biographer to write about his future adventures, and set out on a journey to "avenge Persian wrongs." Yes, avenging Persian wrongs was a thing that the Greeks had wanted to do for years, but why hire a biographer? Obviously he wanted to be remembered and he wanted people to know how great he was. Also, he changed his name to "Alexander the Great;" this shows that he thought highly of himself and he wanted other people to think the same way. Finally, Alexander seems as if he only avenged Persian wrongs, hired a biographer, and killed thousands of people just to be remember.
In the end, Alexander seemed to become more Persian. During the wars, he took mercy on many different Persian people, and occasionally when the Persians complained about how he treated them and their traditions, he would stop. For example: When Alexander took over the Persian Palace, he flipped the table over and stood on it. One of the Persian people cried that it was such a disgrace what he was doing and how he could disrespect the Persian leader's table like that. Alexander actually felt bad about and was about to turn the table back to its original position before one of his soldiers stopped him and told him that what he was doing was perfectly okay. Alexander also took in many Persian traditions towards the end, which really upset his army. Alexander didn't truly care about what his army thought, he wanted to pursue Persian traditions so he did.
As you can see, Alexander had many rights and many wrongs. Overall, he kept himself together and fulfilled his dream of conquering the Persian empire; along with many other empires. Alexander the Great kept moving on no matter what anyone had said, or who got in his way.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Daily 8- Week 4b
Based on what you know about Aristotle, do you think Alexander had listened carefully to his tutor?
I think everything Alexander learned from Aristotle he used on his journeys. If Alexander wouldn't have listened to Aristotle, he wouldn't have known about certain parts of land, what he was going to encounter, who he was going to encounter, where he was going, etc. Aristotle influenced Alexander life a tremendous amount, and I believe without Aristotle Alexander wouldn't have made it as far as he did. Sure, he knew how to fight and win battles, but it's a matter of knowing WHO you're fighting, WHAT you're fighting for, and WHERE you're fighting. If Alexander wouldn't have learned specific details from Aristotle he would have been completely off, and failed his quested long before he even had a chance to make it to Persia.
I think everything Alexander learned from Aristotle he used on his journeys. If Alexander wouldn't have listened to Aristotle, he wouldn't have known about certain parts of land, what he was going to encounter, who he was going to encounter, where he was going, etc. Aristotle influenced Alexander life a tremendous amount, and I believe without Aristotle Alexander wouldn't have made it as far as he did. Sure, he knew how to fight and win battles, but it's a matter of knowing WHO you're fighting, WHAT you're fighting for, and WHERE you're fighting. If Alexander wouldn't have learned specific details from Aristotle he would have been completely off, and failed his quested long before he even had a chance to make it to Persia.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Daily 6- Week 4b
How did Alexander create his own myth?
Alexander created his own myth in many different ways. First, he hired his own personal biographer. He paid this biographer to write about his travels, defeats, and anything that happened when he decided to conquer the world. But, also this biographer could have written down anything he wanted to. Alexander could have ran into major problems or had more defeats than we know about, and he could have just told this biographer not to write it down. Also, he created his own myth because by the time he was 19, he was already set on conquering Persia for their wrongs. That's a huge step for a brand new leader that's only 19. Finally, he made his own myth because he never let anything stop him. No matter what he ran into, who he faced, or what went on he never stopped his dream on conquering Persia and gaining all of their land.
Alexander created his own myth in many different ways. First, he hired his own personal biographer. He paid this biographer to write about his travels, defeats, and anything that happened when he decided to conquer the world. But, also this biographer could have written down anything he wanted to. Alexander could have ran into major problems or had more defeats than we know about, and he could have just told this biographer not to write it down. Also, he created his own myth because by the time he was 19, he was already set on conquering Persia for their wrongs. That's a huge step for a brand new leader that's only 19. Finally, he made his own myth because he never let anything stop him. No matter what he ran into, who he faced, or what went on he never stopped his dream on conquering Persia and gaining all of their land.
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