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Alexander the Great

Organization of the Empire

Upon his return, Alexander entered into a frenzy of administrative activity. This period of his life has exercised as much fascination for historians as his military exploits. A few examples will suffice.

He took a Persian wife, and encouraged his officers to do likewise, arguing against the traditional Greek parochialism. He had already founded many Greeks cities and now founded many more, giving land to his veterans. He instituted a common currency throughout his lands. And he spoke of all his peoples being united under him.

These and other actions, combined with certain speculations and assertions made by ancient writers, have led some modern historians to believe that Alexander was somehow aiming at some sort of universal brotherhood - the famous phrase is "the intermingling of peoples."

Not only are the sources for this slim and speculative, evidence from other parts of Alexander's life show it to be most unlikely. That he aimed at world domination is undoubted. But he probably sought no more than to be king of it all, and sought only to govern as he thought best.

Arabia

We have clear evidence of Alexander's near-term plans. Even as he was implementing reforms he was planning new conquests. He ordered his generals to prepare an expedition into Arabia.

How far would Alexander have gone? Into Arabia, certainly. Into Russia, probably. Possibly into Africa or Europe. But we cannot know this, for he never got further than Babylon. Before he could embark on his expedition into Arabia, Alexander died.