Alexander is considered one of the most important men in Western history. However, as historians we must ask: Is Alexander truly Greek, or does his rule more closely resemble that of imperial rule in the Near East? As a monarch, Alexander's character is best suited to the context of imperial rule in the Near East. This is evident because; Alexander had complete control over his empire, was often portrayed as more than just a man, and was given and maintained his position of power by birthright. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayOne way in which Alexander most closely reflects Near Eastern politics is that he was something of an authoritarian. For example, the passage states that he “often responded to his generals in a haughty and angry manner.” (Plutarch 2) This shows that despite the fact that his generals did not always agree with him, Alexander was still able to proceed with his actions as planned. This is very different from the Greek leaders who were often subject to review and opposition by other statesmen who did not agree with their plans. Another way in which Alexander is more closely associated with Near Eastern rule is that he was often portrayed as more than a man. . An example of this is when it states “it was no wonder that the temple of Artemis had been burned, for the goddess was busy giving birth to Alexander.” (Plutarch 1) This is an example of how even at birth; Alexander was seen as something special and even superhuman. Another example of Alexander's personality was that many statues of him were created during and after his rule. (Plutarch 1) This not only demonstrates the great influence of Alexander, but is also a huge step forward by the Greeks who refused to create statues in homage to people because they felt it was an affront to the gods. The final example of how Alexander was perceived as more than just a man is how he is described as “never frail or sickly”. (Plutarch 1) All of these examples from the passage create Alexander's personality as someone who was superior to everyone else. This is a huge contradiction to the Greek idea of ​​citizen where all citizens are founded on the basis of equality. However, Persia and other Near Eastern cultures were more commonly as authoritative as Alexander's reign. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The final way in which Alexander connects more closely to the Near East than to the For the Greeks is that he obtained his position of power by birthright and was able to maintain it throughout his life. Alexander was a monarch who was granted kingship because his father Philip II had been king before him. (Plutarch 1) For the most part the Greeks were strongly opposed to any kind of monarch who threatened their liberties as citizens. The next example of this is that Alexander was able to maintain his position throughout his life. In contrast, all types of Greek officials were subject to elections after a certain period of time. They would have scoffed at the idea of ​​a ruler for life. This is why Alexander's ascension by birthright distinguishes him from the Greeks. These are the three ways in which Alexander's example resembles the Near Eastern example more than the Greek one.