Which leader had more of an impact on the Western Civilization, Alexander the great or Juluis Caesor, why?

-- Anonymous, November 03, 2003

Answers

Alexander of course. Julius Caesar was murdered by his followers, Alexander was loved. Which name has the greatest impact I ask you?

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2004

By the time you read this your paper will most likely already have been handed in, so I am not sure if you will care to know the answer. However, there is little doubt in my mind that Alexander had the greater impact.

Julius Caesar is notable mainly for his conquests in Gaul and for dissolving what was left of the Roman Republic, giving rise to what eventually stabilized as the Roman Empire. These were large and impressive effects.

However, it is fairly certain that, if JC hadn't conquered Gaul, then another Roman general would have done it with the same army at more or less the same time. JC's major effect here is that he got the job done faster and at less cost than someone else would have.

As for the Roman Republic, Sulla and Pompey had already corrupted it to the point where its dissolution was inevitable. Here Julius Caesar's influence was more profound, in that his able generalship shortened the Civil War by what might have been a couple of decades, had there not been someone of his military ability available. Had the Civil War gone on for decades, Rome may have weakened and faltered in its drive to Empire.

Contrast this to Alexander's effect on Western "Civilization". Alexander did what no one else could have done, in forceably merging Persia, Eygpt and Greece under one rule. Even when his empire broke apart at his death, it was still ruled by Macedonians. Arguably, neither Persia nor Egypt was much affected by this. But Greece and the West were profoundly altered, by throwing the doors wide open to eastern influences and accelerating trade, while simultaneously destroying the political viability of the Greek polis.

After Alexander, Greek civilization took a sharp turn away from its earlier traditions. Since Rome borrowed so heavily from Greece, The great changes in Greece later impacted Rome, too. Imagine Rome without Stoicism or Epicureanism, or most of its arts.

Lastly, had Persia and Egypt not been conquered by Alexander, Rome might never have ruled the eastern Mediterranean or Egypt.

In conclusion, Caesar led Rome safely down a perilous path, but it was a path Rome would have walked regardless. Alexander turned the entire world upside down and it was never the same again.

-- Anonymous, November 15, 2003