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There are numerous fascinating stories told about Alexander the Great.  Many consider him to have been the finest military leader ever.  Illustrating Alexander's approach, legend tells the story of how Alexander confronted a huge "Gordian knot," a massive tangle of rope wrapped too tightly for anyone to unravel.  Alexander and was told that whoever could unravel the knot would rule the world.  Alexander supposedly drew his sword and sliced the Gordian knot in half, and proceeded on his way.   

There are numerous fascinating stories told about Alexander the Great.  Many consider him to have been the finest military leader ever.  Illustrating Alexander's approach, legend tells the story of how Alexander confronted a huge "Gordian knot," a massive tangle of rope wrapped too tightly for anyone to unravel.  Alexander and was told that whoever could unravel the knot would rule the world.  Alexander supposedly drew his sword and sliced the Gordian knot in half, and proceeded on his way.   

He surrounded himself with a staff of secretaries, philosophers and scientists, yet would also engage in drunken brawls to the point where he accidentally killed a friend who had once saved his life.  Alexander enjoyed battle himself, and would often be wounded leading his soldiers.  In one conflict, Alexander even used underwater divers to defeat the enemy.  Alexander never lost a single battle, and seemed to have unlimited energy, motivation, and determination.  His work ethic was an inspiration to the world.  His vast influence but premature death at 33 has led to comparisons with Jesus Christ, though obviously they were very different from each other!  Alexander lacked any disciples to carry on after his death, unlike Jesus.

He surrounded himself with a staff of secretaries, philosophers and scientists, yet would also engage in drunken brawls to the point where he accidentally killed a friend who had once saved his life.  Alexander enjoyed battle himself, and would often be wounded by an enemy while leading his own soldiers.  In one conflict, Alexander even used underwater divers to defeat the enemy.  Alexander never lost a single battle, and seemed to have unlimited energy, motivation, and determination.  His work ethic was an inspiration to the world.  His vast influence but premature death at 33 has led to comparisons with Jesus Christ, though obviously they were very different from each other!  Alexander lacked any disciples to carry on after his death, unlike Jesus.

Alexander the Great led the Greek empire to the corners of the world as known at that time.  His death of a fever in his capital city of Babylon in 323 B.C. marked the end of his empire, but the beginning of the great Hellenistic influence.  Seeds of Greek knowledge had been planted all around the world and were beginning to spring up everywhere.  For centuries these seeds grew and influenced cultures from Persia to Egypt to Rome.

Alexander's death from a fever in his capital city of Babylon in 323 B.C. marked the end of his empire, but the beginning of the great Hellenistic influence.  Seeds of Greek knowledge had been planted all around the world and were beginning to spring up everywhere.  For centuries these seeds grew and influenced cultures from Persia to Egypt to Rome.

Alexander's empire was too vast to survive his death, and his generals murdered the remaining members of his family.  Athens and Sparta again became independent city-states until the Roman empire conquered them.  However, what mattered was that the many thousands of Greeks who traveled with Alexander during his conquests brought their knowledge and culture to all corners of the ancient world except China.  The great ancient city of Alexandria, Egypt, showed its tribute to him by using his name.  Greek-speaking kingdoms had been established in Egypt, Syria and Iran, and the language became popular among the educated for trade in Palestine.  The post-Alexander era is known as the Hellenistic Age (232-146 B.C.)

Alexander's empire was too vast to survive his death, and his generals murdered the remaining members of his family.  Athens and Sparta again became independent city-states until the Roman empire conquered them.  However, what mattered was that the many thousands of Greeks who traveled with Alexander during his conquests brought their knowledge and culture to all corners of the ancient world except China.  The great ancient city of Alexandria, Egypt, showed its tribute to him by using his name.  Greek-speaking kingdoms had been established in Egypt, Syria and Iran, and the language became popular among the educated for trade in Palestine.  The post-Alexander era is known as the Hellenistic Age (232-146 B.C.)

Christianity, which relied primarily on the Greek language, spread like wildfire throughout the Hellenistic world in the first century A.D.  The Greek language, culture, and advances in knowledge had prepared the people well for Christianity to take root.

Christianity used the Greek language to evangelize the Hellenistic world in the first century A.D.  The Greek language, culture, and advances in knowledge had prepared people well for Christianity to take root.

=== Greek Contributions ===

=== Greek Contributions ===