what was the purpose of alexander the great to come to india?

-- Anonymous, June 17, 2004

Answers

"Aimless" of 06-17-04 presents a good analysis, and one probably not far from the mark ... but as a partial causitive factor. "Aimless" forgets Alexander's intellectual mentor's, Aristotle, demand of his favorite pupil to compile a better map of the known world and to prepare a gazetteer of encountered species (human and otherwise). This, however, fits neatly into "Aimless's" posit as the goal of encompassing a "known world" within defined boundaries, and catologing its habitants, may well be another "symptom" of megalomanic-inspired military "adventure". Didn't Napoleon also exhibit the same secondary interest in "advancing knowledge" (or, at least, bringing people WITH him whose interest was such) ... at least in his Egyptian "adventure"?!

... Marco.

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2004

I believe it was more accidental than rational. Once Alexander started his conquest, moving ever further east, he felt compelled to continue on, for no better reason than the simple fact that he could.

Judging from his actions on the battlefield, Alexander was addicted to the thrill of battle and of victory. It is also likely that he genuinely viewed himself as a god and he needed constantly to perform godlike acts to convince himself and others of this. Any normal person who conquered merely for gain would have stopped much earlier, after Persia, Tyre and Egypt were 'in the bag', so to speak. That he pressed on to India speaks of megalomania of a rare sort - a need to have the world worship at his feet.

-- Anonymous, June 17, 2004