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Position paper

Alexander the Great

The Quest for Greatness

 
Have you ever questioned the recurrent theme we have gone over and over this year, that burning question of what makes a civilization rise and fall?  You have certainly been presented with plenty of examples in the readings and projects we have completed.  But perhaps you just need to see this for yourself.   In this webquest, you will decide for yourself whether Alexander the Great really lived up to his name,  and apply what you have learned to either support or dispute these beliefs of "why  civilizations rise and fall".

If you're up to the challenge scroll down  to begin your "Quest for Greatness"

 
We have discussed the components of a successful civilization:

    1.    Strong Leadership

    2.     Common Culture

    3.     Trade (Economy)

and why empires or civilizations fall:

    4.    Weak Leadership

    5.    Geography (too big)

    6.    Internal Strife

 		 In your quest you will be looking for how these components relate to Alexander the Great.  You will research his battle plans looking for evidence of his strengths and weaknesses.  You will  decide which view of Alexander to present. 

  • Would Alexander  have continued his successful campaigns increasing his empire? 

                                   OR

  • Would Alexander  have  eventually failed and lost his empire entirely?    

 

You will present your findings in a written essay stating your position and supporting it with examples from your research. How long should your essay be???  Long enough to adequately state your position and all the necessary arguments to back up your position.   A well written position essay should be at the very least two pages.  You may choose to include pictures and maps to better state your position. 

For instructions for writing a good position essay, click on the link below

Position paper

You will need to research each specific role for your quest.   Each role must be represented to be able to clearly state your position.  Be sure to address the questions listed.

   Battle Strategist

  • What strategies did Alexander employ consistently?  
  1. Examples - All Empires - The Battle of Gaugamela (Arbela)
  2. The Battle of Issus - Macedonia FAQ: Alexander the Great
  3.  Alexander the Great
  4. Alexander the Great -             http://www.hackneys.com/alex_web/alexfram.htm
  5. Alexander the Great and his army

  • What strategies applied to only one or a few of his battles?  

  1. The Persian Navy is Neutralized  - (Tyre) + Into India and back to Susa                     http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch11.htm 

  2. Siege of Tyre -Alexander the Great, Siege of Tyre

  3. Battle of Hydapses - http://joseph_berrigan.tripod.com/id34.html

  4. Alexander's First Great Victory - Cover Page: December '97 Military History Feature

 

    Conqueror

  • How did he treat the defeated people of different battles and why if different? 

  • What did he do to make life better/worse for the defeated?   

  1. Examples: Winning Hearts and Minds - http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch11.htm  

  2.  The Persian Navy is Neutralized  +  Into Egypt + The Conquest of Persia and Death of Darius http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch11.htm 

  3. The Battle of Issus - http://joseph_berrigan.tripod.com/id34.html

  4. Battle of Granicus - Battle of the Granicus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  5. The Empire of Alexander the Great - http://www.silk-road.com/toc/index.html

  6. The ten-horned beast: Alexander the Great

  7. Alexander the Great - Conqueror and Creator

    Leader

  • How did he manage to keep the peace in his own troops, or did he?  

  1. Examples:  http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/sirrobhitch.suffolk/Portland State University Greek Civilization Home Page v2/DOCS/10/leader.html

  2. Discord and Death - Alexander the Great, after death      

  3. Macedonia FAQ: Alexander the Great

  4. Alexander the Great, leader

  5. Hellenistic Greece: Alexander

              Empire Builder

  • What improvements, if any, did he make to a conquered city?    

  • What did he do to strengthen/weaken the economy of a conquered city? 

  • What legacy did Alexander leave the world?

  1. Examples: Winning Hearts and Minds + Plans, Death and Myth +  More Reforms, Plans and Death http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch11.htm  

  2.  Examples:  More Reforms, Plans and Death  - http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch11.htm

  3. The Reign of Alexander the Great - Alexander the Great, empire builder

  4. The Legacy of Alexander the Great Part 1: Alexander the Warrior

You will do your own research.  In addition to the specific sites listed within the specific roles, you might wish to check out the ones below.  Within each role,  use the questions to guide your research.  Based on your answers, decide for yourself whether you think Alexander would have continued to be successful, or whether he would have eventually failed.   Once you have made a decision, begin your paper with an outline stating the reasons for  your decisions.  From your outline, you should have enough information to begin your paper.  This is a paper in which you are allowed and should the word "I".  For example, "I believe that Alexander's mother instilled the greatness in him." 

I should be able to clearly understand which position you are defending.   Make sure that you cite all sources that you use.  Please ask for help if and when needed. 

 If you choose that he would be successful be sure to include three specific examples from your research:

  1. Alexander as a strong leader

  2. Something Alexander did to strengthen the economy

  3. Something Alexander did to help unify his empire

If you choose that he would not have continued his expansion, but would have eventually failed anyway, be sure to include three specific examples from your research:

  1. A sign of weakness in Alexander as a leader

  2. Something that would show how difficult control of a large geographic area would be

  3. Internal strife between Alexander's troops and the conquered people he incorporated into his army

When writing your paper, do not copy and paste and do not retype someone else's words.  That would be plagiarism - it is illegal and will get you a zero on this project.  You can use other people's words, but you must cite your sources.

Keep tabs on your work by scrolling down and checking it against the rubric.

 

Alexander the Great's Major Battles

Battle of Granicus 

 334 bc

Alexander the Great (Alexander of Macedon) Biography

Alexander the Great http://wso.williams.edu/~junterek/persia.htm http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0856551.html

Battle of Issus     333 bc

Alexander the Great, battle of Issus http://wso.williams.edu/~junterek/persia.htm http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0856551.html

Alexander the Great
Seige of Tyre       332 bc

 

Alexander the Great, Siege of Tyre http://wso.williams.edu/~junterek/persia.htm http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0856551.html

 

 

 
Battle of Gaugamela 331 bc

 

Alexander the Great, Battle of Gaugamela Alexander Defeats The Persians, 331 BC

All Empires - The Battle of Gaugamela (Arbela)
Battle of Hydaspes

326 bc

 

All Empires - The Battle of Hydaspes

India

 http://wso.williams.edu/~junterek/india.htm http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0856551.html

 

RUBRIC

 
  Historical Understanding (100 points) Organized (20 points) Well-Crafted (10%)
Clearly Essay  demonstrates clear understanding  of the position taken on Alexander's leadership and the outcome of his civilization  through effective use of  information that is relevant, accurate and complete. (100  points)

 

 Layout gives a clear sense of idea/story being communicated and informationis arranged to promote understanding. (20 points) Essay  is carefully assembled with obvious concern for excellence, showing great attention to detail;  text is readable and follows proper conventions (10 points)
Adequately Essay  uses relevant/accurate details , minor errors or omissions display only a partial understanding of Alexander's leadership and the outcome of his civilization.  (89.5 points) Layout communicates the general topic but may leave audience with some questions or require additional clarification.   (16.5 points) Essay is neatly assembled;  text information is presented in a style/format that is easy to see/read, with only minor errors in conventions.  (8.5 points)
 

yes

Does the information clarify and enhance  your position

no

yes

Does the layout communicated the main idea and move it forward?

no

yes

Does the craftsmanship show a concern for excellence?

no
Vaguely Much of the information is accurate, but key omissions may mislead or fail to properly inform the audience.  (62.5 points) Lapses in attention to layout affect audience's ability to see main idea.  (12.5 points) Inconsistent attention to detail or lack of concern for finishing;  text contains noticeable flaws in conventions or neatness.  (7.5 points)
Barely Noticeable amount of irrelevant or inaccurate information that does not demonstrate understanding  of Alexander as an effective leader and the possible outcome of his civilization. (45.5 points) Serious errors in layout organization make ideas difficult to follow.  Text  is often not connected.  (10.5 points) Multiple flaws - appears unpolished, hastily assembled, text is difficult to read/see and serious conventions errors.  (6.5 points)