The Campaign Of Alexander The Great Analysis

Flavius Arrianus Xenophon (c.87 - after 145), also known as Arrian, is well-known as the author of the Book “The Campaigns of Alexander”. Arrian was highly educated as a Greek citizen who born in a wealthy family. He has been famous since the Roman Period (27 BC –) as a philosopher who developed and extended his master Epictetus’ philosophy; a good governor of Roman cities Andalusia and Cappadocia during the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian (AD 117-38); a remarkable historian who accomplished many influential historian works such as The Campaigns of Alexander. There are many ancient sources written about the career of Alexander the Great and Arrian’s The Campaign of Alexander is regarded as one of the best sources because he provides an official view of Alexander’s campaign, in which focus on the achievements of Alexander.

According to the introduction of the book, Arrian made use of earlier sources …show more content…
Moreover, the two main sources that he used –Ptolemy and Aristobulus were both members of Alexander’s court who likely held bias in Alexander’s favor. By comparing the deceptions of the Battle of Issus and the Battle of Gaugamela, which are both described in the Campaigns of Alexander and the documentary “In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great”, one can easily find the different perspectives that these two sources held. Unlike The Campaigns of Alexander, which is based on Arrian’s own perspective of Alexander and his conquest from Persia to India, the documentary In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great has a multi-perspectives from other countries. For example, opinions from Persia (modern-day Iran), Egypt, India and modern- day Pakistan are recounted in the documentary. As a result, the documentary provides a more controversial perspective of Alexander and his conquests than Arrian