NAME:_________________________________________________PER:____DATE:________________

AIM: Was Alexander the Great a hero or a villain?

ACTIVITY 1: ARTIFACT ANALYSIS

Directions: Analyze the images below and answer the questions that follow.
The Alexander Sarcophagus is a late 4th century BC Hellenistic stone sarcophagus adorned with bas-relief
carvings of Alexander the Great. Although discovered empty, it is unknown if Alexander was ever buried in it.

1. Analyzing the depiction of Alexander on this sarcophagus,

which may have belonged to either him or someone who


fought with him, did Alexander acquire his empire through

 peace, or force? Explain.











 2. OPINION: If someone is referred to as “the Great” —

 do you think that means they were extremely powerful

 and feared, extremely loved, or a bit of both? Explain.








ALEXANDER



ACTIVITY 2: ANALYZING VOCABULARY — What makes someone ‘a hero’?

Directions: For each of these traits, identify someone you know who has this trait and uses it to achieve greatness.

DEFINITION OF THIS TRAIT PERSON YOU KNOW WHO

TRAIT
(What does it mean?) EXHIBITS THIS TRAIT AND WHY

COURAGE

INTELLIGENCE

CREATIVITY

LEADERSHIP

CONCERN FOR
OTHERS

DISCIPLINE

SENSE OF
MORALITY

CONSCIENCE

Identify at least three of these traits a leader must have in order to be considered “Great”.
ACTIVITY 3 — DOCUMENT ANALYSIS — Analyzing the actions of Alexander the Great
Directions: Analyze the documents below and answer the questions that follow.

DOCUMENT 1: “I could not have blamed you for being the first to lose heart if I, your commander, had not shared in
your exhausting marches and your dangerous military campaigns; it would have been natural enough if you had done all
the work merely for others to reap the reward. But it is not so. You and I, gentlemen, have shared the labor and shared
the danger, and the rewards are for us all. The conquered territory belongs to you; from your ranks the governors of it
are chosen; already the greater part of its treasure passes into your hands, and when all Asia is overrun, then indeed I
will go further than the mere satisfaction of your ambitions: the utmost hopes of riches or power which each one of you
cherishes will be far surpassed, and whoever wishes to return home will be allowed to go.”

SOURCE: Arrian: Speech of Alexander the Great to his troops, copied selection from The Campaigns of Alexander.

Cite evidence from this text to explain whether or not you think Alexander the Great was a hero or a villain.

DOCUMENT 2: Alexander went up to the citadel and took possession of the treasures stored there. They were full of
gold and silver. Reckoning gold in terms of silver, 2,500 tons were found there. Alexander wanted to take part of the
money with him, for the expenses of war and to deposit the rest at Susa under close guard. He had all the treasure
conveyed to the chosen places. He was very hostile to the local people and did not trust them, and wished to destroy
Persepolis utterly… Alexander held games to celebrate his victories; he offered magnificent sacrifices to the gods and
entertained his friends lavishly…”

SOURCE: Diodorus of Sicily’s History of the World

Cite evidence from this text to explain whether or not you think Alexander the Great was a hero or a villain.

DOCUMENT 3: The army was crossing a desert of sand; the sun was already blazing down upon them, but they were
struggling on under the necessity of reaching water, which was still far away. Alexander, like everyone else, was
tormented by thirst, but he was nonetheless marching on foot at the head of his men. As they toiled on, a party of light
infantry found some water, which they collected in a helmet, brought the little bit of water to Alexander; then gave it
to him. Alexander, with a word of thanks for the gift, took the helmet and, in full view of his troops, poured the water
on the ground.

SOURCE: “Legend of the Helmet” — Lucius Flavius Arrianus, The Campaigns of Alexander, circa 130 CE.

Cite evidence from this text to explain whether or not you think Alexander the Great was a hero or a villain.

DOCUMENT 4: Alexander thought that the only way to security was to be generous. He therefore quieted the fighting
around Macedonia, and put a stop to rising wars. In a great battle, the barbarians, we are told, lost 20,000 soldiers and
2,500 horse, whereas Alexander had lost no more than thirty-four men. To honor their memory, he erected a statue to
each of them in brass by the finest sculptor in Greece.

SOURCE: “Legend of the Helmet” — Lucius Flavius Arrianus, The Campaigns of Alexander, circa 130 CE.

Cite evidence from this text to explain whether or not you think Alexander the Great was a hero or a villain.

ACTIVITY 4: ASSESSMENT
Directions: Choose an option below and submit on looseleaf for a grade.

OPTION A OPTION B

Was Alexander the Great a hero, or a villain? Create T-Chart In a paragraph of 6-8 sentences, answer the AIM: “Was
identifying bullet points for both possibilities. Include everything Alexander the Great a hero or a villain?” Provide at least
you have learned (and can infer) about him. Then, in at least 2 full
sentences, explain whether or not he was a hero or a villain. Your three pieces of evidence from today’s activities.
sentence starter: “I can infer that Alexander the Great was a
hero/villain because…”