Western civilization has had its array of great persons; two of the most brilliant and influential leaders/military officials of Ancient times were Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar. The turning points in history they were involved in where they're individual conquests and their untimely deaths. Alexander's greatest victory was over the Persians and Caesar's remarkable defeat of Pompey. Their actions and beliefs had their influence on their society and society of today. Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar set the standard of what a leader should be. Their conquest, expanded their beliefs to others and equally important their culture. .
Alexander the Great defeated the Persians proving his remarkable military mind and ability. By deciding to attack the Persian Empire he was making a strong statement about his beliefs. Alexander the Great was a patriot; his love towards his people and land was immense. Patriotism is a strong characteristic of any leader even today; Alexander was setting the standards of beliefs for politicians and generals too follow. Alex also wanted to depict this feeling of patriotism in his people as well. John F. Kennedy said, "Not ask what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."" This was not just a battle for Alex himself but for the Greeks. Alex was beneficiary to the ideas of the orator Isocrates, who urged a crusade against Persia to bring the Greeks together on a common ground. He was reviving the ideas of his father, Philip of Macedon. This asserted his strong family background, a common characteristic that is sought for any leader including the Presidents of the United States. During this war against Persia he set ablaze, Babylon and Persepolis not for himself but for Greek and the people of Greek, in retribution of Xerxes' destruction of Athens more than one-hundred-and-fifty years earlier. Upon his journey of conquest through Persia, he was also promoting the culture of Greece.
