Two national or international figures from an important time in history

Alexander the great

Alexander the great is an ancient Greek military commander of the kingdom of Macedon. History has it that Alexander never lost in battle and is considered the greatest military commander of all time. He succeeded his father, King Philip II, at the tender age of 20. His actual title is Alexander III, but the name ‘Alexander the great’ was borne of his great victories in battle. After his father’s assassination and his ascendancy to the throne, he inherited a strong army and continued his father’s project of conquering Persia. He successfully achieved this through a series of battles that proved decisive. He continued with his conquest of the world until his troops demanded that they go back (Arrian, 2013).
Alexander left a legacy after his death that included cultural diffusion and the spread of the Greek culture all over the world. He also founded twenty cities that bear his name. He continues to influence the world as his military tactics are still taught in military academies, and successful military leaders often fancy comparing themselves to Alexander.

Peter the Great

Peter the Great, a Russian military leader ruled Russia in the 18th century, from 1721-1725. His actual title was Peter I. He led Russia in a number of successful wars and expanded the empire, that was referred at the time as ‘Tsardom.’ He revolutionized several sectors of the Russian economy, and many present Russian institutions trace their origins to him. He led a cultural revolution in which he replaced the ancient and traditional political systems with modern systems that were anchored in science and new inventions (Hughes, 1998).

The two historical figures draw huge comparisons between them. They were both military figures and were very successful. Alexander goes down in history as undefeated, and his military tactics are still being taught in military academies in the world today. On the other hand, Peter’s changes in Russia modernized Russia and are the basis on which present institutions are built. While the Greek’s influence and cultural influence on civilization can be attributed to Alexander, East Europe and Russia’s dominance in Europe throughout the 20th century can be attributed to the foundations laid down by Peter the Great.

References
Arrian, M. H. (2013).  Alexander the Great. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hughes, L. (1998).  Russia in the Age of Peter the Great (p. 370). New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.