How Did Alexander Succeed

Alexander achieved many things that would be considered unachievable by many in that era. However, with his achievements came mistakes, or as some might say a God like complex. No matter, whichever way you look at it, he succeeded where others failed.
Alexander wanted to be greater than his father, and he certainly achieved this goal. However, Alexander had a different way of doing things, he did not want to just conquer lands and take over the inhabitant’s lifestyle, but instead he tried to teach them new ideas and a new way of living. He brought to these lands the Hellenist lifestyle with philosophers, art, education, and sports. He turned what he believed to be a barbaric culture into a more civilized way of life. For example he taught the
The idea of proskynesis was to show respect, by bowing or prostrating before the King. Alexander’s intention was to try and appease the Persians and to a degree the Greeks, by establishing a combined system in hope that they could put aside the cultural differences, and develop a deeper understanding of each other. However, it failed as the Greeks and Macedonians, were not impressed that they had to go through the ceremony of proskynesis. According to Arrian, Alexander wanted people to proskynesis to him, as he believed himself to be a God. He wanted to be respected as one, and with his growing fame he believed that he truly was the son of Ammon. This made him act differently, much to the dismay of his own kinsmen. Arrian goes on to state that Alexander, changed his clothes and accessories to that of the Persian attire, which seemed to upset many. One of Aristotle’s student named Callisthenes, disapproved of Alexander’s extravagance, and his need to dress as a Persian, and Alexanders claim that his father was a God, was absurd to Callisthenes. Callisthenes further states there is a difference in “honouring a man and worshipping a god”. To the Greeks, to worship a God it was customary to proskynesis to their Gods. It would also seem that Callisthenes had no problem honouring Alexander as a man, but not to proskynesis to a man, as this would mean that he too is a God of which Callisthenes believed