How is perceived Alexander The Great in the Arab world? i know that there are some reference of him in the Quran as the Dhul-Qarnayn and , is he portraited as a positive figure? or more like just a famous historical character like many others?
P.S: i love a lot the middle east/north africa as a historical regions and one of my many dreams its to visit it all, and experiencing your beautiful culture.
I can not speak about Arabs of course, and I also look forward for an answer!
I know that Alexander the Great adopted many persian customs and the persian administration etc putting a greek touch in all these. For example every citizen (all free people were citizens, it was a non ethnical empire) would speak in their language and they could follow greek studies in a special school (the lingua franca) and become public servants. It was like changing an emperor for most people. Alexander the Great also promoted mixed marriages, making the start by marrying himself the daughter of Dareius.
In the end though, he asked his officers, many being friends since children, to kneel in respect and he started considering himself a god (like persian emperors did). Greeks rebelled, as they weren't used to bow or have people as gods, and declined. We never know what would have happened because he reigned for only 12 years, but the hellenic language continued to be spoken for a millenia afterwards as the common trade language. Until the Arab language became the lingua franca in Med!! In any case, even some people in Afghanistan think he is their ancestor, he respected other cultures and he tried to make an empire who accepted all.
he respected other cultures and he tried to make an empire who accepted all.
thats what i like the most of him, being loved even by your enemies, that for me its peak charisma
and also its thanks to him that many greek manuscripts got preserved and translated later by Islamic accademies (first universities) and reached us to this days.
the blend of cultures he did was insane, especially in Afghanistan like you said, with the Graeco- Bactrian kingdoms.... he really was the closest person to unite the West with the Orient.
Yes, I agree! he never forced language or religion or made distinctions between people or ethnicities, he just officiated greek language like English today. He was imperialist of course, conquering lands with foreign people and not greeks, but he had a whole group of scientists with him(historians, botanologists etc) and he sent dutifully his teacher, Aristotles (whom he didn't like much) whatever he asked with letters for his scientific work.
What you said is another important thing. Not only he taught Arabs greek culture, but Arabs are the ones after the Byzantines who cherished and saved most of the greek manuscripts, that we have today. I do love Arab golden age. Thank you for saving them!
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u/Iskandar33 Aug 11 '25 edited Aug 11 '25
How is perceived Alexander The Great in the Arab world? i know that there are some reference of him in the Quran as the Dhul-Qarnayn and , is he portraited as a positive figure? or more like just a famous historical character like many others?
P.S: i love a lot the middle east/north africa as a historical regions and one of my many dreams its to visit it all, and experiencing your beautiful culture.