Alexander was tutored by the philosopher Aristotle from the age of 13, and he showed an early interest in warfare and politics. At the age of 16, he became regent of Macedon when his father was away on military campaign, and he quickly proved his military prowess by leading the Macedonian army to victory against the rebellious Greek city-states of Thebes and Athens.
In 336 BC, after his father was assassinated, Alexander became king of Macedon at the age of 20. He immediately set about consolidating his power and securing the borders of his kingdom, defeating several rival claimants to the throne and leading the Macedonians to victory against the Illyrian tribes to the north and west.
In 334 BC, Alexander embarked on a campaign to conquer the Persian Empire, which was then the largest empire in the world. With a small but highly disciplined army, Alexander invaded Asia Minor and won a series of decisive victories, including the battles of Granicus, Issus, and Gaugamela. By 331 BC, he had conquered the entire Persian Empire, including its capital, Persepolis, and had established himself as the ruler of the largest empire the world had ever seen.
Alexander's conquests continued through Central Asia and into India, where he encountered fierce resistance from the local rulers. He eventually turned back from India in 326 BC, and began the long journey back to Macedon.
On the way back to Macedon, Alexander fell ill with a fever and died in Babylon, in present-day Iraq, in 323 BC, at the age of 32. His death marked the end of the Greek classical period and the beginning of the Hellenistic era, which lasted until the rise of the Roman Empire.
Alexander the Great is considered one of the greatest military commanders and strategists in history, and his conquests had a profound impact on the development of Western civilization. He spread Greek culture and influence throughout the vast territories he conquered, and his legacy continues to be felt in many parts of the world today.