New
New
Year 4

Why Alexander is called 'The Great'

I can explain why Alexander has been called 'The Great'.

New
New
Year 4

Why Alexander is called 'The Great'

I can explain why Alexander has been called 'The Great'.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. 'The Great' is not a title that Alexander had during his lifetime; it is an epithet, given to him after his death.
  2. The Ancient Romans, who grew in power some time after Alexander, admired his achievements and used this epithet for him.
  3. Alexander is remembered as 'Great' due to his military prowess: never losing a battle and personally leading his men.
  4. He has also been named 'The Great' for managing to keep his vast empire united, although it fragmented after his death.
  5. In founding Alexandria, which went on to become a hugely important centre of learning, he has also been seen as 'Great'.

Common misconception

Alexander 'The Great' was the title that Alexander had when he was a living ruler.

'The Great' is not a title. It is a type of nickname called an epithet. Epithets are only used to refer to people that have died and they tell us more about something significant the person did or what the person was like.

Keywords

  • Epithet - a word or phrase that is attached to someone's name is called an epithet

  • Ancient Romans - the Ancient Romans were a powerful ancient civilisation that began in Italy

  • Prowess - great skill, talent or ability is called prowess

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Who did Alexander want to defeat?
Correct answer: the Persians
the Greeks
the Ancient Egyptians
Q2.
Complete the sentence. Alexander created the largest ever to exist in the ancient world.
Correct Answer: empire, Empire
Q3.
What did Alexander use to undo the Gordian knot and fulfil the legend?
his fingers
a pair of scissors
Correct answer: a sword
Q4.
Where did Alexander order a new city, called Alexandria, to be built?
Greece
Correct answer: Egypt
Persia
Babylon
Q5.
Who did Alexander leave to rule Egypt whilst he left to continue his military campaign in 331 BCE?
Caesar
Correct answer: Ptolemy
Euclid
Galen
Q6.
What did Ptolemy and his son build to attract visitors to Alexandria?
a museum
a temple
Correct answer: a library
a university

6 Questions

Q1.
What is a word or phrase that is attached to someone's name called?
chronicle
Correct answer: epithet
biography
obiturary
Q2.
Complete the sentence. The Ancient first referred to Alexander using the epithet ‘The Great’.
Correct Answer: Romans, romans
Q3.
In what country did the powerful ancient civilisation, Ancient Rome, begin?
Correct Answer: Italy, italy
Q4.
True or false? One of the things that the Ancient Romans admired most about Alexander was his military prowess.
Correct answer: True
False
Q5.
What happened to the lands that Alexander had conquered during his lifetime?
They began to fracture and fight.
Correct answer: They remained united and peaceful.
They were invaded by the Persians.
Q6.
Which impressive buildings could be found in the ancient city of Alexandria in Egypt?
a museum
Correct answer: a lighthouse
a cathedral
Correct answer: a library