"'Alexander the Great was a king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip II to the throne in 336 BC at the age of 20 and spent most of his ruling years conducting a lengthy military campaign throughout Western Asia, Central Asia, parts of South Asia, and Egypt. By the age of 30, he had created one of the largest empires in history, stretching from Greece to northwestern India12. Here are some key points about Alexander the Great: Military Conquests: Alexander was undefeated in battle and is widely considered to be one of history's greatest and most successful military commanders. His campaigns included victories at Issus and Gaugamela, where he overthrew Darius III and conquered the entire Achaemenid Empire. Education Education: Until the age of 16, Alexander was tutored by the philosopher Aristotle. Empire Building: He expanded his empire through relentless military campaigns, forging connections between different cultures and leaving a lasting impact on the regions he conquered. Alexander's Balkan campaign Legacy: Alexander's legacy extends beyond military conquests. He promoted the fusion of Greek and Persian cultures, leading to the Hellenistic period. His influence on art, architecture, and literature reverberated for centuries. Death of Alexander the Great Death: Alexander died in Babylon at the age of 32, leaving behind a legacy that continues to captivate historians and enthusiasts alike.'"
"Julius Caesar is widely considered to be one of the greatest military geniuses of all time, a brilliant politician, and one of the ancient world's strongest leaders. Caesar was proclaimed dictator for life, and heavily centralised the already faltering government of the weak Republic. However, Caesar's friend Marcus Brutus conspired with others to assassinate Caesar in hopes of saving the Republic. The dramatic assassination on the Ides of March, ushered in Octavian (later known as Caesar Augustus) as the first emperor and undisputed leader of the Roman world."
"Alexander the Great is a towering figure in ancient history because of his legendary conquests throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. He was born in 356 BC to the noble family of Macedon. As such, he was afforded with great luxuries growing up including having Aristotle as his private tutor. After his father was assassinated, he took over the throne and inherited a formidable army which he would put to tremendous use.
Alexander was just in his early twenties when he embarked on an ambitious expansion of his territories. Despite his youth, he proved to be a capable military strategist and captured nearly all the kingdoms in his path, often leading the battles himself. Even the mighty Persians who had terrorized the Greek states for centuries had been defeated by his army. He also conquered Egypt, took the title of Pharaoh, and founded the city of Alexandria.
His campaigns reached as far as India and could have gone farther if not for his men’s refusal to march on due to homesickness. Despite this premature turnaround back to Macedon, he was able to consolidate most of the known world under his rule—a feat never before achieved.
He caught a vicious illness on the way back and died at the age of thirty-two far away from his home.
This book is part of a biography series by brothers Jacob and John Abbott first published in 1876 with a few updates and revisions. It continues to be one of the best books written on Alexander the Great, his incredible conquests, his eventual downfall, and the aftermath of his death.
It is filled with fascinating details and deep insights into that period in history. Alexander’s military tactics are still taught the world over and his influence lingers even after thousands of years."
"Jacob Abbott chronicles the unspeakably treacherous rise of Richard III to the throne of England in the midst of the war between the Yorks and the Lancasters and his ultimate fall on the Field of Bosworth. (Introduction by Cathy Barratt)"
"The book chronicles the extraordinary life and leadership of Rome’s Emperor Julius Caesar, from his early years to his assassination. (Summary by Cathy Barratt)"
"Learn about the life and times of Margaret of Anjou, wife of England’s Henry VI, and the famous the War of the Roses. With the Lancasters and the Yorks each vying for the throne in 15th century Britain, Margaret of Anjou played a key part in this more than 30 year war. This exciting and accessible 1861 biography by Jacob Abbott for young readers, 'Margaret of Anjou', chronicles Margaret's life, from her courtship with the king, and the plots and schemes of her reign, to her eventual exile. Abraham Lincoln was a great fan of Abbott's historical biographies.
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Jacob Abbott (1803-1874) was an American author mainly of children’s books, but also brief histories, biographies, religious books, and popular science."
"Learn about the life and times of Roman emperor Julius Caesar, from his early years to his eventual assassination. This fun and accessible 1849 biography for young readers, 'History of Julius Caesar', chronicles not only the great ruler's genius, but equally his folly. By highlighting the major events in Caesar’s life, as he becomes the most powerful man in Rome, biographer Jacob Abbott makes the 2000 year-old history come alive. Abraham Lincoln was a great fan of Abbott's historical biographies.
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Jacob Abbott (1803-1874) was an American author mainly of children’s books, but also brief histories, biographies, religious books, and popular science."
"There are certain names which are familiar, as names, to all mankind; and every person who seeks for any degree of mental cultivation, feels desirous of informing himself of the leading outlines of their history, that he may know, in brief, what it was in their characters or their doings which has given them so widely-extended a fame. Consequently, great historical names alone are selected; and it has been the writer's aim to present the prominent and leading traits in their characters, and all the important events in their lives, in a bold and free manner, and yet in the plain and simple language which is so obviously required in works which aim at permanent and practical usefulness. This volume is dedicated to Charles I. (Summary from the preface of the book)"
"There are certain names which are familiar, as names, to all mankind; and every person who seeks for any degree of mental cultivation, feels desirous of informing himself of the leading outlines of their history, that he may know, in brief, what it was in their characters or their doings which has given them so widely-extended a fame. Consequently, great historical names alone are selected; and it has been the writer's aim to present the prominent and leading traits in their characters, and all the important events in their lives, in a bold and free manner, and yet in the plain and simple language which is so obviously required in works which aim at permanent and practical usefulness. This volume is dedicated to Mary Queen of Scots. (Summary from the preface of the book)"
"There are very few persons who have not heard of the fame of Peter the Great, the founder, as he is generally regarded by mankind, of Russian civilization. The celebrity, however, of the great Muscovite sovereign among young persons is due in a great measure to the circumstance of his having repaired personally to Holland, in the course of his efforts to introduce the industrial arts among his people, in order to study himself the art and mystery of shipbuilding, and of his having worked with his own hands in a ship-yard there. The little shop where Peter pursued these practical studies still stands in Saardam, a ship-building town not far from Amsterdam. The building is of wood, and is now much decayed; but, to preserve it from farther injury, it has been incased in a somewhat larger building of brick, and it is visited annually by great numbers of curious travelers.
The whole history of Peter, as might be expected from the indications of character developed by this incident, forms a narrative that is full of interest and instruction for all. (from the Preface of Peter the Great)"
