Alexander The Great’s Positive Effects

Alexander the Great’s conquests in the third century BC had a meaningful positive effect on his time by developing trade routes, making a standard language spoken, prompting a significant change in religion and establishing the framework for new political structure, the unification of the Mediterranean also increased the slave trade. Through the opening of these routes, it not only increased trade but allowed cultural and religious exchanges between the east and west. Alexander the Great was an ancient Macedonian ruler and one of history’s most prominent military personalities who, as King of Macedonia and Persia, built up the biggest domain the ancient world had ever seen.

Alexander’s kingdom created a safe stable environment for trade allowing urban areas to prosper unafraid of attack. Authorities under his rule, now protected led to the emergence of primary trade routes like the Silk Road. Chinese silk was a vital commodity and was in great demand in the Mediterranean. Creating these new trade routes created many new jobs and opportunities for the people of Alexanders empire.

In addition to creating a stable and prosperous environment for trade, Alexander organised the foundation for new political systems. His generals distributed his empire after his death and installed themselves as supreme rulers in the Mediterranean and Asia. They formed three key territorial states: the Seleucid Empire, Macedonia, and the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt. Greek culture moved to nearby people as these kingdoms expanded. This led to the emergence of the Mauryan Empire, the first such empire in India. Alexanders success caused a new political system to arise having many positive benefits for alexanders generals and the people under his rule.

One of the negative aspects of Alexander’s Mediterranean unification was the rise in the chattel slave trade. The increased wealth acquired from success in trade created a small group of elite citizens who established slave plantations. On these plantations, crops were only grown for profit and were operated completely by slaves, eliminating jobs for many peasants. This increase in the exclusive use of slave labour led to slave uprisings in Italy, such as the one led by Spartacus, and immigration of free peasants to overcrowded cities in search of work. With trade increasing it caused an increase in the slave trade causing negative effects of overpopulation in cities.

This political change in India, linked with the spread of Hellenism, drove to a major shift in religious belief as well. Buddhism grew from the Mauryan Empire in India eastward into China and central Asia. Monks progressed along the Silk Road spreading Buddhist ideas and converting sacred texts into Chinese. They achieved less success travelling westward where the former religion of the Persian Empire, Zoroastrianism, was firmly established. Alexander open mindset did not discriminate people becuase of their culture and beliefs unlike the persian empire at this time, due to this many people flocked to cities under Alexander rule having many positive impacts on

Even though Alexander’s rule was short-lived, his positive influence on eastern and western culture cannot be denied. Alexander the Great had many positive impacts including expanding trade routes, creating a common language spoken, leading to an important change in religion and laying the foundation for new political systems. With the increase in trade, the slave trade became a booming industry however the positive effects of his rule far out weight the negative impacts.