Alexander the Great
Alexander III of Macedon, commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of Ancient Macedonia who lived from 356 BC to 323 BC. He is considered one of history's greatest military commanders and conquerors. During his lifetime, he conquered most of what was then known as the world, stretching from Greece in Europe to India in Asia. His conquests shaped much of Western Civilization and laid the foundations for a Hellenistic culture that would spread throughout many parts of Eurasia during antiquity.
Alexander's legacy has been both praised and criticized by modern historians alike; some view him as an inspirational leader, while others argue that his actions were ruthless and unjustified. Regardless, there is no denying that he had a major impact on shaping history during this period; through conquest, he unified several disparate regions into one powerful empire, which ultimately gave rise to new cultures and ideologies across the Mediterranean region and beyond. Furthermore, Alexander's campaigns greatly expanded trade routes between the East and the West, thus increasing commerce between these two areas—something that continues today even with globalization being such an important part of our lives now more than ever before.