|
|
Alexander the Great - Macedonian King (356-323 B.C.)
Son of Philip II of Macedon, he was tutored as a youth by Aristotle. He assumed the throne at age 19 after his father was assassinated, and completed the conquest of Greece begun by his father. He then conquered the Persian Empire, the largest in the known world, occupied Egypt, and invaded northern India. To strengthen his hold, he married the daughter of a Persian king. An admirer of Greek culture and philosophy, he founded the city of Alexandria, Egypt, which became a center of learning and culture. Its library preserved the knowledge of the Greeks throughout Europe's Dark Ages. In only 13 years he had built a massive empire that profoundly influenced the futures of the East and West, but at age 33 he suddenly fell ill with a fever and died. His empire soon crumbled. His mother, wives, and children were killed in the power struggles following his death.
|
Attila - King of the Huns (406?-453 A.D.)
Known as the Scourge of God, he had a reputation for barbaric cruelty. After conquering numerous central European tribes, in 441 A.D. his army plundered the Eastern Roman Empire, forcing Emporer Theodosius II to pay a yearly tribute of 2,100 pounds of gold. To seize full power he killed his older brother and co-ruler, Bleda. He then began invading the Western Roman Empire, conquering the Balkans, Austria and Germany, enlarging his army as he went. In 451 A.D. he was turned back by a massive Roman army in a historically decisive battle in Gaul. Attila retreated, and the Romans pursued, but foolishly allowed his escape to Hungary. Attila invaded Italy the next year, kept from destroying Rome only by payment of a large tribute brokered by Pope Leo the Great. Attila died unexpectedly a year later while preparing to re-invade Italy.
|
|
|
Seneca - Roman Philosopher & Scholar (4 B.C.-65 A.D.)
Born in Spain, he became a prominent speaker in Imperial Rome. He authored many plays, scientific and literary works. He was exiled from Rome by the Emporer Caligula, but later returned after Caligula's death to tutor the young Nero, who had been adopted by the Emporer Claudius. Seneca became Nero's principal advisor upon Nero's ascendency to the throne after Claudius was poisoned to death by Nero's mother, Agrippina. Five years later Nero suspected her of treason and ordered her death, and six years after that, like Nero's mother before, Seneca also fell victim to political intrigue. He was suspected as a member of a conspiracy to overthrow Nero's tyranny and corruption, and was forced into suicide.
|
Nero - Roman Emperor (37-68 A.D.)
Raised in poverty by his mother, but was adopted by the Emporer Claudius and tutored by the famous philosopher Seneca the Elder. Nero's mother murdered Claudius in 54 A.D. and Nero took the throne. At first he was known for his benign rule - he reduced taxes and banned capital punishment - his temperment soon changed. In 59 A.D. he ordered the murder of his mother, suspected of treason. In 64 A.D. a nine-day long fire ravaged Rome while Nero was away. Nero blamed the fire on followers of the new Christian religion, whom he then brutally persecuted. Growing discontent with his tyrannical rule led to many popular uprisings, and conspiracies against him in the Senate. Nero's reign ended when he committed suicide.
|
|
|
Thespis - Greek Actor and Poet (6th Century B.C.)
Born in Icaria in the Attic region of ancient Greece, almost nothing is known of his life or works. Thespis is credited as the inventor of dramatic tragedy, and with introducing an actor, known as the hypocrite, as a main character of a drama performing a monologue separate from the chorus. He is also thought to have invented the touring acting troupe. In 534 B.C. Athens established a drama competition, which he won. The word thespian, meaning actor, derives from his name.
|
Plutarch - Greek Essayist & Biographer (46?-120? A.D.)
Born in the Boeotian region of ancient Greece, he traveled in Egypt and Italy, lectured on philosophy in Rome, later returning to Boeotia, becoming a temple priest at Delphi. His finest work was The Parallel Lives consisting biographies arranged in pairs (one Greek and a comparable Roman). English translations of Plutarch's biographies profoundly influenced English literature; Shakespeare used them as source material for several of his plays, including Coriolanus, Julius Caesar, and Antony and Cleopatra.
|
|
|
Socrates - Greek Philosopher (479-399 B.C.)
He developed a system of inquiry and teaching now known as the 'Socratic Method', and is considered to be a founding father of Western philosophical thought. His views eventually fell into disfavor, and was accused by contemporaries of being a corrupting influence. He was tried, and speaking in his own defense did not hesitate to antagonize his judges. He was condemned, and while in prison drank poison to end his life. None of his writing survives - his philosophy is known from the works of his most famous disciple, Plato.
|
Pliny the Elder - Roman Scholar (23-79 A.D.)
His Latin name was Gaius Plinius Secundus and he was born in Como, Italy. He served as a cavalry commander in Roman provinces in Africa and Germany, wrote on many subjects, especially history, natural science, and military strategy and tactics. Unfortunately, of his many major writings, only one survives today, a thirty-seven volume work entitled Natural History which is regarded as the world's first encyclopedia. He died during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius while attempting close observation of the volcano.
|
|
|
Octavius (Augustus) - Roman Emperor (63 BC - 14 AD)
Grandnephew of Julius Caesar, he was the first Roman emperor.
Octavius Augustus was arguably the greatest civil leader of the ancient
world. He restored peace after a century of civil war;
maintained honest government and a sound currency; extended the
Roman highway system; further expanded it vast empire; developed an efficient postal service; fostered free trade; and built many bridges and aqueducts. Literature
and arts flourished under him. After his death, Romans worshipped him as a god.
|
Hannibal - Carthaginian Leader (247 BC - 183 BC)
He was appointed commander in Spain in 221 BC and provoked the Second Punic War with Rome. In 218 BC he crossed the Alps in winter, using elephants and losing nearly one third of his 35,000 men. For two years he devastated Italy, but lost ground in the face of Fabius' guerrilla tactics. Recalled to defend Carthage after Scipio Africanus' invasion of Africa, Hannibal was defeated in battle at Zama in 202 BC. He died after taking poison to avoid capture by the Romans.
|
|
