Alexander saw this as an excellent opportunity to challenge nature and fueled his mania to rival the exploits of the gods. He was an adventurer and explorer at heart, but he knew he had to be fully prepared to meet the challenges that awaited him. He weighed historical relationships with current intelligence and planned for most contingencies. Alexander the Great was king of Macedonia, BC. During his tenure, he united Greece, reestablished the Corinthian League, and conquered the Persian Empire.Summary. Alexander the Great: A Very Short Introduction demonstrates the profound influence that the legends of Alexander's life have had on our historical understanding of him by focusing on the evidence from his time. Aged, Alexander the Great became king of Macedonia before his death. During his reign he conquered the world, Alexander the Great was a general and a king, he brought many changes to the ancient world, but was he a great leader. Alexander expanded the advanced technology of Greek culture by invading city-states and other cultures. Alexander made his army extremely intelligent and advanced by using engineers and introducing Alexander the Great as one of the most iconic military leaders in history. BCE, he succeeded his father, Philip II, as king of the Greek kingdom of Macedonia.