What if Alexander the Great had gone West?

[Nicholas]

I was recently looking into possible alternate histories involving Alexander the Great and came upon one involving Alexander the Great conquering Europe instead of Asia. Now while I haven't been able to look at the scenario in detail because it happens to be an audio file that requires an application my computer doesn't have (a link is provided for those who might be interested: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/whatif/what_if_20030410.shtml ). Now, while I haven't been able to look at the scenario in detail one problem does come to mind, and that involves the question of why he would invade Europe. The reasons for invading the east were obvious, the region contained a great deal of wealth, but as far as I know there would haven't been similar reason for invading Europe.

[Durthorin]

I was recently looking into possible alternate histories involving Alexander the Great and came upon one involving Alexander the Great conquering Europe instead of Asia. Now while I haven't been able to look at the scenario in detail because it happens to be an audio file that requires an application my computer doesn't have (a link is provided for those who might be interested: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/whatif/what_if_20030410.shtml ). Now, while I haven't been able to look at the scenario in detail one problem does come to mind, and that involves the question of why he would invade Europe. The reasons for invading the east were obvious, the region contained a great deal of wealth, but as far as I know there would haven't been similar reason for invading Europe.

Depnds if he died young and the Greek conquered area splintered I think the base line of a Greco-Roman cizilization would have remained pretty much similiar.

[Nicholas]

Depnds if he died young and the Greek conquered area splintered I think the base line of a Greco-Roman cizilization would have remained pretty much similiar.

That's an interesting point, the Romans borrowed so heavily from the Greeks as it was, so if Rome still rose to power it might not have changed much.

[Durthorin]

That's an interesting point, the Romans borrowed so heavily from the Greeks as it was, so if Rome still rose to power it might not have changed much.

The Roman's loved greek art, literture.. philosphy .. <chuckle> Even their Gods. I think no matter how it was blended the result would have been very similiar froma civilization/cultural standpoint.. want to talk huge difference.. start talking about the Persians conquering Greece/Rome.

What IF Alexander had been a Persian king??

[Nicholas]

The Roman's loved greek art, literture.. philosphy .. <chuckle> Even their Gods. I think no matter how it was blended the result would have been very similiar froma civilization/cultural standpoint.. want to talk huge difference.. start talking about the Persians conquering Greece/Rome.

What IF Alexander had been a Persian king??

Wasn't he starting to adopt Persian cultural practices before he died?

[Durthorin]

Wasn't he starting to adopt Persian cultural practices before he died?

So the stories say. He was critizied for it by some of the greeks who saw the Persians as "unmanly"

[Nicholas]

So the stories say. He was critizied for it by some of the greeks who saw the Persians as "unmanly"

Of course the Greeks didn't seem to have a very high opinion of anything foreign.

[Durthorin]

Of course the Greeks didn't seem to have a very high opinion of anything foreign.

True. Barbarian = "Not Greek" then again they looked down on the Macadonia's as well for being Barbarian-lite.

[Nicholas]

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