Alexander the Great and Hernán Cortés : ambiguous legacies of leadership / Justin D. Lyons.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lyons, Justin D., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Alexander, the Great, 356 B.C.-323 B.C.

Alexander.

Cortés, Hernán, 1485-1547.

Cortés, Hernán.

Conquerors--Biography.

Conquerors.

Command of troops--History.

Command of troops.

History.

Greece--History--Macedonian Expansion, 359-323 B.C.

Greece.

Mexico--History--Conquest, 1519-1540.

Mexico.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xxv, 257 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham ; Boulder ; New York ; London : Lexington Books, [2015]

Summary:

Alexander the Great and Hernán Cortés: Ambiguous legacies of Leadership is a biographical pairing of two of the greatest conquerors in human history, drawing its inspiration from Plutarch's Parallel lives. As in Plutarch's work, the purpose of the pairing is not primarily historical. While Plutarch covers the history of each of the lives he chronicles, he also emphasizes questions of character and the larger lessons of politics to be derived from the deeds he recounts. This book provides a narrative account of both Alexander's conquest of the Persian Empire and Cortés's conquest of the Aztec Empire while reflecting on the larger questions that emerge from each. The campaign narratives are followed by chapters devoted to leadership and command which seek to recover the treasures of the Plutarchian approach shaped by moral and political philosophy. Analysis of leadership style and abilities is joined with assessment of character. Special emphasis is given to the speeches provided in historical sources and meditation on rhetorical successes and failures in maintaining the morale and willing service of their men. Book jacket.

Contents:

Part I. Alexander

Alexander and the Macedonians

The Persian Empire

The campaigns of Alexander

The leadership of Alexander

Part II. Cortés

Spain, Cortés, and the conquistadors

The Aztecs

The conquest of Mexico

Cortés the commander.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781498505277

1498505279

OCLC:

898161610