Describe the three possible causes for the death of Alexander the Great. Explain which one you think was the actual cause of his death and why.
The death of Alexander the Great is a heavily debated topic among historians, but there are three main possible causes:
1. Poisoning: Some scholars believe that Alexander was poisoned, possibly by his own generals or royal court officials who opposed him. This theory is based on the accounts of ancient historians who mentioned that Alexander became weak and delusional before he ultimately died.
2. Malaria: Another popular theory is that Alexander died from malaria, which was common in the region at the time. This theory is backed by modern medical researchers who have analyzed historical accounts and concluded that the symptoms Alexander exhibited before his death are consistent with those of severe malaria.
3. Alcoholism: There are also some historians who believe that Alexander's heavy drinking and partying led to his death. They argue that his excessive alcohol consumption weakened his body and immune system, which made him more susceptible to disease and infection.
Personally, I believe that the most likely cause of Alexander's death was malaria. While poisoning and alcoholism cannot be completely ruled out, modern medical research and historical accounts suggest that malaria was a very real threat in the region at the time, and Alexander's symptoms before his death are consistent with the disease. Furthermore, there is no concrete evidence to support the poisoning or alcoholism theories, so it seems more likely that they are simply speculative.
shorten it
The 3 possible causes of Alexander the Great's death are poisoning, malaria, and alcoholism. The most probable explanation is malaria, backed by modern medical research and historical accounts of the region.
There are three possible causes for the death of Alexander the Great:
1. Malaria: Some historians believe that Alexander contracted malaria during his campaigns in Asia. This disease was prevalent in the region, and the symptoms described by his companions are consistent with those of malaria.
2. Typhoid Fever: Another theory suggests that Alexander died from typhoid fever, also common in ancient times. This theory is based on the symptoms described by his biographer, Plutarch, which included a high fever, severe abdominal pain, and weakness.
3. Poisoning: A controversial theory proposes that Alexander was poisoned. Some accounts claim that he fell ill after drinking a bowl of wine at a banquet. Several theories about the specific poison exist, including arsenic or a toxic plant extract.
The actual cause of Alexander's death remains a subject of debate among historians. However, the most widely accepted theory is that he died from a combination of malaria and complications from typhoid fever. This theory takes into account the symptoms reported by his companions, which could align with both illnesses. It is worth noting that the lack of a definitive cause of death is partly due to the limited availability of reliable historical records and primary sources from that time period.