Date of Award
1-2011
Degree Type
Thesis
Department
History
First Advisor
William Dean
Second Advisor
David Van Heemst
Third Advisor
Lori Fulton
Scholarship Domain(s)
Scholarship of Discovery
Abstract
History is often directed by small decisions made in the heat of battle. Alexander the Great and Napoleon Bonaparte grew up in two different worlds. Alexander was the son of royalty, while Napoleon was an outcast. Yet, both were able to lead his empire to unparalleled growth by advanced military tactics. Despite all of the success each had in his military career, small decisions in one battle cemented each legacy. Alexander defeated a foe many times his size at Gaugamela with quick thinking and great tactics. Napoleon’s final battle was his undoing; poor decisions when the battle was on the line tainted his legacy forever.
Recommended Citation
Lacher, Nathaniel James, "Alexander and Napoleon: How Small Decisions in the Largest Battles Changed the Course of History" (2011). M.A. in Philosophy of History Theses. 1.
https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/hist_maph/1
Comments
M.A. in Philosophy of History thesis completed in 2011 for Olivet Nazarene University.