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Podcast: New Books in Ancient History
Episode: Richard A. Billows, âBefore and After Alexander: The Legend and Legacy of Alexander the Greatâ (The Overlook Press, 2018)
Description: The achievements of the Macedonian conqueror Alexander the Great are often presented as primarily the work of a singular genius. As Richard A. Billows demonstrates in his book Before and After Alexander: The Legend and Legacy of Alexander the Great (The Overlook Press, 2018), such an interpretation ignores the considerable advantages that he inherited. Foremost among them was Macedonia itself, which was a kingdom rich in resources, especially when compared to the more economically marginal Greek city-states to the south. Recognizing the advantages that Macedonia possessed and utilizing them to defeat Balkan invaders, Alexanderâs father Philip II began the proce...