Alexander and the Persians

Alexander, who is remembered in all periods of history with a bad name and memory, when he entered Iran to open the country.

After observing the science and culture and the way the Achaemenid court treated the people under its control in Iran and its superiority over this category in Macedonia, he was so impressed that

During his stay in Iran for several years, he never behaved unreasonable with any Iranian, general or any member of the royal family, and even this respect continued after the change in his personality and the appearance of brutality..

Alexander was one of Aristotle's good students. And he had a special respect for this scientist, during his entire stay in Iran, Alexander expressed his happiness only by reading the letters of two people, one of them was Aristotle, his teacher, and the other was Antipotter, the military rulers of Macedonia, who after the departure of Alexander, ruled that country. was in charge.

But during his stay in Iran, he realized some points that will be discussed in the following. Here I am going to explain some of the surprises that Alexander encountered when he entered Iran.:

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Iskandar always told his generals that the Middle East is very different from Macedonia. In Macedonia, when we pass the borders of the cities, we enter the area of ​​barbarians, and here, as far as we go inside the territory, we can see towns and villages, some of them They are hundreds of years old. Iskander believed that Iranians do not appreciate their country because they have lived here and have not seen the sad environment of Macedonia. In his opinion, this land was the most beautiful land that God had given genius to mankind. He also showed great interest in life in the land of Pars.
At that time, Iranians used limestone to build their houses, which they collected from the mountains.

Alexander's generals expressed that when they were in Macedonia, they considered it a great country, but now every province of Iran is considered a Macedonia, and in their opinion, Iranians were the most patriotic nations in the world..
The industry in Iran was very important to them.
Seeing the special dams and wheels that connected the waters from the rivers to the fields and the dug canals made Alexander wonder. There was also this wonder about Babylon, the engineering of multi-storied buildings for use in the hot season that cools the air. He was leading inside the building and had provided all the reasons for his surprise.
Aristotle had told Alexander a lot about Mesopotamia and its natural and vital resources, but in Alexander's opinion, Aristotle knew less about this than what actually existed..
Iskander was also very surprised that in Iran, which is considered to be one of the dry and waterless regions, how there is such a level of prosperity.. And the fields are irrigated without rain, the response of the Iranians to this position was this: The gifts that God has given to mankind and all the pure elements of nature should be used to bring happiness to man in all eras..
At that time, the Iranians were doing irrigation by means of wells and wells, which was a surprising thing in Alexander's view..
The most interesting of all the issues that cause my surprise is that at that time, Iranians used to provide water when there was no rain by building artificial lakes..
In the land of Iran at that time, agriculture was completely advanced in proportion to its time, because in Iran this work was done by animals such as cows and iron bulls, while in the land of Alexander, this work was still done by human power..
During his stay in Iran, Iskandar used to sit with astronomers and used these meetings. He asked the Iranians questions about the stars, for example, whether Iranians believe in the intervention of the stars in the fate of humans or not? Iranians' answer to this question It was negative and they did not consider the stars to have such power and did not consider them to be involved in the fate of humans, but Iskandar expressed that there are such beliefs in his land..
During his stay in Iran, Alexander wrote a letter to Aristotle and requested him to travel to Iran and see things to see and hear things to hear, and if he cannot come himself, to send his student to Iran..

Aristotle wrote in response: I can't come, but my nephew can ((Calis Tennis)) I sent.
Harold Lamb, the author of the book Step by Step with Alexander, says in Iran: ((The mistake made by historians is that they think that Alexander's attack on Iran was an attack by a civilized nation against a semi-civilized nation. This mistake must be corrected and everyone should know that the Macedonian nation is considered an almost barbaric nation to the Iranians. and Iranians were one of the most civilized nations in the world at that time.))
He also says:Macedonians knew only two things, one is war and the other is a kind of primitive agriculture, which they could not plant except wheat and barley and certain types of trees, when they entered Iran and saw the condition of the Iranian nation and the fields, gardens, irrigation system. They observed the Iranians and the canals and saw the customs, science, culture and clothing of the Iranians and realized that they were far behind the Iranians..
Alexander was not proud until he conquered Iran, but historians say that after conquering Iran, he became proud because he was able to conquer such a nation with such a culture...
As said, Aristotle is his nephew((Calis Tennis)) with a letter along with one of the philosophers of the time ((Anacharkos)) sent to Iran.
The letter that Aristotle wrote to Alexander was a scientific letter in which the supernatural was discussed, and the Greeks referred to the supernatural as ((Metaphysics)) They read, it should be known that Aristotle was a visionary in two sciences, one (( physics)) It means natural and other sciences ((Metaphysics)) Means metaphysical sciences.
The meaning of the natural sciences in which Aristotle was a master is::Physical science(science of things)and chemical science(Intrinsic properties of things) and zoology, botany, geology, etc. What is meant by supernatural sciences is the identification of the soul, which is a science that cannot be understood with normal scientific scales and information. Likewise, the identification of the creator of existence is also a part of supernatural sciences..
After five years of living in Iran, Aristotle's letter had reached Alexander, who had completely changed by now, he had seen and heard things that Aristotle did not know about. Or he doesn't know much and doesn't even have an idea about these things. And he doesn't even know what kind of animal a zebra is and …
Five years ago, Iskander was very interested in the news(University of that time in Macedonia) know, but even now, after five years, he had heard so many interesting things from the scientists of the East that the conversation of Kise seemed vulgar in his opinion..
Even after seeing the beauty of the East, the concept of the beauty of the past was shaken in his opinion. And what was considered beauty in Aristotle's opinion had no meaning for him..
Now, after five years, a scientific letter had arrived for Alexander from Aristotle, and in the letter there was a long discussion about ((Movement in its permanent bringer that does not move)) or((Permanent stimulus without movement)) It is interesting that even after twenty or so centuries it is still being discussed among scholars whether it is possible for there to be a stimulus that does not have motion..

This issue was one of the issues that Aristotle's philosophy was looking for. Alexander was away from philosophy for five years and because of seeing concrete science in Iran, his taste had changed, that's why he did not understand anything from this letter and in response Aristotle wrote: (( The letter that you have written seems to be only suitable for the understanding of properties, and then write your letters and treatises in such a way that all people can benefit from it.))

Kalis Tenes had brought him news from Macedonia, the most important of which in my opinion is that due to the bad situation of Macedonian society at that time and the existence of wealth, science and rich culture in Iran and the Middle East in general, the Greeks decided to migrate to Take these points.
Callis Tenes, the nephew of Aristotle, was one of the philosophers who were called sophists. Such philosophers were people who considered natural moderation to be a guarantee of happiness. But this word has changed its meaning over time and has come to have a negative meaning. Anyway, Calis Tennes was surprised to see anything.

In any case, the era passed and after the conquests and brutalities he did in different lands, Alexander planned to return to Macedonia. On his way back to Macedonia, he passed in Babylon and he was never able to achieve his dream and like Cyrus an empire. to make everyone feel freedom and independence in it. But one of the benefits that these trips had for the Alexandrians was that many sciences such as botany, astronomy, dam building and engineering and… And they also took a very rich culture with them to their land.