What if Alexander the Great Never Died Young? 

Alexander would literally sail into the new world, conquer it, and then build a space ship and start conquering Mars

"Then he did a backflip, stabbed the bad guy's neck and saved the day!" - some Macedonian soldier

"Can't imagine a mix of Greek with any culture" * laughs in Greco-bactrian *

Oh god, ''The Holy Greek Empire,'' would be a thing.

Alexander died because of a back injury. He carried his team so much

That "Young" in the title was cut off in the notification, so I thought "well, a whole lot would change if such a lucky bastard was also immortal."

Now do "What if Alexander the Great Never Died?" and see how far you can continue things with an immortal Alexander the Great.

Girls with a time machine: I'm your Granddaughter Boys with a time machine: I'm telling you, Alexander, there's a whole different continent far to the west beyond the Atlantic

The only answer to the question "Where would Alexander go next?" is wherever the most spoils of war to be had were. It's the reason why he didn't even bother with the Italian peninsula in his lifetime.

“When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept for there were no more worlds to conquer.” - Plutarch Always one of my favorite quotes.

"He would wish to Greek culture merged with Persian" I think I know what I will do in CK3 after the new update.

If "Alexander the Great" would have not died of illness at a young age, He would have conquered the whole world, except for Australia. Him and his army would have been defeated and forced to surrender, to the great Emu horde.

I'm 21 years old, and I'm amazed that he was leading a huge campaign at the same age.

"True love, never has a happy ending, because there is no ending to true love." - Alexander the Great

I think Alexander would have wanted to go east again and continue into unknown exotic and oriental lands. That's what I think would have driven him. I'm not convinced he'd have been much interested in going north over the Balkans any time soon - perhaps later in life. Yes he knew of the Italian peninsula and would have liked to go there too but he seemed very driven on eastward expansion. Had his army not mutinied he would have kept going into India - although I think that's likely where his journey would end. I don't see him passing the Himalayan mountains or venturing into the hostile jungles of southeast Asia where he can't properly utilise a phalanx or flank with efficiency. The only reason he doesn't decide to go east again in this timeline is if he has a change of heart over time - a sort of "been there, done that" attitude, in which case yeah I can see him marching on Italy, Carthage or the Balkans

I always liked the idea of Alexander living for decades longer and creating a Hellenic empire that stood as an alternate version of the Roman Empire. Like an unstoppable ancient version of Genghis Khan.

Probably one of the history's biggest "What If"s because it's so far back in history that Alexander living longer creates a really big butterfly effect

One of my favorite Alexander the Great quotes over the subject of logistics in military campaigns. “My logisticians are a humorless lot… they know that if my campaign fails, they are the first ones I will slay.”

Fun fact: One of the earliest known recorded alt-history scenarios was a rant by Roman historian about how the Romans would have beat back Alexander if he had survived.

What I want to know is: how long would Alex's empire last? He loved conquering, but did he love administering a realm that could've been as big as the Roman and Parthian Empires combined?

Well, perhaps it was the fact that he died at the height of his achievements that helped to create the much of legend around him. For example, it would also be interesting to ask the reverse question. What if Napoleon had died at his height, between 1809 and 1812?

no one actually realizes how impressive alexander the great is, literally conquered the known world and never lost a single battle

I think you forgot one thing Alexander in his later years used a lot of auxiliaries since his domestic Macedonian forces were thinned out during these long campaigns.

As a man fascinated with Persian Empire, I always had mixed feelings about Alexander. He ruined the best empire in history, but he also was a great fan of Cyrus the Great and he kept the 10k Immortals as the royal guard. If he lived long enough, maybe he could've forged an even greater Greco-Persian empire.

"There is nothing impossible to him who will try." - Alexander the Great

"A weeb for the Persians." Truly an enlightened individual haha

“After the conquest of Carthage they would have connected it with Alexandria” Which one bud

It's amazing this one man had such an impact on the world that thousands of years after his death myself, my father and grandfather all have his namesake.

"Through every generation of the human race, there has been a constant war, a war with fear. Those who have the courage to conquer it, are made free, and those who are conquered by it, are made to suffer, until they have the courage to defeat it, or death takes them." - Alexander the Great

I'm still trying to get my head around what would happen if Cyrus the Younger was able to overthrow his brother Artaxerxes and not accidentally got shot by his own troop at Battle of Cunaxa. Well, Anabasis would've never been written, the ten thousand Greek mercenary would be rich and settled, and Alexander wouldn't have access to that book, which is somewhat helpful for his conquest of Persian Empire.

God-Emperor Alexander, so all the marines look like the Minotaur Chapter, I love it

There was an Alexander the Great in 40k, his name was Solar Lord Marcharius, he pushed his army to the Eastern edge of the galaxy. His generals refused to go further and he wept, falling to his knees. He died on the trip back to Terra.

Alexander's deification may actually impact not just Europe. In our timeline Greek settlers from Alexander's empire near India have later converted to Buddhism, and brought some Hellenic culture to it. Greco-Buddhism is belived to influence some of the Buddhist traditions that were later spread to East Asia, and became heavily integrated with it's cultures (to the point that Japanese wind god Fujin can actually be traced back to the Greek god Boreas). So, if Alexander would had became a major Greek deity, his cult could have even reached China and Japan (though, in a *very* modified form). *P.S.:* Oh, and Persia being more connected with Europe may also result Buddhism spreading to the West, especially without Christianity becoming dominant.

Cody: “Alexander conquered the known world.” Also Cody: “Here are other parts of the world Alexander knew about and didn’t conquer.”

I actually did this as a project for History class in high school! I had him live until reaching the American Atlantic, and, for some reason (I assume from getting lost until they reached water again), his army kept heading East until they reached Macedonia again.

Yes, this is the exact reason why he's my favourite Rider in the Fate series.

You should of done “if Alexander the Great had a will and testament”

Really enjoyed this video, Cody! Really fascinating “what if” scenario to ponder and I loved your take about how the bedrock of literally everything could have changed. Also, you get major points from me for mentioning Alexander’s “friend” Hephaestion. A lot of historians like to over look him for... um... reasons

I wouldn't be so sure about the "No Christianity" angle. Christianity was more Greek than Roman for a long time, with Rome being more like the westernmost outpost. Without Romans, I'd rather say that the centre of Christianity would be even more in the eastern Mediterranean than it was in our history, but other than that not much would change. Imagine the Byzantine empire that was always Greek-Byzantine and never Roman.

I read this really cool book back in middle school called the collected What If, and it literally explains it exactly like you. You did a really good job, assuming it's not plagiarism.

Epicurus once stated: "Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for"

“What if Alexander lived?” Every Alt-History Reddit: *Greco-India in Pakistan*

As always, great video! What I'd love to see next is a video asking "What if Antarctica was inhabitable?"

Excellent video! Thanks!

If he never died young then him and future napoleon would be battling aliens in space with laser guns and nukes Edit: He finally got 2 million subscribers! This is a very good day for him

Gotta say I loved that 40k reference. Alexander would really have made a good Emperor of Mankind

Well researched and thought out. Respect.

“The celts would eventually be pushed north never to be seen again.” Galatians “are we not celts?!?”

I think you missed one detail. Alexander, if he lived, wouldn’t need his spears to conquer. He had Egypt and Persia, the ancient world major economic centres. He could literally buy out snd bankrupt kingdoms into becoming client states (like how Darius the first did). There wouldn’t have been an end to how much he could of gained.

"Friend." Fairly certain they were roommates too.

Love your Channel

I have been waiting for this for years

Caesar's first nine battles were all victories, but he still lost one or two. Had Alexander lived on, he likely would have lost the honor of being undefeated, losing a battle at least once or twice. Quit while you're ahead, eh?

"Oh boy, here I go conquering again" -Alexander

One possibility that I can imagine is that Buddhism finds its way into the Greco-Persian world and becomes the basis of most religion in the West.

Of all the dramatic possibilities for how Alexander died, I think the most likely is that he drank himself to death. I don't think it is at all unlikely that he got a bad brew that was either too strong or toxic in any number of other ways. He wasn't shopping at Bevmo. No poison, betrayal, or mysterious circumstances are necessary. He was fundamentally a frat boy.

Interesting enough, if i remember correctly this question is probably the earliest historical "what if" ever recorded. Titus Livus wrote a brief history of what would had happened if Alexander decided to pull a Pyrrus and expand in Italy instead of the East

"With the right attitude, self imposed limitations vanish." - Alexander the Great

“A weeb for the Persians.” And a simp for Conquest.

I had him on my Fantasy Conquerors team. The season-ending death really messed up my roster

4:08 Cody’s definitely a massive jojo fan

"A purge of Alexander's heirs." Yeah this suggests that simply conquering more shit wouldn't have created a stable dynasty. He needs to go home and either please or conduct a purge of his generals (or purge the disloyal ones while pleasing the loyal ones).

Then he would be Alexander the Greater

Excellent video.

Considering he marched his army through the desert on his way back from India and took serious casualties in doing so, I actually don't think him going into Arabia would be all that successful tbh.

The only man who could have unified all the tribes of men. There was something unique about his nature, no matter how brutal or contrived. Somehow, he just made things work.

There are many interesting ways that this scenario could have gone, but I was surprised and happy to see that you mentioned Alexander's Persianization, Cody! Alexander knew of his troops war weariness, and their desire to go back home and most likely, as he said in his famous speech at Opis, would have allowed them to return. However, I do not believe Alexander would go back to Macedonia. He made his capital Babylon for a reason, and showed no desire to leave for Greece. Persia was the center of civilization, and his desire to blend the cultures of the Greeks and Persians would need his watchful eye to maintain. After his Greek forces leave Asia for Europe, I have no doubt in my mind that he would have begun training his Persian subjects in the ways of warfare which he used to conquer the Achaemenid Empire. As he would want to still have an army around, in case he desired more conquest (or needed it against revolts). Nevertheless, something far more important would be his succession. Using the culture and logic of our modern times, we come to the conclusion that Alexander the Great would have been succeeded by his son born from his first marriage with Roxana, Alexander IV. However, that was not the culture in ancient Persia. As when Darius the Great ascended (usurped depending on if you don't believe the Behistun Inscription) the throne, his eldest son, and first born did not become then next in line, since Darius' first wife was not the direct descendent of Cyrus the Great. When Darius the Great married Atossa (daughter of Cyrus the Great) and bore a son with her, that child became the next in line. That child was Xerxes. Thus, Alexander having married into the line of Cyrus the Great with his marriage to Stateira II (Darius III's daughter) and Parysatis II (Daughter of Artaxerxes III) it is likely that a male heir born from one of those marriages would become Alexander the Great's heir. This would further alienate his Greek subjects, as the whole purpose of their invasion was to destroy the Achaemenid Empire, yet Alexander didn't destroy Achaemenid Persia, he merely usurped the Throne. This would bring us to probably the most exciting situation during this dive into alternate history; does Macedonia and Greece, revolt against Alexander the Great? It is clear that his Greek subjects would be enraged, but the question is, will they be enraged to the point of revolt? If so, then without a doubt in my mind, Alexander the Great would once against cross the Hellespont as a conqueror, with his Greco-Persian forces he will embark on the Second Greco-Persian War, and it would be the third time a Persian army would cross into Greece. It is tradition for Persian King of Kings to take a royal name upon ascension. If Alexander does do this, the question is will he do it before Greece Revolts against him (which would make it the straw that breaks the camel's back)? Or will he do it after? Regardless, I know that if he does choose to take up a royal Persian name instead of his own, he would be crowned as: Cyrus III, the Great King of the World.

Congrats on 2 mil!

You forgot to mention at the beginning that his father really set everything up for him to do what he did, not to take away from alexander but a nod to Phillip would have been Good lol

4:10 My JoJo reference sense is tingling! What could it mean?

Humankind came out day one on gamepass, had no idea it was, i was super hpyed! Iv been waiting on this game for a while, im glad a fellow cody was looking forward to it too! Ill see you in history brother!

3:24 this is the Drina river house in Serbia, i have been here many times and have a vacation house near it, thanks for including it man!

I figured that as Alexander's conquest was in such a short period of time it was likely that as long as he tried to expand into some region the other would be rebelling and demanding that he intervene. Eventually, in this coming and going, his generals and soldiers would become more and more worn out, leading to the collapse of the empire.

I like this Alexander guy, reminds me of me.

Technically Alexander never said he was a god or demigod. After visiting the temple of Dias (Zeus) he was asked what he was told. Alexander basically said, "believe what you want," and his men then said "only the truly divine are humble enough to not draw attention to their divinity." And then Alexander basically went with the flow, ultimately succumbing to his own propaganda. Although, while Greece may have headed west, I think its far more likely he would have pushed ever further east. If he had been successful in conquering the Indian subcontinent and Afghanistan, he would have heard legends of lands on the other side of the Himalayas with riches and resources beyond his imagination. Had he been successful, he may have been the first European to make contact with China. There was very little in the west for him. He continued to push east because when Persia fell he heard of the riches of India. Europe in 330 BCE would not have been an attractive prize.

40k and Alexander in one video auto like and sub, well done!

We know he was great at the conquring but being able to hold it all together is something else entirely. He was groomed for taking Persia but not for ruling Macedonia.

"With some luck" and pluck. Don't think I wouldn't notice that Phantom Blood reference, Cody. I've got a fever, and the only perscription is more JoJo. Speaking of which, have you ever contemplated doing your own "What If?" regarding scenarios in JoJo? You've clearly shown an interest in it. Also, while once upon a time I would have gladly jumped into Humankind, I don't quite have the time to invest into an Amplitude 4X nowadays, even though I still kinda love them. My love for boomshoot was rekindled with the emergence of DUSK, and now I'm currently working my way through all the Quake expansion content that dropped on the 25th anniversary. But maybe some day, I'll dive into the Civ-esque stylings of Humankind.

happy 2 mil!!!!

How have I not found this by now

Heck yeah, have been wanting this scenario for ages

“We don’t know exactly how Alexander the Great died.” I’m going with the interpretation he got trapped in an Egyptian pyramid in India and was sent into another dimension with dragons and dark magic until a nameless Pharaoh saved his trapped spirit 2,000 years later. Yu-Gi-Oh! fans will know what I’m talking about.

8:20 literally busting the wild horseman on me. learned that piece non stop in high school and when i heard its theme it was like a vietnam flashback but enjoyable

Old Gods, Best Gods, in this timeline... Thank you for coming to Cody's TED Talk

This exact thought crossed my mind yesterday.

There seems to be quite a few famous people named Alexander that would be interesting scenarios if they didn’t die so early- Alexander II of Russia, Alexander the Great, Alexander Hamilton

I missed these videos

Finally one about Alexander the one

“What if we lived in the Harrison Bergeron dystopia”

He could also drop a mixtape, or an epic poem about his conquests.

I’m not sure we’ve ever seen someone who was as much of an absolute force of nature since Alexander. Man toppled empires like it was going out for brunch. The only things that stopped him from rampaging through everything in his path was his own soldiers literally refusing to keep going and his death at a young age. Even if he had just lived like a decade longer the entire world could’ve been forever changed

I would love that version.

Right before you hit the huge milestone of 2 mil, I just want to say thank you so much. Your videos are really high quality, and have only improved. Your videos have sparked my interest in history and world politics, and I bet the same with so many other people. Thank you Althistoryhub, keep it up!

Humakind has reached Raid Shadow Legends level in just a few weeks.

Congratulations on 2 million subscribers.

Congratulations on being so close to 2,000,000 subscribers! (He practically has 2 mil)

2 videos within a week? You’re on a roll dude! Finally woke up?

I just last night read the og comment asking for this and thought, "yeah, that is a good question!" I have power!

Thanks for the Emperor of Mankind from Warhammer 40K reference. Caught me off guard and was fantastic.

With the cult of Alexander i think it would play out similar to Caeser, people after him claiming to be related or spiritual successor or Caeser