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I was thinking about Alexander's massive conquest of Asia, the eastern Mediterranean, and the ancient Near East, and I was wondering: why did he not go West rather than East? Was it because Rome was a burgeoning Republic at the time which Alexander did not want to mess with? That would seem odd, given his mastery of his opponents on the battlefield, and the fact that Rome was still relatively small in the 4th century B.C. Also, he could have potentially skipped the Italian peninsula altogether and taken other parts of continental Europe. Perhaps there was some other reason why the East was more attractive to him.
At the time of Alexander conquests, Rome was just a small republic encompassing a territory between Veii and Neapoli. Not worth a campaign over there. On the other hand, the Persian Empire was richer, more powerful and still a threat to circumscribe; the reason why Alexander went East was probably related to wealth and rewards a conquest would pay back for a successful conquest.
Except for southern Italy, the Greeks always seemed to colonize east. Aeth's reponse makes a lot of sense as well and I would add revenge.
At the time of Alexander conquests, Rome was just a small republic encompassing a territory between Veii and Neapoli. Not worth a campaign over there. On the other hand, the Persian Empire was richer, more powerful and still a threat to circumscribe; the reason why Alexander went East was probably related to wealth and rewards a conquest would pay back for a successful conquest.
I suppose that is a plausible answer. If Alexander's expansion was done as a result of other motives in regard to the Persians, then I can see why going east was the natural direction to move.
Except for southern Italy, the Greeks always seemed to colonize east. Aeth's reponse makes a lot of sense as well and I would add revenge.
Well, Italy was one of the most attractive place for Greek colonies. While Ionia (to the east of mainland Greece) was obviously an attractive place, I don't think that the Greeks disfavored going west. See this cool map of Greek colonies which expand all the way to Spain:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AntikeGriechen1.jpg
Alexander went East because that is the direction his father planned on going and because he wanted revenge on Persia for their invasions of Greece and to eliminate them as a threat to the Greek. Their was also an element of him wanting to prove that the Macedonians were just as Greek as those further south. The Macedonians were considered semi-barbarians at best by the Greeks of Attica and the Peloponnese.
Well, Italy was one of the most attractive place for Greek colonies. While Ionia (to the east of mainland Greece) was obviously an attractive place, I don't think that the Greeks disfavored going west. See this cool map of Greek colonies which expand all the way to Spain:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AntikeGriechen1.jpg
Just a small handful of settlements compared to the huge number in the east.
