Efficiency Analyses

Abstract

The immense military success of Alexander the Great is largely attributed to the methods he used, which focused on improving speed and mobility. Alexander kept his army comparatively small, required regular training in sustained marches, and focused heavily on reducing the volume of servants and the size of the baggage train, greatly increasing the army’s marching speed. This enabled him to frequently arrive before his opponents had anticipated. Alexander was also fond of a “hammer and anvil” combat strategy, which employed the use of elite forces specially trained to be swift to flank behind the opposition, thereby attacking from in front and from behind. He was known for making decisions quickly, and the speed of his conquest was without compare—moving from one to the next seemingly without delay. It was this speed that allowed him to initially gain control over a unified Greece, portions of which were in open rebellion soon after Alexander took the throne in Macedonia, as his opponents were stunned by the speed with which the Macedonian army conquered their opponents.