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Michael Wood
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In the Footsteps of Alexander The Great: A Journey from Greece to Asia Paperback – January 1, 2001

by Michael Wood (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 151 ratings
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Between 334 and 324 B.C. the Macedonian army, led by Alexander the Great, marched relentlessly across Asia. An event of bravery and cruelty, endurance and greed, Alexander's expedition was a turning point in human history. His conquest opened up contacts between Europe and Asia, unleashing astonishing historical energies that continue to affect the world today. This extraordinary book recreates Alexander's 22,000 mile, ten-year expedition from Greece to India, following as much as possible the actual route of his journey. Historian Michael Wood traversed seventeen countries, trekking through the Zagros Mountains to find the lost site of Alexander's battle at the "Persian Gates," drinking black tea in the Hindu Kush, listening to ancient stories of Sikander e Aazem, and crossing the Makran Desert with twenty-three camels. He traveled with Lebanese traders, Iranian pilgrims, Afghan guerrillas, and other local people on a journey that took him through many of the twentieth century's major trouble spots, including Beirut and Kurdistan.

Wood bases his account of Alexander's conquest on the texts of Greek and Roman historians, but he also reconsiders the Greek adventure in terms of modern ideas on colonialism, orientalism, and racism. The Macedonian conquest, which has mainly been seen through Greek sources, is illuminated for the first time by medieval travelers' narratives, newly discovered oracles, and prophecies on papyrus or clay tablet.

At the heart of Wood's powerful story is the towering, enigmatic character of Alexander the Great. He ascended the throne at twenty, conquered much of the known world before he was thirty, and was dead by the age of thirty-two. A ruthless politician, brilliant military tactician, devoted son, family man, lover of both women and men, Alexander was known for his extreme generosity as well as his ferocious cruelty. Following in the conqueror's footsteps centuries later, Michael Wood overhears the words of the fabled Greek mermaid who calls to passing sailors: "Great Alexander still lives!"

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    256 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    University of California Press
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 2001
  5. Dimensions
    7.44 x 0.63 x 9.76 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0520231929
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0520231924
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael Wood is a writer and historian living in England. His book, In Search of the Trojan War (1989), was on The New York Times Best Seller list and accompanied a PBS television series. His other books include In Search of the Dark Ages and Domesday: A Search for the Roots of England.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of California Press; First Paperback Edition (January 1, 2001)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0520231929
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0520231924
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.6 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.44 x 0.63 x 9.76 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 151 ratings

About the author

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Michael Wood

Michael Wood

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
151 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Drs. I
5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting, but....... Anyway.....read it and watch the DVD (buy separately)
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2016
Verified Purchase
i read this very interesting and well researched book on my e-reader. Problem is that one cannot easily go back and look things up, such as the pictures and map. The book is well written and entertainingly written. I have bought the DVD which I will watch and hopefully then I will have a clearer 'picture' of what Alexander achieved. One thing for sure, he was always my hero, but after reading his 'war crimes' I am less 'star-struck'.
Strategically he was outstanding, but as a human being he had many, many flaws, which have had a great impact on many. His temper got so often in the way of reason which too much destruction as a result. But as for Michael Wood and his book: Super!!!
One person found this helpful
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Omar
5.0 out of 5 stars An Amazing Read!
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2016
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I have been fascinated by Alexander since first hearing about him in high school, yet never did read a complete book about him. I tore through this one in two days! The author's words convey incredibly solid, delightful images...so detailed and romantically beautiful, I could almost walk into them. The writing brings Alexander to life.

A highly recommended read, full of adventure and mountains of historical information. I can't wait to watch the companion video.
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K. Johnson
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed it as a Layman
Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2001
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Very interesting and detailed look at the routes taken, the acts, and influences left behind by this historically powerful figure who left such and indelible mark. He also died at only age 33.
Although brutal, he was an adventurous traveler and enjoyed the many delights of wine, women & song. Michael Wood provides and ample supply of photos and maps to detail the routes he and Alexander took. I am not a historian, so I can't corroborate all the details for accuracy. As a history laymen I can say I enjoyed what I read and I admit my lack of knowledge in this area. For those interested in the area, I think you may find it worth reading, and then you can take what you want from that point on.
9 people found this helpful
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Aline D. Coover
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing portrait, story and history brought to life
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2018
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This was a terrific delve into the dark, dangerous and brilliant journey by Alexander the Great so many centuries ago. His marble features have survived from the vast lands he and his armies traversed and conquered. All heroes are larger than life but in following, literally, step by step, Alexander's sojourns we find his story eclipses all.
One person found this helpful
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Frenchclasses
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent addition to the TV series
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2020
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I was looking forward to this book after watching the series. It is very well done and a great addition to the TV series. Michael Wood always does such a great job.
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Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars As such it does provide a bit of the best of both Worlds
Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2016
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This is part travelog and part historical (although you could comment on some of the sources used). As such it does provide a bit of the best of both Worlds.
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wutanglen
5.0 out of 5 stars Michael Woods Rules!
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2000
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I teach Global History and Studies. As a teacher, I used over and over Woods excellent series Legacy. They are the best on the Early Civilizations of the World. I was excited and not the least bit disappointed that he was the man involved in the Footsteps of Alexander the Great project. The video is incredible and this book is a very useful companion. The book is good, i use parts of it in class...however If you have not seen all the parts of the Video, you must. He is crazy. Woods is a great historian who is also fun to watch.
5 people found this helpful
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jess k.
5.0 out of 5 stars better than expected
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2021
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the book was in better condition than described. well done!
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Top reviews from other countries

Magzie
5.0 out of 5 stars Arrived in quick time
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 24, 2023
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Book arrived in good condition nice and clean
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Joe S
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 24, 2021
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The hardcover version is a cross between historical biography and a travelogue and is a really fresh and entertaining way to read about Alexander's campaigns. The colour photographs bring it to life.
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Nicholas Casley
4.0 out of 5 stars Preferred the original hardback to the new paperback edition
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 16, 2010
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I came to this book via the TV series, being aware that Michael Wood's books often have more to say than is relayed on screen. But I was disappointed with the bland paperback edition that is now all that is available as new. Despite reproducing the picture credits of earlier editions, there are no pictures! I have read that since Random House purchased the BBC Books catalogue, there have been complaints of poor publications and this seems to be just such a bad example. And there is only one map! And the bibliography has not been updated. As a result, I managed to find a cheap but good original 1997 hardback edition that is fully illustrated with maps and photographs.

I read both editions side by side and compared the text but found only a small and relatively minor number of changes by the author in updating the first edition, so kept the first edition and gave away the paperback. For example, comments on "war crimes in Vietnam, Cambodia, and the Bosnian War" are updated to "... Cambodia, and the Iraqi Wars." Another example is Wood's adding the fact that the gigantic Buddhas in Afghanistan were blown up by the Taliban in 2001. There is one instance of virtually a whole paragraph being rewritten (about his journey back to the Nile from Siwa), but it is not known why this is so. Having undertaken the same exercise for Wood's book `In Search of the Trojan War' (review available on Amazon), it is clear that there are not so many changes between editions on Alexander as there have been for the former, but this is no doubt due to there not having been any major new breakthroughs in Alexander studies as there have been at Troy.

The book consists of a prologue, a prelude, and six parts; it is rounded off with a short epilogue. In the prologue Wood writes how, "The Macedonian conquest of the world as far as India, which has always been seen through Greek sources exclusively, is now being illuminated for the first time by native sources, newly discovered oracles and prophecies on papyrus or clay tablet." Nevertheless, Wood admits that his account is largely based on the traditional Greek and Roman historians, whose works he carried with him in his rucksack along the way. There are some paragraphs devoted to his epic trek with its logistical problems and false expectations. He found being on the ground and attempting to see the land through ancient eyes invaluable in solving some mysteries.

Wood also links Alexander's tale with events of modern times, in particular "his purges and massacres, his reliance on intelligence spies, secret police, his control of information, use of torture, manipulation of images" etc. When passing through Helmand province of modern Afghanistan, Wood wrote in 1997, i.e. before the events of nine-eleven, of Alexander instigating "a terrifying purge, show-trials, torture and execution of some of the king's [Alexander's] most intimate companions." Whilst evincing much admiration for his subject, Wood is also clear of his failings too and does not hold back in acknowledging Alexander's tyranny. At the siege of Aornos, for instance, Wood writes, "Not for the first time on our journey I found myself strongly identifying with the hopeless defeated." Sometimes Wood's conclusions are a bit fanciful, such as his considering the oyster shells found at the supposed (and now long-abandoned) port used by Nearchus at the mouth of the Indus "very likely to be the remains of Nearchus's feast", on the grounds that "shellfish are not eaten by Muslims".

I mentioned at the beginning of this review that the book was purchased because Wood has more interesting things to say in this format than is available in the time of a TV series. Here in the book, for example, he tells us more about the battle of Granicus and the walking of the Sacred Way between Miletus and Didyma, "up into the hills covered with thorn and asphodel and drenched in a smell of sage." This is all good stuff, but I had expected more details of Wood's journal of his journey. There is certainly much more in the book than the TV series for the period between Alexander's return to Babylonia and his eventual death. This is probably due to Wood being persona non grata in Iraq when the series was made. But Wood also has much to say about Alexander's legacy, concluding "It is as if Alexander's era saw an explosion of energy, like a nebula, which left behind new universes reforming in its aftermath." I did not know, for instance, that as late as the eighth century of the Christian era Greek language and culture was so prevalent as far east as present-day Pakistan.

A chronology, a glossary of characters, a list of sources and an index brings the book to a satisfying end.
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Dave
5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning documentary
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 24, 2014
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Wood's intellectual and knowledgeable slant on this epic of history paints a glorious and tragic tale in the ancient world. Michael Wood follows in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, his glory and demise across the vast Asian continent from Europe and finally into Africa. Wood's gripping storytelling coupled with stunning locations weaves a colourful tale through ancient history giving a new and insightful look into the debauchery and genius that was Alexander the Great. A must-see for those interested in the ancient world, great lives and larger than life tales.
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gavin smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Really good read -
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 31, 2019
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A great book, I had the hardback copy from when the TV series was shown (1998) also a great watch, would recommend the box set. The kindle version has been updated from the hardback book, I wanted to read the book again on my travels, in places where I might have been in the 'footsteps of Alexander the Great'.
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