“[Aristotle] was certainly more pertinent in that day and age as Alexander’s legacy was still fresh in the annals of history”
What? Alexander didn’t leave any intellectual legacy, except insofar as his victories were a conduit through which Greek culture flowed to the surrounding area. Aristotle was one of those Greeks, but only one.
If you think of Alexander spreading Aristotle in particular because of the fact that Aristotle was employed at the Macedonian court and tutored Alexander, there isn’t any discernable Aristotelian influence in the Alexander of the annals. He’s pure conquest.
>>If you think of Alexander spreading Aristotle in particular because of the fact that Aristotle was employed at the Macedonian court and tutored Alexander, there isn’t any discernable Aristotelian influence in the Alexander of the annals. He’s pure conquest.
True. However, Aristotle created a wealth of information that never existed previously in Greek ‘science’. I would argue that you’ve proven that Alexander left an intellectual legacy - Greek culture (well, Macedonia’s at least) spread throughout Africa and Western Asia. Furthermore Demetrius’ (Aristotle’s pupil) organization of the library at Alexandria seems to reemphasize Aristotle’s importance.