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Secondary sourceBook1893

The Anabasis of Alexander

Arrian · 1893

Arrian's ancient history of Alexander's wars and conquests, translated into English in 1893, based on earlier eyewitness accounts.

A key ancient history of Alexander's wars, drawn from eyewitness accounts of people who knew him.

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About this source

What it is

The Anabasis of Alexander is a history written by the Greek author Arrian in the second century AD, based on earlier accounts by people who had traveled with Alexander. This is an English translation published in the 1890s by E. J. Chinnock.

Why it matters

Arrian is considered one of the most reliable ancient sources on Alexander because he drew on writers who were close to the events. His work shaped how later generations understood Alexander's campaigns across Persia and into India.

Look closer

  • Why do historians trust Arrian more than some other ancient writers about Alexander?
  • What might be lost or changed when a text is translated centuries later?
  • What questions would you ask about the sources Arrian used?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Alexander the Great on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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