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Born in 356 BC in Macedon, Alexander’s early life was shaped by military ambition, exemplified by his desire to emulate heroes from epic tales like those of Achilles. His rise to power commenced upon the assassination of his father, King Philip II. With a united Greece under his command, Alexander turned his sights towards the sprawling Persian Empire. His conquests not only expanded his empire but also introduced him to the extravagant feasts and culinary richness of Persian culture—a marked contrast to the simpler lifestyle he had known.