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How did Aristotle influence Alexander the Great’s education?

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Alexander the Great Alexander the Great, detail from Alexander and Porus, painting by Charles Le Brun, 17th century; in the Louvre, Paris, France.

In 343 or 342 BCE, Philip II summoned Aristotle to the Macedonian capital at Pella to serve as tutor to his 13-year-old son, the future Alexander the Great.1

While historical records provide little specific detail regarding the exact content of Aristotle’s instruction, the influence of this mentorship is often linked to Alexander’s lifelong interest in the natural world. Ancient sources report that during his extensive military campaigns, Alexander arranged for biological specimens to be collected from across Greece and Asia Minor and sent to his former tutor. This suggests that Aristotle’s emphasis on empirical observation—a hallmark of his scientific research—left a lasting impression on the young king.12

It is important to note that while the Rhetoric to Alexander was long attributed to Aristotle, it is now widely considered a forgery and is not accepted as part of his authentic corpus. Consequently, the precise nature of their academic curriculum remains largely unknown to historians.1