Was Alexander the Great a visionary genius or a butcher?

Answer 1

Alexander the great was much more of a brutal world conqueror rather than a visionary and a humanitarian. He conquered much of the territory for the glory of the Holy Roman Empire, and not because he was doing a humanitarian service. Perhaps he thought he was providing a service to those whom he conquered by thinking that he could turn them away from their barbarian ways, but primarily the scope of what he accomplished was basically land-grabbing.

Answer 2

He was both. He had a vision of the Persian Empire which he took over being converted to Greek culture which he believed, rightly or wrongly, to be superior. After starting this process he planned taking over Western Europe and doing the same, but his early death stopped that.

In the process there was massive slaughter and economic disruption which he pursued relentlessly. Even some of his own generals were victims. Self aggrandisement shared an equal part with his world vision, with him triumphant at the centre.