The achievements of Alexander the Great have been studied in depth by many significant historians; however, author and professor Richard A. Billows delves into lesser-known periods before and after his reign. He explores the years preceding Alexander, who, without the foundations laid by his father, Philip II, would not have had the resources or influence that allowed him to create one of the greatest empires in history. Alexander himself was groomed to succeed his father, and when Philip was assassinated in 336 BC, his empire had already begun to take shape. The years after Alexander offer even more subjects for investigation. Billows strongly challenges the view that the political turmoil following his death was due to the lack of a leader of similar stature; instead, he argues that there were many highly capable leaders who exploited the power vacuum to build their own kingdoms. Since Alexander's son and heir was an infant and thus could not rule, the temptation was great for the generals, who began to act on their own behalf. In Before and After Alexander, Billows presents the complex picture of one of the world's greatest empires, defining it not so much as the achievement of one man but mainly as the culmination of aggressive expansion over many generations with a common purpose. "Much has been written about the life and conquests of Alexander the Great, but Richard Billows has given us something new: a coherent and vividly descriptive picture of the Macedonian world that gave birth to Alexander, as well as his legacy."  Philip Freeman, author of Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar "Billows invites readers to assess the significance of Alexander by placing his conquests within a broader historical narrative of the creation of the Macedonian state...  By describing at the end what the Roman, Christian, and Islamic worlds owe to him, this book makes it clear why Alexander remains such a fascinating historical figure to this day."  Andrew Monson, Professor of Classics, New York University