Final answer:
After Alexander the Great arrived in Asia, he performed sacrifices at Troy, symbolically aligning himself with Greek heroes and justifying his campaigns against Persia. His conquests included a blend of respecting traditions and asserting control, culminating in his rule over the Persian Empire.
Step-by-step explanation:
Shortly after Alexander the Great arrived in Asia on his campaign of conquest, he paid homage to the legendary city of Troy. This act, partaking in sacrifice and seeking pardon from the legendary Priam, aligns with Alexander's self-identification as a Hellene and his personal connection to the heroes of the Trojan War, such as Achilles. Alexander's conquests demonstrate his strategy of blending cultures, honoring local traditions, and asserting his role as a liberator and a great leader, much like the heroes of old. His visit to Troy would have been symbolic, an invocation of the past glory of Greek heroes to justify his own conquests, which included a campaign of vengeance against Persia, the sacking of Persepolis, and the eventual control over the Persian Empire after the death of Darius III. Despite facing challenges like the refusal of his troops to continue into India and the tactical errors during his return journey, Alexander maintained his vision of merging Greek and Persian cultures.