Looking back in history, it's easy to think of famous leaders as static figures, like statues in a museum.
However, they had strategies and goals we can still learn from. History.net helpfully ranks all of the greatest generals in history, including several notables from the ancient world. Business Insider took a look at some of these military strategists to get a sense of what leadership traits they displayed.
Here are the top five lessons we can learn from some of the greatest generals in ancient history:
SEE ALSO: 7 unforgettable leadership lessons from the ancient Roman conqueror Julius Caesar
Leonidas I taught us to put our troops before ourselves.
Today, Leonidas I is probably best known as the protagonist of the film "300"— the guy who screams, "This is Sparta!"
The Spartan warrior king went down in history for leading the last stand at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BCE, holding off the massive Persian force with a smaller group of soldiers. This maneuver allowed the rest of his Greek allies to escape.
As James R. Holmes wrote for Real Clear Defense, the sacrifice remains "a parable of valor in the face of insurmountable odds." As a leader, Leonidas understood the importance of putting the well-being of his troops before his own in order to ensure the freedom of Greece.
Themistocles taught us to make our own luck.
Themistocles, an Athenian politician and general, fought alongside Leonidas during the second Persian Invasion of Greece. In 480 BCE — the same year as the Battle of Thermopylae — he engineered the naval Battle of Salamis, which proved to be the turning point in the war.
As Business Insider previously reported, Themistocles and his forces were up against the Persian Empire at the peak of its power.
Despite those odds, the outnumbered Greeks were motivated as they fought to defend their homes. This especially showed at the Battle of Salamis, where Themistocles convinced his allies to engage with the Persian fleet and leveraged his knowledge of the winds to overcome the enemy.
Alexander the Great taught us the danger of burning out.
Alexander the Great is considered by many to be one of the most successful conquerors in history. He is largely responsible for the spread of Hellenistic culture around the Mediterranean and beyond.
However, his confidence in his own divinity ultimately prompted him to overstretch himself and his empire. After his tired army forced him to turn back in India, he had completely burned out. Even the most talented leaders can't overwork themselves — they know when to back off or take a break. Alexander's inability to do this largely caused his untimely death in 323 BCE at the age of 32.
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