Beginning in 329 BC, Alexander the Great conquered an empire spanning 3,000 miles. These exploits were made possible by his mastery of supply chain management to support his armies while they were far from home. This involved a logistics train of beasts of burden that followed his army and kept it supplied. He further relied on subjugating local kingdoms and entering treaties with them to supply his armies. His conquest route often followed waterways which enabled him to resupply his armies by ship (they were much more efficient cargo carriers compared to hooved animal like horses, mules, and camels which he used extensively).
Source: American Society for Quality