1. Section 5 Alexander the Great & Hellenistic Age

2. Why “the Great”?
In ten years, Alexander of Macedonia created the largest empire in the world up to that time
Alexander spread Greek culture, ensuring cultural diffusion and the survival of the qualities of classical Greece

3. Alexander’s Empire

4. Alexander’s origins Born in Pella, Macedonia Tutored by the Greek
philosopher, Aristotle
His father, Philip II, was king of Macedonia, and had conquered the Greek city states during his 27 year reign

5. Alexander Rules
Philip was murdered/assassinated in 336 B.C. by an assassin…maybe hired by his wife, Olympia…
So Alexander was only 20
when he became king of
Macedonia
                                                   

6. Expanding the Empire
Alexander’s forces of over 40,000 crossed at the Dardanelles into Asia, where he declared that the whole of Asia would be won by the spear

7. The Gordian Knot
The Gordian Knot: the legend behind the ancient knot was that the man who could untie it was destined to rule the entire world.
Alexander simply slashed the knot with his sword and unraveled it.

8. Defeating Darius of Persia
                 
Alexander was victorious, and Darius III was forced to flee
Persia was no longer the great power it once was

9. Major cities in Asia Minor and along the Phoenician coast surrendered to Alexander
Alexander proceeded to Egypt, where he established the city of Alexandria and was made pharaoh

10. When Darius was found murdered by his own men, Alexander executed the assassins and gave Darius a royal funeral
                                                   
Ruins of
Persepolis

11. Alexander’s divinity While in Egypt, Alexander
had visited the temple of
Amon-Ra
The oracle proclaimed that Alexander was the divine son of Amon-Ra and destined to rule the world
Conflicts arose with his Greek soldiers as he adopted Persian dress & demanded to be recognized as a god

12. The limits of expansion
In the spring of 327 BC, Alexander and his army marched into India
As he conquered regions he allowed rulers to continue to govern in his name

13. Retreat
At the Indus, the Macedonians rebelled and refused to go any farther
The forces travelled down the Indus and began the arduous journey back to Mesopotamia
Alexander stops at Babylon planning a new campaign

14. The mystery of Alexander’s death
Alexander died of a fever at 33… but why?
Plutarch reports that he was had been plagued by several bad “omens”
Some others from the time claimed Alexander was poisoned during a drinking binge

15. Securing a legacy Spreads Greek Culture
Found many new cities > names many of them Alexandria > after himself
Capital > Alexandria, Egypt
Built a huge library > center of learning
Encourages blending of cultures
Hellenistic Civilization
Mix of Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and Indian cultures
Women gain many rights
Learned to read & write
Not confined to the household

16. Hellenistic Arts and Sciences
New schools of philosophy
Stoicism
Preached high moral standards > human rights
Everyone morally equal
Accept what life brings
Advances in Math & Astronomy
Pythagoras
Formula for relationship between right sides of a triangle
Euclid
Forms basis of modern geometry
Aristarchus
Heliocentric view of universe > not accepted until 2,000 yrs later
Archimedes
Applied physics to make inventions > lever and pulley system
Medicine
Hippocrates
Studied causes of illnesses and looked for cures > Hippocratic Oath