Alexander’s Empire Chapter 5, Section 4

Philip Builds Macedonian Power Macedonia –Macedonia—Kingdom of mountain villages north of Greece –King Philip II—ruler, brilliant general; dreams of controlling Greece –Macedonians call themselves Greek; rest of Greece does not Philip’s army easily conquers Greece in 338 B.C.

Murder of Philip Philip married again, for a fifth time, a Macedonian woman. His son Alexander was legitimate, but half Greek. This marriage gave Attalus, one of Philip’s generals, occasion to call into question the legitimacy of a half-Greek prince inheriting the Macedonian throne. Philip is assassinated.

Alexander Defeats Persia Alexander’s Early Life –Tutored by Aristotle –Inspired by the Iliad –Military training –Becomes king when 20 years old –Destroys Thebes to curb rebellion –Wanted to Conquer Persia

Alexander Defeats Persia Invasion of Persia –334 B.C. Alexander invades Persia with a quick victory at Granicus River. –Darius III, King of Persia, assembles an army of 50,000-75,000 men. –Alexander defeats Persians again, forces King of Persia to flee.

Alexander Defeats Persia Conquering the Persian Empire –Alexander marches into Egypt and is crowned Pharaoh in 332 B.C. –At Gaugamela in Mesopotamia, Alexander defeats the Persians again. –Alexander captures cities of Babylon in 331 B.C. & Persepolis, the Persian capitol which is burned to the ground. –Ashes of Persepolis signal total destruction of the Persian Empire

Alexander’s Other Conquests Alexander in India –Alexander fights his way across the deserts of Central Asia to India –Alexander conquers Indus Valley area in 326 B.C. First time they met soldiers on elephants. Never lost a battle, but Alexander’s men were tired –Reluctantly returns to Babylon and dies in 323 B.C. Struck by a fever

Alexander’s Legacy Alexander melds Greek and Persian cultures. He takes a Persian wife. Empire becomes three kingdoms –Macedonia, Greek city-states –Egypt –Old Persia, also known as the Seleucid kingdom Links to today- Alexandria in Egypt

Hellenistic Age Time period between Alexander’s death and the emergence of the Roman Empire. New philosophies –Philosopher Zeno- accept what life brings (avoid desires and disappointments) –Stoics- high moral standards and protection of human rights. Stoicism- people should accept what life brings.

Hellenistic Age Math –Pythagoras- Pythagorean Theorem –Euclid- The Elements (Textbook became basis for modern geometry) Astronomy –Aristarchus Heliocentric- or sun-centered solar system. –Eratosthenes- circumference of the Earth Physics –Archimedes- invented lever and pulley