HELLENISM and ALEXANDER THE GREAT

Essential Question: What was the impact of the spread of Hellenic culture under Alexander the Great? Warm-Up Question: What are the top three Greek innovations? Explain how our world is better because of these three achievements.

Mountains divided the Greeks into independent city-states, like Athens and Sparta Access to the sea increased trade and cultural diffusion (sharing of ideas) with other cultures

The Greek city-states, especially Athens, developed cultural innovations that are still used today which transformed Greece into a “classical civilization”

The Greek city-states, led by Sparta, defended themselves Greek wealth and innovation made it a target for outside invaders (especially Persia) The Greek city-states, led by Sparta, defended themselves

From 493 B.C.E. to 479 B.C.E., Persian kings Darius and Xerxes tried (but failed) to conquer the Greeks in the Persian Wars

After the Persian Wars, the Greek city-states, led by rivals Athens and Sparta, fought each other in the Peloponnesian Wars

The Peloponnesian Wars left the Greeks weak and open to invasion; the invasion came from the Greeks’ neighbors to the north: Macedonia

Macedonians viewed themselves as Greeks and shared much of their culture However, the Greeks (especially the Athenians) viewed the Macedonians as barbarians, not as kinsmen (someone who is related)

In 338 B.C.E., King Philip II of Macedonia attacked and conquered the Greeks, but he was assassinated soon after this (possibly arranged by his wife)

The Macedonian Empire at the time of King Philip’s death

King Philip II had hired the great teacher and philosopher Aristotle to tutor his son Alexander “I am indebted to my father for living…but I am indebted to my teacher for living well.” Aristotle had recognized brilliance in the young Alexander and jumped at the chance to teach him

King Alexander of Macedonia Alexander was only 20 years old when he became king The well-educated Alexander was just as ambitious as he was brilliant at military strategy Once he cemented his power, he began to expand his empire

The Empire of Alexander the Great Alexander began his conquest by crushing a Greek revolt in Thebes; he ordered the death of 6,000 people and sold everyone else into slavery; his brutality convinced other Greeks to not rebel After gaining the generalship of all Greece, Alexander then launched his late father’s plans for expansion

Alexander set his sights on the Persian Empire and began his attack by conquering Egypt; Egyptians viewed Alexander as a liberator, freeing them from the Persians

Alexander destroyed the Persian capital of Persepolis In 331 B.C., Alexander attacked and defeated the mighty Persian army led by King Darius III Alexander destroyed the Persian capital of Persepolis

Alexander repeatedly defeated the Persians, a task that, years before, would have seemed impossible “There is nothing impossible to him who will try.” “I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep. I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.”

“The heavens cannot brook two suns… nor Earth two masters.” Alexander completely conquered the Persian Empire, overthrowing its king; he then set his sights on India

Alexander led his army to conquer India; after taking the Indus River Valley, Alexander planned on reaching “the ends of the Earth and the Great Outer Sea”; basically, he wanted to conquer Asia

After a particularly hard-fought battle against an Indian king, Alexander faced a crisis: his troops were exhausted after being away for 11 years and wanted to return home; after a near-mutiny, he agreed

At this point, it was 323 B.C.E; Alexander had conquered a massive empire, one of the largest in history By the spring of 323 B.C., Alexander and his army had reached Babylon. Restless as always, Alexander announced plans to organize and unify his empire. He would construct new cities, roads, and harbors and conquer Arabia. However, Alexander never carried out his plans. He became seriously ill with a fever and died a few days later. He was just 32 years old.

The Empire of Alexander the Great Alexander began plans to govern and unify his kingdom, but he fell ill in Babylon and died at the age of 32; his death was caused by a combination of exhaustion, fever, and too much drink By the spring of 323 B.C., Alexander and his army had reached Babylon. Restless as always, Alexander announced plans to organize and unify his empire. He would construct new cities, roads, and harbors and conquer Arabia. However, Alexander never carried out his plans. He became seriously ill with a fever and died a few days later. He was just 32 years old.

When Alexander died without an heir, his empire was divided among his top generals, who fought each other Alexander's empire was the largest of the Classical Era, but it was short-lived (only 13 years) and was never fully unified

Remarkable as his conquests were, Alexander’s legacy was not his reign; his true legacy was spreading Greek innovations and culture throughout his empire In each territory he conquered, Alexander left behind a Greek-styled city named Alexandria

Alexander brought Greek colonists and culture to Persia and parts of Asia, blending the cultures together; this created a new culture called Hellenism The term “Hellenism” comes from the sun goddess Helen, which the Greeks thought themselves the children of; they called Greek culture “Hellenism”

Alexandria in Egypt was the most significant of these cities and best represented Hellenism (the spread and blending of Greek culture)

Alexandria became the center for Hellenistic culture and trade for the Mediterranean world Alexandria had a museum and library that preserved Greek, Egyptian, Persian, Indian cultures and attracted scholars for centuries

ALEXANDER THE GREAT: A SUMMARY He was well-educated and a military genius His interest in Greek culture as well as Persian, Egyptian, and Indian ideas led to a vibrant new culture: Hellenism Hellenism helped shape future civilizations (including Western civilization)

ALEXANDER THE GREAT: A SUMMARY His empire was enormous, but would not last as long as other great empires in history Nonetheless, he is a major part of Greek history and myth He became the measure against which many generals, even to this day, compare themselves to