Alexander the Great Ancient Empires

Macedonian Power Peloponnesian Wars weaken Greece King Philip II of Macedonia has an idea – hit them while they’re weak Leads his rugged people against the Greeks

Macedonian Might Fearless leadership The new phalanx formation was difficult to attack Cavalry then finished the broken

Setting the Stage for Al Philip conquered the divided Greeks He dies before attacking Persia Persians were spread too thin Alexander names himself king upon Philip’s death

Alexander’s genesis 20 year old king Kills 6,000 rebels to prove strength Greece is under his control Persian campaign may begin

Look out Persia! 334 BCE – 35,000 troops invade Persia and win at Granicus River Persian King Darius II vowed revenge but is forced to flee at Issus Darius offers all land west of the Euphrates – he rejects Give me everything

Expansion Egyptians name him pharaoh and liberator Crushes Darius again in the massive battle of Gaugamela & burns the capital of Persia

India & Beyond – 326 BCE Reaches India and defeats war elephants 11,000 miles in 11 years Soldiers demand to go home A period of Pax will follow

Peace and Collapse Dedicates time fixing the empire Trade and building become the focus Dies at age 33 from a disease Empire will split and crumble as generals struggle for control

Significance Hellenistic culture spreads Ideas are brought home to Greece Largest empire so far Collapse gave rise to other powers Wealthiest man in history?

Leadership? What qualities make a good leader? What qualities make a bad leader? Alexander was a good or bad leader? Explain Name a leader (past or present) that is good Are leaders necessary? Why or Why not?

Primary Source "As for the Macedonians, however, their struggle with Porus blunted their courage and stayed their further advance into India. For having had all they could do to repulse an enemy who mustered only twenty thousand infantry and two thousand horse, they violently opposed Alexander when he insisted on crossing the river Ganges . . . its banks on the further side were covered with multitudes of men-at-arms and horsemen and elephants. For they were told that the kings of the Ganderites and Praesii were awaiting them with eighty thousand horsemen, two hundred thousand footmen, eight thousand chariots, and six thousand fighting elephants." - Plutarch, Vita Alexandri,

EMPIRE MODEL: ALEXANDER’S EMPIRE

PRE-CONDITIONS Strong Military: Philip II created a professional army (phalanx) Strong Government: Macedonia was ruled by many powerful kings -Philip II & Alexander Control of resources: Philip II controlled much of Greece, including the fertile regions of Northern Greece No Rivals: The Greeks were unable to organize

MOTIVATION Greed: Greece contained great wealth Ideology: Alexander believed he was a demi-god (½ man, ½ god) & his father was Zeus Conquest is best defense: Philip II had warned Alexander about a threat of Persian invasion

PAX New cities, roads, & public buildings created to improve life in the empire Alexandria was a center of learning, culture, and trade. Hellenistic culture combines the traditions of the conquered lands

REASONS FOR THE FALL Morale of soldiers declined after the military campaign ended and demanded to return home. Alexander failed to name a successor & his generals fought amongst themselves The division of Alexander’s empire into smaller districts made it weaker and reduced the power of the emperor over his lands.