Alexander the Great

Background Peloponnesian War weakened several Greek city-states. King Philip II wanted to take control of Greece and then move on to Persia.

Philip and Macedonia Kingdom located north of Greece. King Philip Brilliant general and ruthless politician Created a well-trained army Invaded Greece Defeated the Greeks at the battle of Chaeronea end of Greek independence Philip is stabbed to death at his daughter’s wedding and Alexander becomes King 336 BCE Lived in mountain villages not city-states Many of them thought of themselves as Greeks but the Greeks looked down on them Organized phalanxes into 16 men deep and 16 men across Demosthenes, the Athenian orator, tried to warm the Greeks of the threaet Philip and army posed but the greek city-states could not agree on any single policy so were soundly defeated

Alexander 356-323 BCE Well prepared to lead although he was only 20 Excellent military leader City of Thebes rebelled and he destroyed the city The survivors were sold into slavery He then prepared to invade Persia

Alexander’s Invasion of Persia 334 BCE, he led 35,000 soldiers across the Hellespont into Anatolia and crushed the Persian defense at the Granicus River Persia’s king, Darius III, raised another army of 75,000 men Alexander vastly outnumbered so he used the tactic of surprise and Persia is defeated once again Wanted to carry out his father’s plan to conquer Persia

Alexander’s Invasion of Persia Darius tried to negotiate a peace settlement Alexander rejects Darius’s offer Alexander marches into Egypt Persian lines crumbled; victory ended Persia’s power Alexander named pharaoh He moves into Mesopotamia, Babylon, Susa and Persepolis, the Persian capital He burns Persepolis to signal the total destruction of Persia

Alexander He is now the unchallenged ruler of southwest Asia More interested in expanding his empire than governing it Finally reaches the Indus Valley Morale is low after fighting for 11 years He agrees to go home, bitterly disappointed 323 BCE in Babylon he gets a fever and dies at the age of 32

Alexander’s Other Conquests Alexander’s death His empire is split into three parts His conquests had a cultural impact Creates a new culture Adopted Persian dress and customs, married a Persian woman The Hellenistic culture emerges – a combination of Greek, Egyptian and Persian cultures

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LsrkWDCvxg The Library at Alexandria - Ancient Mysteries