1. Alexander The Great

2. Macedonia

3. Phillip II of Macedon
Ruled Macedonia and transformed it into a powerful military machine
The Macedonian conquest of Greece followed the weakening of Greek defenses during the Peloponnesian Wars.
By 338 Phillip conquered most of Greece

4. The Phalanx
Used as a brute-force breakthrough formation. Philip made the Phalanx a versatile weapon, with the ability to advance, hold and retreat in good order.
It was primarily used as a holding force while the Companion cavalry delivered the main blow against the enemy.

5. Companion Calvary

6. Alexander the Great Phillip II is assassinated in 336 BCE
Alexander is crowned king
Phillip had prepared Alexander
well for kingship
Military Experience
Tutored by Aristotle

7. Alexander the Great Heavily influenced by Greek culture
Inspired by the stories of Achilles and Hercules.
Kept a dagger and a copy of the Iliad under his pillow.
Wanted his accomplishments to surpass those of Hercules.

8. Story of Bucephalus Horse that couldn’t be tamed
Alexander soothed the horse and turned him so that he didn’t see his own shadow
Alexander and Bucephalus were connected until the horse’s death

9. Story of Bucephalus
"King Alexander had also a very remarkable horse; it was called Bucephalus, either on account of the fierceness of its aspect, or because it had the figure of a bull's head marked on its shoulder. It is said, that he was struck with its beauty when he was only a boy, and that it was purchased from the stud of Philonicus, the Pharsalian, for thirteen talents. When it was equipped with the royal trappings, it would suffer no one except Alexander to mount it, although at other times it would allow any one to do so. A memorable circumstance connected with it in battle is recorded of this horse; it is said that when it was wounded in the attack upon Thebes, it would not allow Alexander to mount any other horse. Many other circumstances, also, of a similar nature, occurred respecting it; so that when it died, the king duly performed its obsequies, and built around its tomb a city, which he named after it/"

10. Alexander’s Vision
Established an empire from Greece to Egypt and the margins of India

12. The Conquest Begins– 334 BCE
His army totaled 37,000 Greek and Macedonian men. 5,000 of which were cavalry.
Darius III, king of Persia, called forth a massive multinational army to meet the invaders. Estimates range from 200,000 to one million soldiers

13. The Conquests of Alexander
Dates
Freed Ionian Greek cities
333 BCE
Palestine, Syria, & Egypt
332 BCE
The Battle of Gaugamela
331 BCE
Heavily outnumbered, Alexander crushes the Persians at the Battle of Issus.
Alexander establishes Alexandria as the Greek capitol of Egypt!
Near Babylon, Alexander decisively defeats Darius! Becomes the ruler of the entire Persian Empire! 1 2 3
Alexander was still not satisfied!

14. The Conquests of Alexander
For the next three years, Alexander moves east and northeast.
Afghanistan & Pakistan
In 326 BCE, Alexander moves into India.
Series of a hard fought campaigns
Macedonians refuse to go any farther
Alexander’s army returned to Babylon, where he dies in June 323 BCE of wounds, fever, and too much alcohol.

15. Why was Alexander so successful??
Great Military Leader
Master of strategy and tactics
He was fearless
Led his men into battle
Willing to risk his own life
While in India, Alexander was the first to leap over a city wall in order to inspire his troops.

16. Example of a Timeline Alexander The Great 323 B.C 356 B.C
356 BC Alexander the Great is born.
336 BC
Death of King Phillip and Crowning of Alexander the Great as ruler of Macedonia
332 BC
The Siege of Tyre
326 BC
Battle of River Hydaspes
324 BC
Troops mutiny at Opis
323 B.C
356 B.C
338 BC
Battle of Chaeronea
334 BC
Battle of the Granicus River
331 BC
Foundation of Alexandria and Battle of Gaugamela
327 BC
Marriage to Roxane and the Beginning of the Indian Quest
323 BC The Death of Alexander the Great
Alexander The Great

17. Alexander’s Legacy Extended Greek cultural influences
The Marriage of East & West
Extended Greek cultural influences
Adopted Persian dress and married Persian women
Included conquered people into his army
Adopted Greek culture and spread Hellenistic influences throughout his vast empire.

18. Alexander’s Death Died of fever after drinking at a friends
Never named an heir to his kingdom
His empires were broken into three kingdoms
the Macedonian (Antigonid), the Seleucid, and the Ptolemaic

20. Hellenistic Age Blend of Greek and oriental elements
Lasted from the death of Alexander to the conquest of Egypt by the Roman Empire (300 years)
Spread of Hellenistic culture through trade

21. Hellenic Culture Sculpture aimed at realism
Daily life of the individual
Greek scientific achievement peaks
Circumference of the earth, argues the earth revolves around the sun, time of Archimedes and Euclid
Preservation of Greek philosophy
Shift from the city-state to the individual
Four types of new philosophy
(Epicureanism, Stoicism, Skepticism, Cynicism)

22. Greek Architecture in America

23. Cities of Alexandria
Over 20 cities named Alexandria existed at the same time
Center of trade and commerce (Egypt)
Spread of Hellenic culture

24. Your Turn
In 7-10 sentences, summarize Alexander the Great’s life and if you think he would make a qualified president? Why or why not?
Be specific!!

25. Does Alexander really deserve the title “the great”?