Alexander the Great Alexander Empire Builder Philip II

Alexander the Great

Alexander – Empire Builder Philip II Macedonia Demosthenes Library Darius III Hellenistic Bucephalus Alexandria, Egypt Alexandrian

PHILIP II of Macedonia § Educated in Thebes , familiar with Greek military techniques, and a very skillful politician § Genius at sizing up a situation and figuring out how to exploit it for his own advantage § Recognized that the Greek city-states would be easy pickings for anyone bold enough to attack them

DEATH OF PHILIP II § Assassinated at his daughter’s wedding – Succeeded by his 20 -year old son, Alexander

ALEXANDER CREATES AN ARMY n planned invasion of Persian Empire – Already had extensive military experience as his father’s chief general n Needed Greek soldiers but Greeks did not deliver promised numbers – Attacked Thebes in 335 and burned it to the ground § Slaughtered entire population or sold them into slavery § Taught Greeks a lesson and Greek recruitment into his army skyrocketed – had final force of 30, 000 soldiers and 5000 horsemen

START OF ALEXANDER’S CONQUESTS n Defeats Persia through § Then headed into Syria and took over the entire Mediterranean coast without any real resistance § Invaded Egypt where he was proclaimed pharaoh – Built city of Alexandria to celebrate event at the mouth of the Niles § Would become one of the greatest cities in the ancient world Lighthouse at Alexandria

ALEXANDER’S AMBITION n Alexander continues to conquer eastward – his destiny to conquer all territory up to the edge of the world § Some Macedonian advisors were against this plan – Also did not like the way Alexander had gone native § Wearing Persian clothes, adopting Persian rituals, appointing Persians to important positions, adding Persian contingents to the army, and marrying a Persian princess § Several conspiracies were launched to overthrow Alexander – He discovered all of them and killed all those involved

TO THE EDGE OF THE WORLD n Marched east through Armenia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan and then crossed the Indus River into India – Involved in some terrible battles in India but kept moving east – At the Hyphasis River, his men refused to move any further § Simply worn out and homesick § Alexander ultimately gave in and agreed to return home

PUNISHMENT Took southern route home through the horrible desert of southern Pakistan – For reasons of revenge § Felt betrayed by mutiny in India and decided to punish his men by marching them through the desert – 50% of the army died during this march n Finally made it back to Babylon in n

n ALEXANDER’S PLAN Was not interested in organizing an administration to govern his empire – Obsessed with creating a Macedonian/Persian master race § Ordered officers to marry Persian women § Tried to create a new Macedonian/Persian ruling class which would permanently join East and West – By blending conquered and conqueror, he hoped to install an element of stability in his empire

DEATH OF ALEXANDER In June 323, Alexander died at the age of 32 – In the midst of planning the invasion of Arabia n Exact cause of death is unknown – Maybe pneumonia, malaria, alcoholic poisoning, or food poisoning – No one will ever know for sure n

LEGACY n Brilliant general and leader – Seems at time to be a hero come to life from one of Homer’s poems n Major contribution was the destruction of the Persian Empire – Opened the door for the penetration of Greek culture into the Middle East – Creates the Hellenistic cultures n Big weakness was lack of concern for administrative matters – Liked to conquer, not consolidate – Liked to fight, not govern – Empire died with him as a result § Virtually guaranteed by absence of any sort of centralized administrative structure