Alexander The Great

Macedonia Attacks Greece

Macedonia was a powerful kingdom that lay north of Greece.

Philip II goals 1. 2. 3.

After training a vast army, Philip began taking over the Greek city-states.

A lawyer named Demosthenes tried to warn the Athenians about Philip, but it was too late.

The Macedonians defeated the Greeks at the Battle of Chaeronea.

After this battle, Philip controlled all of Greece.

Chaeronea Today

Taming of Bucephalus

"Philip and his friends looked on at first in silence and anxiety for the result, till seeing him turn at the end of his career, and come back rejoicing and triumphing for what he had performed, they all burst out into acclamations of applause; and his father shedding tears, it is said, for joy, kissed him as he came down from his horse, and in his transport said, 'O my son, look thee out a kingdom equal to and worthy of thyself, for Macedonia is too little for thee.'"

(Plutarch, Alexander , 6.8.)

Alexander the Great became king of Macedonia after his father, Philip, died.

Alexander Builds an Empire

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Phillip_Museum.jpg

Alexander the Great

Alexander began his conquest of the Persian Empire in 334 B.C. with the Battle of Granicus.

30,000 soldiers

5,000 cavalry

Battle of Granicus

River

Granicus River

o Alexander’s forces destroyed the Persian forces.

A year later, Alexander defeated the Persian army at Issus and freed the Greek cities in Asia Minor.

Second Battle - Issus, Syria - 333 B.C. – forced Darius III to flee – did not pursue Darius

immediately

– captured the seaports of

Phoenicia

– cut off the Persian fleet from

its supplies

– the fleet surrendered

– Freed Egypt

they named him pharaoh

– Alexander established a new

city - Alexandria

o He then captured Syria

and Egypt.

o Alexander built the city

of Alexandria as the

center of business.

o It became one of the

most important cities

in the ancient world.

The lighthouse of Alexandria was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. A fire in its tall tower guided ships into harbor.

Battle of Gaugamela

331 BC

Alexander continued his conquest of the Persian

Empire by fighting in modern Pakistan, India, and

Iran.

• After the

fighting ended

his troops

refused to go

further.

• In 323 B.C.,

Alexander

planned to

invade southern

Arabia, but he

became ill and

died.

A legacy is what a person leaves behind when he or she dies.

Alexander’s legacy is his skill and daring.

Alexander’s conquests marked the beginning of the Hellenistic Era.