Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great

TSWTSWUnderstand how Understand how

Alexander’s military Alexander’s military conquests had an impact conquests had an impact

on future cultureson future cultures

FocusFocus

How did the How did the Peloponnesian War pave Peloponnesian War pave

the way for Philip’s the way for Philip’s conquest of Greece?conquest of Greece?

Alexander – Empire Alexander – Empire BuilderBuilder

Philip II BucephalusBucephalus

MacedonMacedon Alexandria, EgyptAlexandria, Egypt

DemosthenesDemosthenes Alexandrian Alexandrian LibraryLibrary

Darius IIIDarius III

HellenisticHellenistic

PHILIP II of MacedoniaPHILIP II of Macedonia

Educated in Thebes , Educated in Thebes , familiar with Greek familiar with Greek military techniques, and military techniques, and a very skillful politiciana very skillful politician

Genius at sizing up a Genius at sizing up a situation and figuring out situation and figuring out how to exploit it for his how to exploit it for his own advantageown advantage

Recognized that the Recognized that the Greek city-states would Greek city-states would be easy pickings for be easy pickings for anyone bold enough to anyone bold enough to attack themattack them

DEATH OF PHILIP IIDEATH OF PHILIP II Assassinated at his Assassinated at his

daughter’s weddingdaughter’s wedding– Succeeded by his 20-Succeeded by his 20-

year old son, Alexanderyear old son, Alexander

ALEXANDER CREATES AN ALEXANDER CREATES AN ARMYARMY

planned invasion of Persian Empireplanned invasion of Persian Empire– Already had extensive military Already had extensive military

experience as his father’s chief experience as his father’s chief generalgeneral

Needed Greek soldiers but Greeks Needed Greek soldiers but Greeks did not deliver promised numbersdid not deliver promised numbers– Attacked Thebes in 335 and Attacked Thebes in 335 and

burned it to the groundburned it to the ground Slaughtered entire population Slaughtered entire population

or sold them into slaveryor sold them into slavery Taught Greeks a lesson and Taught Greeks a lesson and

Greek recruitment into his army Greek recruitment into his army skyrocketedskyrocketed

– had final force of 30,000had final force of 30,000 soldiers and 5000 horsemensoldiers and 5000 horsemen

START OF ALEXANDER’S START OF ALEXANDER’S CONQUESTSCONQUESTS

Defeats PersiaDefeats Persia Then headed into Syria Then headed into Syria

and took over the entire and took over the entire Mediterranean coast Mediterranean coast without any real without any real resistanceresistance

Invaded Egypt where he Invaded Egypt where he was proclaimed pharaohwas proclaimed pharaoh

– Built city of Alexandria Built city of Alexandria to celebrate event at to celebrate event at the mouth of the Nilesthe mouth of the Niles Would become one Would become one

of the greatest cities of the greatest cities in the ancient worldin the ancient world

Lighthouse at Alexandria

ALEXANDER’S AMBITIONALEXANDER’S AMBITION Alexander continues to conquer eastwardAlexander continues to conquer eastward

– his destiny to conquer all territory up to his destiny to conquer all territory up to the edge of the worldthe edge of the world Some Macedonian advisors were Some Macedonian advisors were

against this planagainst this plan– Also did not like the way Alexander Also did not like the way Alexander

had gone nativehad gone native Wearing Persian clothes, Wearing Persian clothes,

adopting Persian rituals, adopting Persian rituals, appointing Persians to appointing Persians to important positions, adding important positions, adding Persian contingents to the Persian contingents to the army, and marrying a Persian army, and marrying a Persian princessprincess

Several conspiracies were launched to Several conspiracies were launched to overthrow Alexanderoverthrow Alexander

– He discovered all of them and He discovered all of them and killed all those involvedkilled all those involved

TO THE EDGE OF THE TO THE EDGE OF THE WORLDWORLD

Marched east through Marched east through Armenia, Afghanistan, Armenia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan and then and Pakistan and then crossed the Indus River crossed the Indus River into Indiainto India– Involved in some Involved in some

terrible battles in India terrible battles in India but kept moving eastbut kept moving east

– At the Hyphasis River, At the Hyphasis River, his men refused to his men refused to move any furthermove any further Simply worn out and Simply worn out and

homesickhomesick Alexander ultimately Alexander ultimately

gave in and agreed gave in and agreed to return hometo return home

PUNISHMENTPUNISHMENT Took southern route home Took southern route home

through the horrible desert through the horrible desert of southern Pakistanof southern Pakistan– For reasons of revengeFor reasons of revenge

Felt betrayed by Felt betrayed by mutiny in India and mutiny in India and decided to punish his decided to punish his men by marching men by marching them through the them through the desertdesert

– 50% of the army 50% of the army died during this died during this marchmarch

Finally made it back to Finally made it back to Babylon inBabylon in

ALEXANDER’S PLANALEXANDER’S PLAN Was not interested in organizing an administration to Was not interested in organizing an administration to

govern his empiregovern his empire– Obsessed with creating a Macedonian/Persian master Obsessed with creating a Macedonian/Persian master

racerace Ordered officers to Ordered officers to

marry Persian womenmarry Persian women Tried to create a new Tried to create a new

Macedonian/Persian Macedonian/Persian ruling class which would ruling class which would permanently join East permanently join East and Westand West

– By blending conquered By blending conquered and conqueror, he and conqueror, he hoped to install an hoped to install an element of stability in element of stability in hishis empireempire

DEATH OF ALEXANDERDEATH OF ALEXANDER In June 323, Alexander In June 323, Alexander

died at the age of 32died at the age of 32– In the midst of In the midst of

planning the planning the invasion of Arabiainvasion of Arabia

Exact cause of death is Exact cause of death is unknownunknown– Maybe pneumonia, Maybe pneumonia,

malaria, alcoholic malaria, alcoholic poisoning, or food poisoning, or food poisoningpoisoning

– No one will ever No one will ever know for sureknow for sure

LEGACYLEGACY Brilliant general and leaderBrilliant general and leader

– Seems at time to be a hero come to life Seems at time to be a hero come to life from one of Homer’s poemsfrom one of Homer’s poems

Major contribution was the destruction of Major contribution was the destruction of the Persian Empirethe Persian Empire– Opened the door for the penetration of Opened the door for the penetration of

Greek culture into the Middle EastGreek culture into the Middle East– Creates the Hellenistic cultures Creates the Hellenistic cultures

Big weakness was lack of concern for Big weakness was lack of concern for administrative mattersadministrative matters– Liked to conquer, not consolidateLiked to conquer, not consolidate– Liked to fight, not governLiked to fight, not govern– Empire died with him as a resultEmpire died with him as a result

Virtually guaranteed by absence of Virtually guaranteed by absence of any sort of centralized any sort of centralized administrativeadministrative structurestructure

Was Alexander great Was Alexander great or not so great?or not so great?

You will be given a few You will be given a few minutes to discuss this minutes to discuss this

question with your group and question with your group and then debate.then debate.

Using Smart Art, create chart that Using Smart Art, create chart that compares the positive and negative compares the positive and negative aspects of Alexander’s legacy. aspects of Alexander’s legacy.

List 3 positives and 3 negatives of List 3 positives and 3 negatives of Alexander the Great Alexander the Great