5: Alexander the Great

1750 B.C. – 133 B.C.

Ancient GreeceCory may

Alexander’s Empire

Philip’s Empire (359-336 B.C.E.)

Philip’s Empire (359-336 B.C.E.)

Two Goals for Greece: Unify & Bring Peace to Greece Liberate Greek city-states in Persia

Realized the Army was Important Small, professional Force Used the phalanx

338 B.C.E. - Defeats Athens & Thebes at Chaeronea – gains control of Greece

How/Why might Philip’s success lead to success for Alexander?

The Macedonian Phalanx

The Reign of Alexander

The Reign of Alexander

Military Campaigns 334 – At 22 defeats Persians at Granicus – 1st

major victory 333 – Victory at Issus; later conquers Egypt 331 – Defeats Darius III at Gaugamela▪ Why does he defeat the Persians so quickly/easily?

Campaigns into North/Central Asia India: Faces war elephants, troops mutiny

323 – Alexander dies @ Babylon (32) from a fever “To the Strongest.”

The Reign of Alexander

Policies Policy of Despotism = absolute power Ruled w/a Velvet Glove = gentle▪ Ruled through local structures, respected

religions▪ Why might this policy help Alexander?

Could be ruthless – destroyed Thebes & Tyre

Do you see any similarities between Alexander and his father, Philip?

The Empire Breaks

The Empire Breaks

Greece – Lysimachus and Cassander Asia Minor - Antigonus Egypt – Ptolemy rules w/ Macedonian

& Greek elites until Roman conquest Seleucid Empire – centered on

Babylon Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Anatolia Fragments by 200 B.C. – centered

around Syria

The Legacy of Alexander’s Empire

Spread Greek language & culture = assimilation

Building of roads, canals, & cities = facilitation of trade in all directions

Alexandria, Egypt becomes world’s greatest city Known for the Pharos, a lighthouse, & its

library New Role for Women

Learn to read and write, some gain power

Legacy continued

Stoicism – accept life, morality Advances in math and astronomy

Pythagoras, Euclid (math); Archimedes (science)

Heliocentric theory – solar system centered on the sun

Eratosthenes = earth was round World of Medicine

Hippocrates – take the oath

Empire Building: What Difference Does it Make?

Empires Mesopotamians & Greeks – City-States Egyptians & Persians – Consolidated Nations Macedonians – Exploitations w/ Skilled Father

& Son

▪ Traits - What traits/qualities/goods did these empires bring to the table?

Limitations Aristotle – “To the Size of States there is a

Limit.”

Questions to Answer

What were Philip’s two main goals when he set out to conquer Greece & the rest of the Balkans? How did he achieve these goals (or did he)?

How did Alexander accomplish his father’s goals? How did he expand from/off of them?

What are the lasting impacts of empires? (Greece, Macedonia, Egypt, Persia, Mesopotamia)?