alexander of macedon
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Alexander of Macedon. Ancient Macedon(ia). unstable & relatively insignificant kingdom before 4th century weak ties to Greek world not considered completely Greek by southern Greeks " Medizers " during Persian Invasion (sided with Persia). Macedonian Society. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Alexander of Macedon
unstable & relatively insignificant kingdom before 4th centuryweak ties to Greek world
not considered completely Greek by southern Greeks"Medizers" during Persian Invasion (sided with Persia)
Ancient Macedon(ia)
distinctive culture – fringe of the Greek worlddialect, tumulus burials, unmixed wine, royal polygamypowerful monarchy: personal allegiance (treaties, etc.)warrior aristocracy loyal to king (not state, laws etc.)
increasing role in Greek politicsexport of grain to Athens & potential
to control N. Aegean graincentury of inter-Greek war creates opportunities
problem: internal strife nearly destroys Macedon in early 4th C
Macedonian Society
son of Amyntas III and Illyrian Eurydicesent as hostage to Epaminondas in Thebes (369-367 BCE) learns innovative military tactics from Ep.takes power in 359 after death of brother Perdiccas in civil wars
consolidates power against pretenders; defeats external enemies in region by 357
Philip II of Macedon (ca. 382-36 BCE): early years
goal: stabilize the archaic Macedonian government & armyinfluence of Epaminondas
military reformsDevelopment of siege engines (catapults)Macedonian phalanx: longer spears (sarissa – 18feet)Light armed infantry and cavalry (scouts, speed) Recognition of common soldiers (“foot companions”)
Philip II of Macedon: reforms
military reformsRecognition of common soldiers (“foot companions”)Expands ranks of warrior aristocracy (devastated by civil wars)Institution of Royal Pages (children of nobles, serve king)Rewards for nobles increase loyalty
Battle of the Crocus Field – Gains Thessaly (cavalry; double force size)h
Philip II of Macedon
Athens: major Greek power in early 4th C357: Athenian Ally Amphipolis taken by Philip
(effective siege warfare)Athenians fail to unite Greece against Philip
Demosthenes: Athenian orator opposes Philip
Philip II vs. Athens
Athens: major Greek power in early 4th CDemosthenes: Athenian orator opposes Philip
alliance with Olynthos, destroyed by Philip II in 348
Peace of Philocrates (346)attempt to prevent war between Athens/MacedoniaAthens accepts Philip’s power in NEDemosthenes helps negotiate, then seeks to undo
aftermath of Peacebrief lull in hostilities while Philip consolidates power in north4th Sacred War: Philip again uses Delphi as excuse to invadeAthens fails to gain full coalition with other Greeks
Philip II vs. Athens
Demosthenes
coalition of Athens & Thebes faces Philip in BoeotiaResounding victory for PhilipTheban Sacred Band annihilated1000 Athenian hoplites killed, 2000 capturedPhilip's 18-yr-old son Alexander leads decisive cavalry charge
Battle of Chaironeia (338)
Philip’s plans for Greeceharsh treatment of Thebes, leniency toward AthensCorinthian League: legitimizes Macedonian control of Greece
rhetoric: Philip II will lead "free Greeks" in attack on Persiareality: foundation for Macedonian World Empire
assassination of Philip IIsummer 336: killed by member of bodyguard
conflicts within Macedonian aristocracyOlympias, mother of Alexander possibly responsible in response to Philip’s marriage to Macedonian noble
Philip II after Chaironeia
tomb of Philip II
Greece at the death of Philip II (336)
early yearsborn to Philip II and main wife Olympiastutored by AristotleBoucephalus legendaccession to throne at age 20 (336)
consolidation of power (336-34)purge of Macedonian royal familyimmediate trip to Greece
enforces pro-Macedonian regimesdefeats northern "barbarians"returns to crush Greek revolt; Thebes
destroyed
Alexander III "the Great" of Macedon (356-323)
Alexander takes up Philip’s war against Persians; invades Asiabrings retinue of scientists and historians
Faces and defeats force of Persians at Battle of Granicus (334)Persians fail to turn Greeks against AlexanderAlexander executes Greek mercenaries in Persian armyAlexander sweeps through Ionia (tribute > "contributions")
Unties ‘Gordian Knot’
Alexander the Great: invasion of Western Asia
leads army south along MediterraneanBattle of Issos (333) in NW tip of MediterraneanPersian army led by King Darius IIIPersian army soundly defeatedroyal family captured; king Darius III flees back east
Family treated as his own (new king of Asia)
Alexander the Great: invasion of Western Asia
Siege of Tyre – Phoenician city, Persian naval strongholdSiege lasts 8 months; city falls in August of 332City razed to the ground, inhabitants sold into slavery
Alexander continues south to GazaGaza besieged for 2 months, destroyed
Path to Egypt opened
Alexander the Great: eastern Mediterranean (332-1)
destruction of Tyre & Gaza puts end to resistance; path to Egypt openedAlexander in Egypt
Persian satrap surrenders without fightidentifies himself with pharaohs, local gods (syncretism)
called son of Zeus-Ammon by oracle at Siwa (effect on psychology)founds Egyptian Alexandria (later site on Library, Pharos Lighthouse)
Alexander the Great: eastern Mediterranean (332-1)
Alexander as pharaoh
seeks final confrontation with Persian king Darius III; rejects peaceBattle of Guagamela (331): Persian defeat, Darius escapes eastGreeks face war elephants for first timeAlexander assumes title of Persian king
Alexander the Great: conquest of Asia (331-30)
Alexander takes Western capitals of empireBabylon: sacrifices to local gods/restores templesSusa: local customs respected, treasury left intact
Alexander the Great: conquest of Asia (331-30)
Destruction of Persepolis – conquest completespiritual center of Persian Empire (major royal festivals)Main powerbase for Persian rule
burned: revenge for Athens, symbolic of Persian loss of power, he was drunk
Ecbatana in Media, last of capitals taken; all treasuries controlled
Alexander the Great: conquest of Asia (331-30)
Darius III
Death of Darius III (330)flees to Bactria (Afghanistan), killed & replaced by local satrap BessusAlexander assumes role of avenging Darius III, portrays self as successor
buries Darius with honorsBessus turned over to Alexander, executed
Alexander the Great: conquest of Asia (331-30)
Darius III
invasion of central Asia – most difficult part of expeditionBactria and Sogdiana (330-27): subdued with difficulty
Appointed Greeks as satraps (provincial governors)Established military colonies throughout area to secure territoryTensions among Macedonian generals grows
Alexander the Great: conquest of Asia (331-30)
Orientalizationmarriage to Sogdian Rhoxane – first wife; unrest increasesbehaving like a Great King (dress, customs)
proskynesis – first sign of open resistance to Alexander by GreeksIncorporation of Iranians to king’s inner circle
personality problemsparanoia – execution of Philotas, Parmenionalcoholism – murder of Cleitus the Black
Alexander the Great: conquest of Asia (330-27)
Alexander & Rhoxane
Approach to India (Indus Valley), edge of known worldLand of mystery, fantastic peoples and creatures
goal: control the whole worldKashmir surrenders without oppositionBattle of Hydaspes (326): defeats King Poros
Reinstates Poros to his throne, adds territory
Alexander the Great: invasion of India (327-25)
Had enough: army refuses to go further east They campaign to mouth of Indus before returning westwardreturn takes two years
Macedonian satraps hang on in India only a few yearsReturn by land through Gedrosian dessert, be sea
thousands die on two month march
Alexander the Great: invasion of India (327-25)
Alexander's policies
administration of Empireadopts the Persian model (Macedonian satraps, loyal locals)
relations between Greeks and non-Greeksurges fusion between cultures (especially royal families)Mass marriage at Susa in 324 between Greek/Persian nobles
Iranians incorporated into high ranks of armyGreeks mutiny at Opis in summer of 324
death of Alexanderincreasingly erratic behavior
grief over death of Hephaistionplans to conquer Arabia (armies not eager)dies in Babylon June 10 323 aged 32
Generals divide empire amongst themselves; Successor kingdoms fight each other for next 2 centuries.
Ptolemy founds longest lasting kingdom in Egypt
ends with Cleopatra in 31 BC
Alexander's policies
Alexander's Empire (332-26)