Alexander the Great

History 4304/5304

Spring 2018

Course Objectives:

This seminar will examine the career of one of the most interesting and important figures

in world history. Alexander expanded the domain of Greek civilization from the

Mediterranean and Aegean Seas to the lands of Afghanistan and India. Students in this

seminar are expected to acquire a reasonable mastery of the major events and

developments of Alexander’s brief reign, and to demonstrate appropriate skill in written

and oral analysis of this material, to include a research paper that asks a significant

historical question, answers it with a clear thesis and a logical argument, and supports it

with both primary and secondary sources. While a background in history is helpful, there

is no precise prerequisite for this course. What background you need will be given in

class. We will be dealing principally with primary sources in translation. The four

assigned make up approximately 80% of all the surviving material from Antiquity on

Alexander the Great. Sad to say that there is more information available about Kim

Kardashian than the great Alexander. These primary source readings will be

supplemented by interpretations of aspects of Alexander’s career from modern historians,

but all will be based on the very primary materials that you will be reading.

This course fulfills the capstone seminar requirement for History majors.

Required Reading

The following are required for this course and all may be purchased in the University

bookstore or found online.

Anson, Alexander the Great: Themes and Issues. Bloomsbury Academic. 2013. 978-

1441193797

Arrian. The Campaigns of Alexander (Penguin - 978-0140442533) or on the web

http://www.attalus.org/info/arrian.html

Curtius. The History of Alexander (Penguin - 978-0140444124) or on the web

http://www.attalus.org/info/curtius.html

Plutarch, Lives of Demosthenes and Alexander, Volume VII. Loeb Classical Library

(Harvard - 978-0434994229)

or on the web

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text;jsessionid=D4B8491C2FEEFC3B6026C4F1BE

014679?doc=Perseus%3atext%3a1999.01.0243 ;

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text;jsessionid=D4B8491C2FEEFC3B6026C4F1BE

014679?doc=Perseus%3atext%3a2008.01.0039

Diodorus Library of History, Volume VIII, Books 16.66-17. Loeb Classical Library

(Harvard - 978-0434994229) or on the web

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text;jsessionid=D4B8491C2FEEFC3B6026C4F1BE

014679?doc=Perseus%3atext%3a1999.01.0084

In addition there will be secondary articles or book chapters made available by me for

discussion in class.

Requirements for the Course

Participation: Students are expected to be present and prepared for each class. Class

attendance and discussion participation are mandated. Only absences for cause will be

accepted. Additionally you are to prepare brief papers (1-3 pages) analyzing each of the

secondary assigned readings for each class, to include a statement of the question the

chapter or article is attempting to answer and the article’s thesis. In class we will discuss

the thesis in light of the assigned primary sources. These papers and class participation

represent 50% of an undergraduate’s grade (30% for the papers, 20% for class

discussion), and 30% of a graduate student’s grade (15% for the papers, 15% for class

discussion). All such papers are due by the end of class. No exceptions. They may be

emailed, but still must be sent before the end of class.

Position paper: Graduate students (only) are to prepare a ten-page assessment, using

both the assigned in class source readings and secondary materials, of one of the

following (all are available in the Ottenheimer Library): J. M. O’Brien, Alexander the

Great: The Invisible Enemy (New York, NY/London: Routledge, 1992); N. G. L.

Hammond, The Genius of Alexander the Great (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North

Carolina Press, 1997); A. B. Bosworth, Alexander and the East: The Tragedy of Triumph

(Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1998); I. Worthington, Alexander the Great: Man and God

(Harlow: Pearson Education, 2004); P. Cartledge, Alexander the Great: The Hunt for a

New Past (New York, NY: Vintage Books, 2005); F. L. Holt, Into the Land of Bones:

Alexander the Great in Afghanistan (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2005); E.

Carney, Olympias: The Mother of Alexander the Great (London/New York, NY:

Routledge, 2006); C. G. Thomas, Alexander the Great in his World (London: Blackwell

Publishing, 2007); These are available in the library and also from Amazon. (20% of

your grade).

Research paper: Undergraduates are to write a 15-20 page research paper on an

approved topic in which they use the assigned primary sources and at least three

approved secondary sources – cannot be web unless approved by me--, can be those

assigned for class; Graduate students will write a 20-25 page research paper on an

approved topic, in which they use the assigned primary sources, Justin’s Epitome of

Pompeius Trogus, and at least ten approved secondary sources – cannot be web unless an

approved on-line book or article from a refereed journal, can be those assigned for class.

Possible topics are attached to the syllabus. To gather bibliography, look at Anson,

“Alexander the Great in Current Scholarship,” History Compass 7 (2009) e-mail, and the

bibliography in Alexander the Great: Themes and Issues. This paper will represent 50%

of your grade.

Paper format: Each paper must include a title clearly reflecting the question you are

answering; a thesis, i. e. introductory paragraph(s), that briefly, but succinctly, answers

the question being asked, highlighting your main points and main conclusions. The bulk

of the subsequent paper then supports and defends this thesis with evidence, and is

followed by a conclusion that refers back to your original thesis, summarizing your major

conclusions. Footnotes (at the bottom of the page) and bibliography are required. In

general, this should be according to the Chicago Manual of Style, with the exception that

relatively brief ancient references should be placed in the body of text in parentheses

(contracted author, title, book and chapter, i. e. Arr. Anab. 3. 4). Please set reasonable

margins, number each page, and use Times New Roman 12.

All final grade computations on the basis of:

90 - 100% = A 60 - 69% = D

80 - 89% = B 0 - 59% = F

70 - 79% = C

CELL PHONES: If you must bring it to class (potential emergences), please turn it off,

or at least turn off the ringer. Do not talk or text on the phone in class. If an emergency

is signified, please leave class quietly to take the call.

DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES: Your success in this class is important to me,

and it is the policy and practice of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to create

inclusive learning environments in accordance with federal and state law. If you have a

documented disability and need an accommodation as a result of that disability, please

contact us privately at the beginning of the course, so that we can discuss with the

Disability Resource Center (DRC) how to meet your specific needs and the academic and

technical requirements of the course. The DRC offers resources and coordinates

reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Determining the reasonable

accommodations you might need is based upon a thorough intake interview by the DRC

and a deliberative process between the DRC and your instructor. Thus, if you have a

documented disability, please contact me and the DRC, at 501-569-3143 (V/TTY) or

501-683-7629 (VP). For more information, please visit the DRC website at

www.ualr.edu/disability. The chair of the department offering this course is also

available to assist with accommodations.

Syllabus

Week

.

1 1/17 Introduction

1/19 Sources

Anson, “Introduction,” Alexander the Great: Themes and Issues No paper

required

2 1/ 22 Geography

1/24 Macedonian Background

Anson. “Macedonian Background.” Alexander the Great: Themes and

Issues No paper required

1/26 Macedonian Background continued Plutarch Demosthenes

1-20; Diodorus 16.

66-90; handout

Anson. “A Father’s Legacy.” Alexander the Great: Themes and Issues:

43-66 No paper required

3 1/29 Philip and the Transformation of Macedonia

Anson. 2008.”Philip II and the Transformation of Macedonia: A

Reappraisal.” In Macedonian Legacies: Studies in Ancient Macedonian

History and Culture: 17-30.

1/31 Anson. 2009. “Philip II and the Creation of the Macedonians Pezhetairoi.”

In Alexander in the Antipodes: 88-98.

Anson. 2010. “The Introduction of the SARISA in Macedonian Warfare.”

In Ancient Society 40: 51-68.

2/2 Anson, “A father’s legacy.” 72-74; “Alexander and the administration of

the empire.” In Alexander the Great: Themes and Issues: 132-134.No

paper required

4 2/5 Early Life of Alexander to Philip’s Death Plut. Dem. 21-22;

Alexander 1-10; Diod.

16. 91-17. 16

Hamilton. 1965. “Alexander’s Early Life,” Greece & Rome 12: 117-

124

2/7 Badian, E. 1963. “The Death of Philip II.” Phoenix 17: 244-50.

Anson. “A father’s legacy.” In Alexander the Great: Themes and Issues:

74-81.

2/9 Worthington, I. 2008. “Philip in Retrospect: King, Man – And God?” In

Philip II of Macedon: 194-203.

5 2/12 The Expedition Begins Arrian, Anabasis 1. 2-

16; Plut. Dem. 23-24;

Alex. 11-16; Diod. 17.

17-22

Squillace, G. 2010. “Consensus Strategies under Philip and

Alexander.” In Philip II and Alexander the Great: Father and Son, Lives

and Afterlives: 69-80.

2/14 Anson. 1989. “The Persian Fleet in 334.” Classical Philology 84: 44-9

2/16 Devine. 1986. “Demythologizing the Battle of the Granicus,” Phoenix 40:

265-78

6 2/19 Alexander and administration Arrian, 1. 17-27; Plut.

Alex. 17; Diod. 17.

23-30; handout

Anson. “Alexander and the administration of an empire.” In Alexander the

Great: Themes and Issues: 130-152. No paper required.

.

2/21 Poddighe, E. 2009. “Alexander and the Greeks.” In Alexander the Great:

A New History: 99-120.

2/23 Weber, G. 2009. “The Court of Alexander the Great as Social System.” In

Alexander the Great: A New History: 83-98.

7 2/26 Alexander and Asia Arrian, 1. 28-2. 27;

Plut. Alex. 18-25;

Curt. 3. 1. 1-4. 6. 30;

Diod. 17. 31-48

Deadline for approval

of research paper

topic

Anson, “The Kingdom of Asia.” In Alexander the Great: Themes and

Issues Themes, pp. 153-159.

2/28 Fredricksmeyer. 2000. “Alexander the Great and the Kingship of Asia.” In

Alexander the Great in Fact and Fiction: 136-66.

3/2 Anson, “The Kingdom of Asia.” In Alexander the Great: Themes and

Issues Themes, pp. 159-179.

8 3/5 Egypt Arrian, 3. 1-6; Plut.

Alex. 26-28; Curt. 4.

7. 1-8. 16; Diod. 17.

49-52

Deadline to submit a

thesis statement and a

bibliography for

research paper

Fredricksmeyer. 1991. “Alexander, Zeus Ammon, and the Conquest of

Asia,” Transactions of the American Philological Association 121: 199-

214.

3/7 Anson. 2003. “Alexander and Siwah.” The Ancient World 34: 117-30.

3/9 Howe, T. 2013. “The Diadochi, Invented Tradition, and Alexander’s

Expedition to Siwah.” In After Alexander: The Time of the Diadochi (323-

281 B.C.: 57-70.

9 3/12 To India and back Arrian, 3. 7-5. 29;

Plut. Alex. 29-62;

Curt. 4. 9. 1-9. 3. 19;

Diod. 17. 53-96

Heckel. 2003. “Alexander and the Limits of the Civilized World.” In

Crossroads of History. The Age of Alexander: 147-74.

3/14 Anson. 2015. “Alexander at the Beas.” In East and West in the World

Empire of Alexander: Essays in Honour of Brian Bosworth: 65-74

3/16 The Use and Abuse of Sources

10 3/19-3/25 Spring Break

11 3/26 No class

3/28 Alexander the Conqueror Arrian, 6. 1-7. 23;

Plut. Alex. 63-72;

Curt. 9. 3. 20-10. 29;

Diod. 17. 97-115

Deadline to submit a

rough draft of your

research paper

Anson. 2013. “Introduction.” In Alexander the Great: Themes and Issues:

7-10 No paper required.

3/30 Anson. 2015. “Shock and Awe à la Alexander the Great.” In The Many

Faces of War in the Ancient World: 213-232.

12 4/2 The Unity of Mankind Position papers due

Badian. 1958. “Alexander the Great and the Unity of Mankind.” Historia:

Zeitschrift für alte Geschichte 7: 425-44.

4/4 Bosworth. 1980. “Alexander and the Iranians” Journal of Hellenic Studies

100: 1-21.

4/6 Assessment of Alexander’s aims in Asia: review Anson, “The Kingdom of

Asia.” In Alexander the Great: Themes and Issues Themes, pp. 153-179.

No paper required.

13 4/9 Alexander and Deification: Precedents?

Anson. 2013. “Alexander and Deification.” In Alexander the Great:

Themes and Issues: 83-96.

4/11 Proskynesis

Anson. 2013. “Alexander and Deification.” In Alexander the Great:

Themes and Issues: 109-120.

4/13 Deification? (review Siwah article)

14 4/16 Alexander and Macedonian opposition

Badian. 1960. “The Death of Parmenio,” Transactions and Proceedings of

the American Philological Association 91: 324-38

4/18 Heckel, W. “A King and his Army.” In Alexander the Great: A New

History: 69-82.

4/20 Anson. 2013. “The Kingdom of Asia.” In Alexander the Great: Themes

and Issues: 167-172.

15 4/23 Alexander’s death Arrian 7. 24-30; Plut.

Alex. 73-77; Curt. 10.

1. 1-10. 20; Diod. 17.

116-118

Anson. 2013. “Alexander’s Legacy.” In Alexander the Great: Themes and

Issues: 181-182 No paper required

4/25 Bosworth, 1971. “The Death of Alexander the Great: Rumour and

Propaganda.” Classical Quarterly 21: 112-36

4/27 Death by natural or unnatural causes?

15 4/30 Assessment of Career

Worthington. 1999. “How ‘great’ was Alexander?” Ancient History

Bulletin 13: 39-55 No paper required – just discussion

5/2 Anson. 2013. “Alexander’s Legacy.” In Alexander the Great: Themes and

Issues: 181-188. – No paper required – just discussion

5/4 Continuing discussion (if any) Research papers due

Paper Topics

1. Alexander’s religiosity

2. Alexander and deification

3. Alexander’s administration

4. Alexander and the “Unity of Mankind”

5. Alexander the General

6. The evolution of the Macedonian army

7. Internal struggles within the general staff

8. City-founding and colonization

9. Relationship of Macedonians and Greeks

10. Relationship of Macedonians and Persians