Philip II of Macedonia
• King of Macedonia at age 23.
Brilliant general and ruthless
politician.
• Greeks saw Macedonians as
“uncivilized”.
• Wants to reunite and take
control of Greece and wants
to avenge the Persian
invasion of Greece.
• Had well trained army and
defeated Athens and Thebes
for control. Ends Greek
independence.
• Dead at 36. Never invaded
Persia.
Alexander the Great
356-323 B.C.E.
Alexander the Great’s Empire
Alexander the Great in Persia
MOSAIC STYLE ART
Alexander and invasion
of Persia
• Crosses into Persia with cavalry.
• Victory over Darius III, even though out numbered.
Element of surprise.
• Darius III tries to compromise (all land W of
Euphrates) and Alex says “no, I want it all”.
• Goes to Egypt (dislike Persians) and they
announce him as a Pharaoh.
• Finally takes Persepolis, Darius on the killed while
on the run.
• Continues east to India.
The irony of iT all…
• Alexander adopts some aspects of Persian culture
and customs.
• Takes a Persian wife.
• Allows conquered people to join army.
• Greek culture becomes a mixture of Greek and
Eastern/Persian customs.
17th century tapestry of
Alexander the Great among
the Persians
Building Greek Cities in the East
Pergamum:
A New
“Hellenistic”
City
Cosmopolitan
Culture
Trade in the Hellenistic World
Library at Alexandria (333 B.C.E.)
Hellenic vs. Hellenistic Art
The “Known” World – 3c B.C.E.
Hellenism:
The Arts & Sciences
$ Scientists / Mathematicians:
 Aristarchus  heliocentric
theory.
 Euclid  geometry.
 Archimedes  pulley.
 Ptolemy  geocentric theory.
Alexander dies.
• 32 years old.
• Cause of death: fever.
• Other leaders fight for control.
– Antigonus: gets Macedonia and Greek
city-states.
– Ptolemy: becomes Pharaoh of Egypt.
– Seleucus: gets Persian empire.
The Breakup of Alexander’s Empire
The Incursion of Rome into the
Hellenistic World