*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Alexander
Alexander the Great #36
Test and Notebook on
Friday 9/26
the Great
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Family:
Father: Philip II, King of Macedonia
Mother: Olympus
Philip II divorced Olympus, remarried. Olympus
wanted Alexander to be heir to the throne. Some believe
Olympus hired the assassin who killed Philip II
Olympus
Philip II
Upbringing
Tutored by Aristotle in philosophy, geography,
biology, and medicine
Later established extensive libraries that
preserved the works of many famous authors
(especially Socrates,
Aristotle, etc)
By age 18, Alexander
had already been a
commander of part of
the Macedonian army
in a minor battle.
Alexander begins to rule
•Greece was weak after Peloponnesian War.
Philip II conquered in 337 BCE. Philip II was
assassinated in 336 BCE. Alexander became
ruler.
•Thebes rebelled (testing a new ruler), so
Alexander destroyed their city and sold any
survivors into slavery.
•Other cities were
intimidated into obedience.
Alexander wanted to
continue his father’s plan of
invading Persia.
Persia and beyond
Invasion into Asia Minor 334 BCE
Alexander wins Battle of Issus – 100,000+
Persians vs. 4,000 Macedonians
Marched into Egypt – 332 BCE
Peaceful takeover
Founded city of Alexandria (one
of many, but this was most
famous)
Mesopotamia
Forces defeated
200,000 at Guagamela
Persia
Alexander’s army advanced
unopposed into richest cities and
heart of Persia
Central Asia
The army continued to fight its
way across desert waste and
mountains
India
Alexander’s army won a
fierce battle with
powerful Indian Army
ENOUGH!
The Macedonian army fought for seven years and
traveled 11,000 miles
On the trip back, Alexander the Great caught a
fever (probably malaria) and died in 323 BCE
LEGACY
He had ruled for only 12 years, but had an
enormous empire!
Preservation of Greek knowledge in libraries, etc.
Greek influence (art, trade, literature, theatre)
went abroad – a new Culture arose – Hellenism
No successor – when asked
who should succeed him,
Alexander replied, “the
strongest.”