Alexander the Great
Background
 Born in 356 BCE – in Macedonia
 Father, Philip II, began conquest of
Greece in 359 BCE using 3 methods:
bribery, war, & marriage
 By 338 BCE, he controlled all of Greece
except Sparta
 Philip’s goal was to conquer Persia, but
was assassinated
 Alexander became king at age 20
 Alexander avenged his father by conquering
Persia
 Moved on to conquer Syria, Phoenicia,
Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Indus River
Valley
 His army refused to continue and at 33,
Alexander dies under mysterious
circumstances.
 After his death, the empire was divided by
his generals and ultimately fell apart.
 Lasting effect of his rule: Hellenistic Culture
(combination of Greek and Middle Eastern
culture) and major advancements in Math
and Science.
Alexander the Hero
Background
 Conqueror and ruler of an enormous
empire
 Considered the greatest military leader of
all time
 Spread Greek culture and ideas
throughout the ancient world
 Showed an interest in the culture of
people he conquered
Alexander the Villain
Background
 Accomplishments were due to the
powerful military his father King Philip II,
left him
 Ruthless and Cruel with a fierce temper
 Mistreated his own loyal advisors and
soldiers
Conquests of
Alexander the Great
Alexander in Thebes
Alexander in Thebes
 Hero
 Unified all of Greece by putting down the rebellion in
Thebes. Showed compassion toward some of the
rebels.
 Villain
 Brutally put down the attempt of the people of Thebes to
declare their independence and freedom
 Killed more than 6,000 Thebans and sold more than
20,000 Thebans into slavery and destroyed the city.
Alexander in Egypt
Alexander in Egypt
 Hero
 Welcomed in Egypt more as a savior than as an invader
and enthroned as king.
 Founded the city of Alexandria which became a great
center for learning and Greek and Near Eastern culture
 Villain
 Only founded the site for the City of Alexandria.
Emphasis on Greek culture and scholarship excluded
the Egyptians form any key role in the city’s
development.
Alexander in Persepolis
Alexander in Persepolis
 Hero
 Defeated the mighty Persian army at the Battle of Issus.
Then conquered the Persian Empire.
 Showed respect for the native people by appointing
Persian governors in conquered territories and allowed
people to continue to practice their religious traditions.
 Villain
 Military campaign against Persia was brutal and
relentless, without regard for the casualties of either the
Persians or the his own troops.
 Plundered the riches of Persepolis and burned it to the
ground destroying the culture.
Alexander in India
Alexander in India
 Hero
 Defeated the army of the Indian king Porus,
overcoming heavy rains and the army’s use of
elephants.
 Interested in Indian culture and religion
 Questioned Indian holy men to learn more about
Hinduism
 Villain
 Forces spent three years ruthlessly putting down any
resistance, slaughtering males and selling females and
children into slavery.
 His own troops finally demanded that he turn around
and go home.