Despite Aristotle’s teaching that the Greeks were vastly
superior to barbarians, Alexander chose to take up a number of
Persian customs and ceremonies.
Discuss:
•
the Persian practices adopted by Alexander, with particular
reference to court ritual and the act of proskynesis
•
the reasons for Alexander’s use of Persian customs and
ceremonies
•
the impact that the adoption of these practices had on
Alexander’s relationship with the historian Callisthenes.
To what extent was Alexander’s ‘orientalism’ limited to
ceremonial court practices?
Ideas for the essay
o ‘To what extent’ means: to what degree/how much. so you
MUST answer both sides of the question.
o Orientalism = being Persian/ embracing Persian customs
o Intro – start with the main question (which is located at the
end of the essay question) the, ‘to what extent’ question
then, refer to each of the bullet points.
To what extent was Alexander really truly into the policy of
fusion:
o Susa weddings
o Introducing the successors into the Macedonian army
o Wearing the Persian clothes
o Asking the Macedonians to do proskynesis – which they
only reserved for gods
o Alexander marries Persian women
o Offers Persians roles in Macedonian army
o Says Persians can call him ‘kinsmen’ (family) at Mutiny of
Opis
o Punished darius’ killers & worshipped Persian gods
o Parmenio, Philotas & Cleitus death all related to their
refusal to embrace the policy of fusion
o Alexander encouraged the song that mocked Macedonians
o Alexander claims ammon is his father (Egyptian god)
o Kept Satraps in their positions of authority in Persia.
Wanted Asia minor to be ruled by Macedonians & Persians
o Treated Darius’ family well when he took them
To what extent was Alexander not into the policy of fusion
at all.
o Didn’t push proskynesis when It didn’t work
o Got the Persians to be part of the army but they had to
learn the Macedonian way
o Burnt Persepolis
o Embraced the Persian clothes apart from the pants – not
into all of the culture
o Invented the policy so the Persians wouldn’t rebel against
him as their new leader
o Improve his army – personal motive
o Only wanted the kingdom to be equal to make it easy to
control – easier to rule under one ruler/same rules
o Wanted to make the Persians and Macedonians fight for
his attention and his desire – so made them equal
o Feeds his need for power by having 2 races under his
control
Ensure you discuss as part of this
1. his relationship with Callisthenes and how embracing the
policy of fusion caused havoc with the Macedonians.
Especially in proskynesis & pages conspiracy &
Callisthenes speech > put it into the first list of ideas