Transcript Chapter 3: Ancient Indian Civilizations

Section 4 – Alexander the Great
Setting the Scene:
Through a brilliant career of military
conquest, the Macedonian leader Alexander
the Great built an empire that reached from
the Mediterranean to the Indus River valley.
To rule more efficiently, Alexander
encouraged a blending of Greek culture with
the customs of conquered peoples. An
ancient historian wrote about Alexander,
“He understood that the sharing of race
and customs is a great step towards
softening men’s hearts.”
Section 4 – Alexander the Great
Main Idea
Alexander the Great formed a huge empire, spread
Greek culture into Egypt and many parts of Asia, and
paved the way for a new civilization to develop in
those areas.
Objectives
• How did Alexander the Great rise to power?
• What was life like in the Hellenistic world that
developed after Alexander’s death?
• What were some important Hellenistic
achievements?
I. Philip of Macedon
After Peloponnesian War - period of struggle
and competition among Greek city-states
I. Philip of Macedon
359 B.C. - Philip II of Macedon became king
of Macedonia
I. Philip of Macedon
Philip improved on the Greek phalanx;
organized a disciplined army
Each phalangite carried as his primary weapon a sarissa, a pike over 6 m (18
ft) in length, with a counterweight and spiked end at the rear. An intact
phalanx could easily keep its enemies at a distance; the weapons of the first
five rows of men all projected beyond the front of the formation, so that there
were more spearpoints than available targets at any given time.
I. Philip of Macedon
Philip conquered Athenian colonies in the
north, then turned on the Greek heartland
I. Philip of Macedon
Some Greeks saw Philip as a savior; others,
such as Demosthenes, opposed Philip
Demosthenes (384 BC - 322 BC) is
generally considered the greatest
of all Ancient Greek orators. He is
best-known for his Philippic
Orations, urging the populace to
rise up and defend their country
against Philip II of Macedon, who
was steadily gaining power and
territory for Macedonian.
I. Philip of Macedon
338 B.C. - Philip defeated Athens and Thebes
at Battle of Chaeronea; united Greece under
his rule
Philip's military zenith
was at the battle at
Chaeronea in August of
338 B.C. Philip's army
was greatly outnumbered
by the Athenian and
Theban forces, yet his
phalanxes overwhelmed
the Athenians and
Thebans.
I. Philip of Macedon
336 B.C. - Philip planned to invade Persia but
was assassinated
Theater of Aegae, where King
Philip II was assassinated
Philip was hosting a massive
banquet as a going away party
before he left for Asia. Philip
wanted his march into the
theater to be triumphant, and
so he asked his bodyguards to
stand back and out of the way
to show he had nothing to fear.
At that moment, however, a
man named Pausanias rushed
forward from the crowd and
stuck a dagger in Philip's
chest. During his escape,
Pausanias tripped and fell and
was killed on the spot.
II. Alexander the Great
Philip was succeeded by his 20-year-old son,
Alexander
Alexander III, aka Alexander the Great (356 BC –323 BC) was king of
Macedon from 336–323 BC. One of the most successful military
commanders in history, he was undefeated in battle and by the time
of his death, he had conquered most of the world known to the
ancient Greeks.
II. Alexander the Great
Alexander had received military training in the
army and studied with Aristotle
342 BC - Aristotle tutors Alexander in Macedonia at the
invitation of Alexander's father, Philip II of Macedon. Aristotle
spent seven years tutoring the future general.
II. Alexander the Great
By 331 B.C. Alexander had conquered Persia,
Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, and Mesopotamia
Alexander the Great fighting Persian king Darius (Pompeii
mosaic, from a 3rd century BC original Greek painting, now lost)
II. Alexander the Great
326 B.C. - He reached the Indus, but his army
refused to go on and he was forced to turn back
II. Alexander the Great
323 B.C. - Alexander became seriously ill in
Babylon; died at the age of 32
Death of Alexander
II. Alexander the Great
In 13 years, Alexander conquered most of
the known world
III. The Spread of Greek Culture
He spread Greek culture by founding cities and
settling them with Greeks and Macedonians
III. The Spread of Greek Culture
Most famous city was Alexandria in Egypt –
became a center of learning and trade
The Pharos (Lighthouse) of Alexandria, Egypt – one of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World. Alexandria was Egypt’s second largest
city and known as “The Pearl of the Mediterranean”
III. The Spread of Greek Culture
New culture emerged - no longer purely
Hellenic, or Greek, but Hellenistic, “Greek-like”
A. New schools of philosophy
• Cynicism
• Epicureanism
• Stoicism
B. Science and Technology
• Euclid
• Eratosthenes
• Archimedes
IV. The Breakup of Alexander’s Empire
After Alexander’s death, empire was divided
between three of his generals
IV. The Breakup of Alexander’s Empire
c. 200 B.C. - Romans invaded Macedon and
eventually conquered the Hellenistic empire