Transcript ALEXANDER: The life ALEXANDER: Birth & Youth 1) Where, and when was he born, and who were his parents? Pella, 356, Phillip 2

ALEXANDER: The life
ALEXANDER: Birth & Youth
1) Where, and when was he born, and who were his parents?
Pella, 356, Phillip 2 & Olympias
2) What age was he at death
32
3) When did he die
323
4) Who were the 4 primary sources, and were they eyewitnesses?
Arrian - Greek
Diodurus - Sicily
Curtius Rufus – Rome Plutarch – Greek
5) What was the opinion of the Macedonians by the rest of
Greece in 356?
Uncultured, dangerous
6) What was the source of Macedonian strength?
Wealth from the gold mines and Phillip’s stable rule
7) Where was Alexander’s mother, Olympias from
Nation on Macedonia's Western border. Epirus
ALEXANDER: Birth & Youth
8) Why did Phillip marry so often
Diplomacy
9) What is ‘different’ about Olympias?
Ecstatic cults (Dionysus)/dynastic (wants her son on the
throne)
10) What did Phillip dream of before Alexander’s birth
A lion guarding Olympias’ womb
11) What Phillip off Olympias?
Sleeping with a snake
12) What does he wonder as a result
If Zeus could really be the father
13) As a result he sends to Delphi. What is his answer?
Revere Zeus above all other deities, and that he will lose
the eye that saw the serpent with Olympias
14)
What is the old capital of Macedonia
Aegae
ALEXANDER: Birth & Youth
15)
Where does Alexander grow up
Pella, the new capital
16)
Who is his favourite author
Homer
17)
How old was he when he rode Beucephalus
13
18) His father said “Find yourself another kingdom. Macedonia is___”
too small for you”
19) Who is his tutor
Aristotle
20) According to Plutarch, Alexander said that Aristotle had taught
him___
how to live well
21) He taught him to make no---Assumptions
22) At this stage Alexander meets his lifelong friend, named --Hephaestion
ALEXANDER: Philip’s life & death
23) By 340, Phillip controlled most of Greece. What was his innovation in the
Phalanx
a 15’-18’ long pike. So hoplites needed less heavy armour, so was more mobile.
24) What was Alexander’s reaction to his fathers conquests
Jealous that there would be nothing left for him to conquer
25) What happened with the ambassadors at Aegae.
He made a big impression outshining his father’s ambition.
26) Which two poleis were still a threat to Macedonia?
Thebes and Athens
27) What was “the sacred band of Thebes”?
150 pairs of lovers/warriors. Invincible since 378
28) Who was backing Athens and Thebes against Phillip, why?
King of Persia, to keep the threat of Phillips ambition at bay.
29) What is the battle of Chaeronea in 338 remembered for?
The final showdown between Phillip and Athens/Thebes
30) Alexander commands the elite Companion Cavalry in the battle. How old is he?
18
31) What are two results of the battle?
Proves Alexander’s potential as commander, Delivers Greece to Phillip
ALEXANDER: Philip’s life & death
32)
What causes the breakdown between Phillip and Alexander?
Phillip’s wedding to Cleopatra where Attalus’ challenged his right to the throne.
from one table to
another.
33) Why was this challenge so serious
His mother was not Macedonian, so a son is born to Macedonian Cleopatra, would be
the heir.
34) Who was Parmenio?
Philip’s most trusted, senior general.
35) What is the source of the words “The bull is garlanded, the sacrifice is ready”
Delphi’s answer to Philip re his Persian invasion.
36) How is this fulfilled?
By Philip’s sacrifice/murder
37) What happened in 336 in Aegae
Philip’s murder by Pausanius
38) Who does conspiracy theories suspect?
Olympias & Alexander
39) What might have made it seem he was involved
Motive – loss of succession
Evidence destroyed by Alexander’s companions
ALEXANDER:
taking over as Hegemon
40)
What advice does he get regarding Greece, and what does he do
Go carefully, he didn’t
41) Upon becoming king he takes control of Greece in how long?
6 months
42) What becomes of Philip’s wife, Cleopatra and the baby?
Cleo suicides, baby killed by order of Olympias
43) What is different about his Delphic consultation?
His ‘invinciblity’.
44) How does Olympias wind up Alexander about his possible divine
parentage?
Saying she will reveal a secrete about him when he returns form conquering
Persia
Extra) What greek city did he raze as an example to those who might think to
rebel?
Thebes – 6000 killed 20000 sold into slavery – very un-Greek
ALEXANDER: Asia minor
45)
40,000 troops ferried across the Hellespont – what 2 things are on his side?
Weather is fine
Persians are in quelling trouble in Egypt.
46) Claims Asia from whom?
The Gods
47) He is met by Memnon of Rhodes commanding the Persians at which river?
Granicus
48) Which 3 trusted advisers accompany Alexander?
Hephaestion, Parmenion - Phillip's general, Callisthenes (Aristotles’ Nephew, &
Alexander's publicist)
49) What is unusual about his tactics at Granicus?
Head on attack across the river using phalanx and companion cavalry him leading from
the front. (him leading from the front), rather than waiting and fording upstream.
50) 334BC Alexander heads inland to Gordium. What legendry event happens there?
He cuts the Gordion Knot (and inherits the East)
51) What makes Alexander believe that the God’s approve?
Thunderstorm that night
52) He moves south to meet Darius III in November 333BC. Where
Issus
53) At Issus he is well outnumbered. What does Darius do to the adviser who tells him
that Alexander’s soldiers are superior and his are too showy?
Executes him
ALEXANDER: Asia minor
54)
What is Darius’ strategic hit at the outset
To move north so he cuts Alexander’s supply lines and forces him to attack from the
south
55)
What is Alexander’s advantage regarding the battle field
Geography – Sea to the west, mountains to the east means that surrounding the
Macedonians is unlikely
56) What might account for Alexander’s extraordinary fearlessness
Sense of Destiny instilled by sense of divinity
57) Across which river did the forces of Alexander and Darius face each other?
Pinarus
58) What makes the Phalanx less useful than usual at Issus
The rough terrain
59) So what does the battle degenerate into
Bloody hand to hand combat
60) How is the battle turned for the Macedonians?
The Cavalry , led by Alexander
61) What about the Macedonian cavalry makes its strongest weapon?
Its discipline, so the commanders can really control it.
62) Darius flees , Alexander is victorius. What action of Alexander ennobles him in the
eyes of the defeated Persians?
Protection of the King Darius’s family (mother, wife, 2 unmarried daughters.
ALEXANDER: Palestine
63)
What is this symbolic of
that HE is now the Persian king.
64) When Darius offers him part of his Empire and his daughter in marriage, he
refuses. Parmenion says “I would take the offer if I were Alexander”. What does
Alexander reply, and what does it show us about his intentions?
And so would I if I were Parmenion. He thinks he is destined for more.
65) What is his reply to Darius?
" Do not write to me as an equal.. all you own is now mine … if you want
your kingdom, stand and fight for it.”
66) Where does he now push on toward
Egypt , via Cyprus, Phoenicia, Tyre
67) What is the hiccup on his way to Egypt, and what does he do about it?
Tyre, he takes 7 months to capture it by building a 600m long causeway –
twice!
68) Why does he want to take Tyre?
As a fortified island, Tyre is of great strategic value, (naval) – Also the Tyreans
don’t let him worship at the temple of Heracles.
69) What does it show us about his personality
Shows him to be very determined, proud, and ruthless. ( 8000 slaughtered,
30000 sold into slavery)
ALEXANDER: Egypt - Siwah
70) Carries on into Egypt (the a Persian holding but very
wealthy, and “the bread basket of the region). What
happens there.
He takes it without a fight, is made Pharaoh (king and
son of Ra - God), founds the first (of 30)
Alexandria,
71) What happens at the desert oasis of Siwa in the temple
of Zeus-Ammon. (6 week pilgrimage) to consult the oracle
He was greeted as “son of God”.
72) What were the three questions he asked the god? And
what were the answers
Would he conquer the world? yes
Had all his father’s murderers been punished? yes
Was he the son of Zeus? Yes
ALEXANDER: 332BC Gaugamela
73)
How did Darius prepare for The last showdown?
Longer lances - 200 scythe bearing chariots
74) When Parmenion and the others saw Darius’ force
what did they advise Alexander?
A night attack because D was too mighty
75) What was Alexander’s response to this
I will not steal my victory or give D reason to hope he
could win later.
76) What is the story of his planning the battle, and what is
the point we learn about him?
He sat into the night till he had it right, then had an
undisturbed sleep – telling us that maybe his confidence
rested upon great preparation.
77) Compare the pre-battle speeches of the two leaders
Alexander – we fight for glory and Asia. Darius- we
fight for survival from defeat and disgrace
ALEXANDER:
78)
332BC Gaugamela to Babylon
How did the Greeks try to deter the Scythed Chariots
Making a din to frighten the Persians’ horses
79) What does Parmeneon thin is needed to save Macedonians
from defeat?
Alexander’s leadership
80) What tactics are used by Alexander?
Entice the Persian strength – the cavalry (horses) to attack
his left and right echelon flanks, then slip through a gap that would
open in Persian ranks and attack Darius’ position himself.
81) What does Darius do
Flees the battle field pursued by A, and the companion cavalry.
82) Casualty figures at Gaugemala?
Macedonians: 100men, 1000 horses. Persians: 300 000 dead
plus more prisoners (Arrian)
83) What are Alexander’s plans for Darius?
Govern Persia under his command.
ALEXANDER: 330BC Persepolis
84)
What did the Macedonians do at Persepolis, the Persian capital?
Killed all the men thy met, plundered, and burnt the royal palace to
the ground
85) How long does he stay there
4 months
86) What was his great weakness
Booze
87) Why did Alexander want Darius alive?
To Legitimise him as great King, and eliminate the false claimants.
88) Who is Bessus, and what did he do?
One of Darius’s commanders. He kills him.
89) What does the dying Darius do?
Says the gods will reward Alexander for his kindness to his mother,
wife and daughters.
90) What happened to Bessus?
He was torn in two by trees.
ALEXANDER: Unrest
91)
What are the new challenges that emerge after the destruction of the Persian empire.
Mission accomplished, so the Macedonians begin to be activate for returning home.
92) Philotas said what to Antigone, and what were the results?
That all Alexander’s success was due to Him and his father Parmenion. Their enemies
got working and eventually He and Parmenion were both executed.
93) What promotion does he give Haephestion
Commander of the Companion Cavalry
94) His erratic behaviour continues, and in 329 he does something most unexpected.
What?
Falls for and marries Roxanne
95) The what ancient Persian tradition does he have his men honour?
Bow to him Proskensis
96) What does Callisthenes (his own historian – Aristotles nephew) say about this, and
with what result?
That this is un-Greek. He looses Alexander’s favour, and executed.
97) What elements of is behaviour further undermine his men’s confidence in him?
He really believes he were a god. He dresses as the Persian king, lives in eastern luxury
with a harem, and
succumbs to the unGreek vices of Persia.
98)
What did this behaviour do to his relationship with the Macedonians
They think he is turning against his own Greek culture – that Persian is superior, and his
old friends, and they began to turn against him.
ALEXANDER: India–end of the road
99) What seems to be a cause for the campaign in India?
Alexander is unchallenged, and his ambition needs continual
conquest.
100) When he descends into India from the Khyber pass from the
mountains of Afghanistan. King Porus stops him where, and with what
unfamiliar weapon?
River Hydespes, Elephants
101) Despite winning, what is the result of this?
Saps Macedonian courage and they are determined to go no
further into India
102) They go down the river to Malle. What is foretold to him?
He will receive a serious wound.
103) They attack the walls and what does Alexander do, with what
result?
He is the first to enter the city, leaving himself exposed with only
few comrades, and he is wounded in the chest.
ALEXANDER: Back to Babylon
104)
During the next 2 years they travel back to towards Babylon. How
½ by land, ½ by sea
105) what happens in Ecbatana in July 324 with what effect?
Hephaestion dies suddenly. Alexander seems to loose his will to
continue
106) What is the next important event in Alexander’s life?
His death in Babylon 323
107) What crisis does this set off?
He names no successor, so chaos ensues about who will rule after him.
108) What happens to his conquered territories
Divided among his commanders, resulting in wars for superiorty.
109) Explain the quote “Cratisto”
Alexander’s last words – meaning he leaves his kingdom “to the
strongest”
ALEXANDER: Summing up
110) What are some of the causes suggested for his death?
Alcoholism, grief, exhaustion, poison, self destruction, Indian wound,
disease, or combination.
111) What happens to his body?
Hijacked to Alexandria, Egypt in the way back to Macedonia
112) What are some of his stats and legacy:
One man leading 40,000 men more than 20,000 miles by foot and
horseback over 12 years and conquering most of the known world.
Walking the line between genius and insanity:
113) What was his cultural impact
Behind his conquering army Greek cities were springing up
spreading Greek language, culture and learning as far as India. The greatest
force for the spread of Hellenistic culture around the world an
internationalist.