Alexander's Empire (Ch. 4)

During class we went over some notes and read over chapter 4. These are the notes that were provided.

Philip Builds Macedonian Power

• Macedonia- located north of Greece
• cold climate and rough terrain
• lived in mountainous villages
• thought to be Greeks, but Greeks considered them worthless.
• Shrewd and fearless kings

Philip's Army 

• 359 BC--  Philip II became king of Macedonia
• 23 year old king who was a sport general and ruthless politician
• Organized phalanxes of 16 men across and deep with a 18 foot pike
• Break through enemy lines
• fast cavalry to crush his diagnosed opponents
• prepared for the invasion of Greece
• SUCCESSFUL ON BOTH EVENTS

Conquest of Greece

• Demosthenes wanted Athens that Philip's army was coming to attack
• 338 BC- Athens and Thebes joined  to fight Philip
• Too late; Macedonia conquered Greece at the battle of Chaeronea
• Ended Greek independence
• Philip couldn't invade Persia
• 336 BC: he was stabbed to death by a guradsmen
• Alexander; Philip's son, proclaimed himself as king
• 13 years later after accomplishments-- Alexander the Great

Alexander Defeats Persia

• 20 year old- became king
• Aristotle taught him science, geography, and literature
• kept a copy of The Illiad under his pillow
• 6,000 Thebans were killed when they rebelled
• survivors = slaves
• ALEXANDER NEVER LOST A BATTLE

Invasion of Persia 

• A.G. felt prepared  for the invasion of Greece
• 334 BC-- led 35,000 soldiers Hellespont into Anatolia
• Persian messengers raced across Royal Road to spread news about the invasion
• 2 forces met at Granicus River
• Alexander ordered his cavalry to attack first-> beat Persia
• Darius III-- Army of 50,000 and 75,000 men to face Macedonia near Essus
• During battle, Alexander broke through weakest points in Persian line and they frightened and surrendered.
• Led to Macedonia capturing Anatolia

Conquering the Persian Empire

• 332 BC: the Egyptians welcomed Alexander as a liberator
• Crowned him as a Pharaoh or God-King
• Founded the city of Alexandria mouth of the Nile
• Darius- desperate Persian king, assembled a force of 250,000 men
• Met at Gaugamela
• AG launched a massacre phalanx attack followed by a cavalry change
• Persians feared and fled
• Ended Persian power
• Persepolis- capital of Persia- WEALTHYY
• burned to the ground
• 2 cases
• ALEXANDER left the city in ashes to signal destruction of Persian power
• Arrian, greek historic writer, wrote 500 years later that it was revenge for burning down Athens

Alexander's Other Conquests

Alexander in India

• 326 BC-- Alexander lead his army into the Indus Valley
• Hydaspes River-- powerful Indian army blocked there paths
• Tired Soldiers forced AG to go home
• 11 years 11,000 miles
• 323 BC: A.G. organized a plan to unify empire
• Never did so, died at age 32

Alexander's Legacy

• After AG death, Macedonia generals fought among themselves for control of the empire.
• 3 leaders won out
• Antigonus- control of the Greek city-states
• Ptolemy-seized Egypt, title of Pharaoh
• Seleucus- took most of the Persian Empire
• Seleucid kingdom
• ordered with complete power over subjects
• Alexander adopted Persian dress and customs and married a Persian women
• As time passed, Greek settlers adopted new ways 
• New culture emerged from Greeks and Eastern customs