Alexander's Empire

In Western Civ, we took notes on Alexander the Great from our textbook. he is by far, in my opinion, the best historical figure that I have ever read about. These are the notes I took in class:

Philip Builds Macedonia Power

• Macedonia- located north of Greece
• Shrewd and fearless kings
• cold climate
• lived in mountainous ranges
• Macedonians considered themselves as Greeks
• Greeks thought they were worthless

Philip's Army

• 359 B.C.--- Philip II became king of Macedonia
• 23 year old king who was a smart general and a ruthless politician
• Organized phalanxes of 16 men across and deep with a 18 foot pike
• Break through enemy lines
• Fast cavalry to crush his opponents
• Prepared for the invasion of Greece

Conquest of Greece

• Demosthenes warned Athens that Philip's army was coming to attack
• 338 B.C.-- 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 because in 336 B.C. HE WAS STABBED TO DEATH BY A GUARDSMAN 
• daughters wedding
• Alexander, Philip's son, proclaimed himself as king 
• Known as Alexander the Great 13 years later

Alexander Defeats Persia

• 20 year old- became king
• Aristotle taught him science, geography and literature
• Kept a copy of The Iliad under his pillow
• 6,000 Thebans were killed when they rebelled
• survivors = slaves

Invasion of Persia

•  Alexander the Great felt prepared for the invasion of Greece
• 334 B.C.-- led 35,00 soldiers Hellespont into Anatolia
• Persian messengers raced across the Royal Road to spread news about the invasion
• 2 forces met that the Granicus River
• Alexander ordered his cavalry to attack first> beat Persia 
• Darius III- Army of 50,000 and 75,000 men to face Macedonia 
• During battle, Alexander broke through the weakest points in the Persian line and they frightened and surrendured
• Led to Macedonia capturing Anatolia

Conquering the Persian Empire

• 332 B.C.-- the Egyptians welcomed Alexander as a liberator
• crowned him as Pharaoh- or god king
• founded the city of Alexandria-- mouth of the Nile
• Darius desperate Persian king, assembled a force of some 250,000 men
• met at Gaugmela
• A.G. launched a massacre phalanx followed by a cavalry change
• Persians feared and fled
• ended Persian power
• Persepolis-- capital of Persia-- WEALTHY
• burned to the ground 
• 2 causes
• Alexander left the city in ashes to signal destruction of Persia Empire
• Arrian, Greek historic writer, wrote 500 years later the fire was revenge for burning down Athens

Alexander's Other Conquests

• Wanted to expand his territory
• Alexander found Darius murdered by a governor south of the Caspian Sea
• 3 years later, fought across deserts and mountains of Central Asia

Alexander in India

• 326 B.C.-- Alexander lead his army to the Indus Valley
• Hydaspes River-- powerful Indian army blocked their paths
• Tired soldiers were A.G. to return home
• 11 years; 11,000 miles
• 323 B.C. -- A.G. organized his plans to unify empire
• Never did so, Alexander died very ill at the age of 32

Alexander's Legacy

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