Power Point Notes on Alexander the Great

Notes on Alexander the Great

Parenthood

·        King Phillip II

Ø Alexander’s father

Ø Born in Pella Macedonia

Ø While held hostage learned military background

Ø King of Macedonia from 359 BC-336 BC

·        Olympias

Ø Most political impact was when she ordered Eurydice to kill Phillip III to ensure that Alexander would become king

Ø Originally the princess

Ø Had an arranged marriage

Ø Name was Myrtle then was named Olympias after King Phillip’s horse won at the Olympic Games

Ø Claimed that Alexander was the son of Zeus

Early Years

·        Born in Pella of Macedonia on September 20, 350BC

·        Resented his father because of his absence

·        Mother was a powerful role model

·        Buchephalus

Ø 344BC dealer from Thessalia offered a black horse to King Phillip

Ø Animal seemed unable to tame

Ø Phillip wasn’t interested

Ø Alexander wanted to tame it

Ø Noticed that the horse was afraid of his shadow

Ø Phillip was proud

Ø Alexander has this horse for the rest of its life until it died in battle

·        Education

Ø Tutored by Leonidas

Ø Leonidas- taught math, horsemanship, and archery

Ø Rebellious student and had relentless attention

Ø  Also tutored by Lysimachus-used roll play to teach Alexander

Ø 346BC tutored by Aristotle at the Temple

Phillip’s Death: Alexander Rises to Power

·        Phillip’s Assassination

Ø 336BC was killed in Aegea

Ø Assassinated by one of his body guards who was paid off by the Persians

·        Family Relations

Ø Tension in the family

Ø Phillip was married to Cleopatra

Ø At wedding, the uncle told Phillip that Alexander was not fit to be kin

Ø Alexander found out was very angry

·        Alexander Gets Power

Ø Nobody respected him in power

Ø 20 years old when took the role of king

Ø Some plotted to overthrow him and he found out so he executed them to show that people couldn’t mess with him

Military Career

Ø Fought with the Persians

Ø Alexander battled the Persians because they were involved in his father’s death

Ø Battle of Grancius (victory)

Ø Siege of Halicarnassus 334BC

·        Conquering Egypt

Ø Strong hold at Gaza

Ø Lots of trade

Ø Batis refused to give

Ø Fourth assault they took over

Ø Alexander got a shoulder wound

Ø Men were killed, women and children were sold into slavery

Ø Batis was killed by Achilles treatment

·        Invasion of India

Ø Alexander marched into India in 327BC

Ø Invaded Punjab

Ø 326BC forces met the Indians at Porus

Ø India fought with Elephants

Ø Alexander’s horse died in this battle

Ø Named a city after his horse

Ø Won the battle and captured Porus

·        Revolt of the Army

Ø After hearing of a strong army the Macedonians revolted

Ø News came that the Indians had elephants

Ø They wanted to see their family and homeland

Ø General Coenus talked to Alexander who eventually let them go home

Ø Traveled south down the Hydaspes and Indus Rivers

Ø Fought with the Malli Indian Tribe- most warlike

Ø Alexander was seriously injured in this battle

Ø By the time they got home thousands had died from heat  and exhaustion

Ø Started with 34,000 people

Death

·        Either June 10, 323BC or June 11, 323BC (32 years-old)

·        Theory was that he drank poisonous wine

·        Died in the palace Nebuchadnezzar II in Babylon

·        Government

Ø Conquered many lands

Ø Hos empire was the largest state in its time

Ø After his death it remained under Macedonian Rule for 200-300 years

Ø Hellenization purpose- to spread Greek language, culture, and population into the Persian Empire

Ø Hellenistic was Athenian