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Introduction
Alexander the Great, Sources
Introduction
 Alexander is one of the very few figures in history to be given
the title of ‘Great’ – not even Julius Caesar managed this.
This is a tribute not only to his extraordinary conquest of the
Persian Empire but also to an unusual personality.
 Alexander was not just a Greek but a Macedonian too – an
important point to note. There were very deep differences
between the cultures and histories of the two races. He
became King of Macedonia and leader of the Greeks at a
very young age of 19 or 20, and before his death (at age 32)
he had invaded and conquered the Persian Empire, travelling
as far as the River Indus in India.
 He carried Greek Culture to all parts of this vast Empire by
founding cities in his name. Although his empire disintegrated
after his death, the Greek influence remained.
 However, there are difficulties in trying to find out exactly what
happened and why, when there is so little reliable historical
evidence.
Sources
There were many authors who lived at the same time as Alexander,
and wrote a lot of books about him. These are primary sources
because they are eye witness accounts by people who were actually
there at the time.
These authors were:
 Callisthenes – Alexander’s official Greek historian who accompanied him on
his expedition to Persia
 Ptolemy – One of Alexander’s chief generals who after Alexander’s death
became King of Egypt
 Nearchus – Alexander’s admiral who accompanied the expedition and sailed
around the coast of Persia
 Onesicritus – A sailor on the expedition
 Aristobulus – A Macedonian soldier and engineer who went with Alexander
 Cleitarchus – A Greek contemporary of Alexander who did not accompany
the expedition
 Chares – Alexander’s Greek houseworker in charge of his household
BUT!
None of the books that these people wrote still survive 
However….
 There are 5 writers, who lived centuries after Alexander the Great, who
had read those books. So, they wrote their own books based on the
facts in them.
And it is from these secondary sources, written by the 5 authors, that we
get our information about Alexander from today. The 5 authors are:
 Curtius Rufus – A Roman writing in the first Century Ad (300 years
after Alexander)
 Diodorus - A Roman who lived at the same time as Curtius Rufus
 Arrian – Roman, Second century AD
 Plutarch – Greek, Second century AD
 Justin – Roman, Third century AD
 Each of these authors quotes one or two of the primary sources,
 But it is hard to tell who is most reliable, as centuries later stories can
easily have been changed and altered.
Analysing the Sources
 Each writer had different attitudes and bias in their writing
depending on their relationship with Alexander or attitude
towards him. Whether they were Greek, Macedonian or
Roman also influences their thinking.
‘The Good Tradition’
(Arrian and Plutarch)
they use the primary source
Aristobulus as a main source.
Who is considered more
relaiable.
There are two
groups that the
sources fit into
‘The Vulgate’
(Curtius Rufus, Diodorus
and Justin)
They only use Cleitarchus
as their main source and
he is less reliable as he
has 2nd hand information
and focuses on popular
belief
 These two groups of sources often have conflicting
information on the same event in Augustus’ life.
 It is very important to use the secondary
sources in our study of Alexander:
 For exam questions
 For understanding
 Homework on the sources: read Paul
Artus book
p. 8-9. answer questions on p.12
Te Whanau
Macedonia
Attalus
(uncle of
Epirus
Hercules
Achilles
Phillip II
Olympias
cleopatra’s mother
cleopatra
of Epirus
cleopatra)
Roxane
Barsine (daughter of Darius)
Parysatis (Daughter of Artaxerxes III)
Alexander
Alexander
The great
Cleopatra
Phillip of Macedon
 In your workbook, Read ‘The Reign of Phillip II’
(from ‘Phillips aims and policies’ to the end
of ‘steps taken by Phillip to ensure his aims
were fulfilled’)
 Workbook –Read To Hell’n back about
The Battle of Chaeronea 338 BC
 See handout – the army reorganisation
The league of Corinth
Late 338 BC, Philip set up the League of Corinth. He was
elected it’s military leader (Hegemon) for life. It’s member
were all Greek states. Eg. Athens, Corinth, Platea, Thebes.
Sparta was not a member.
 Phillip was able to create the league as the other Greek
states lost to him at the Battle of Charoneia.
 Phillip proposed that the states should become members
and take an oath to observe a common peace (Koine
Eirene). Each state was to be “free and autonomous” under
its existing rule. Each state agreed that action would be
taken against any state which broke the peace.
The League of Corinth
Diodorus writes:
“In 338/7 BC King Phillip, proud of his victory at Charoneia by
which he had humbled the leading Greek states, became
ambitious to become leader of all Greece. He spread the
word that he wished to undertake a war against the
Persians in behalf of Greece and to punish them for the
sacrilege they had committed against Greek temples…By
raising great hopes, he won the support of the delegates
and finally they chose him as commander-in-chief of the
Greek forces.”
At the first meeting of the League, Phillip proposed they all
declare war on Persia, and avenge the destruction by the
Persians when Xerxes invaded Greece in 480-479 BC.
(Xerxes was the King of Persia 486-465 BC) He destroyed
Athens completely (all private homes, buildings and
defences were destroyed).
Tonight’s homework…
 Read, ‘the Corinthian league’ (the page after ‘to hell’n
back’) and highlight key information.
 Then, read and Complete ‘Hamilton Worksheet’ : ‘The
Corinthian League’ and answer questions below it.
 It is very important you understand properly – must be
completed for homework.
 next..the murder of phillip
‘oooooh!’