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The Hellenistic Era of Greece The Rise of Macedonia and Alexander the Great Geography • The Hellenistic Era is classified by the rise and reign of Alexander the Great. • Alexander hailed from the area of northern Greece known as Macedonia. • The mainland Greeks treated the Macedonians as the rejects or hillbilly cousin’s of the Greeks. Macedonia • Macedonian cities had not developed into independent city-states like mainland Greece. • Rather, they stayed small farming communities. • Despite the insults of the “civilized” Greeks, the Macedonians were still related. Macedonia • The Macedonians were closely related to the Spartans. Both had descended from the Doric clans of the early Greeks. • Therefore, Macedonian practices, both culturally and militarily were closest to the Spartans. Macedonia • In 359 B.C. a man by the name of Philip II came to power. • He admired the overall Greek culture, and wanted to unite Greece under the Macedonian flag. – The big picture, was to eventually conquer Persia. • He built a strong military and readied himself for such conquests. Macedonia • In 356, Philip’s wife, Olympias gave birth to Philip’s first son, Alexander III of Macedon. – Due to Olympias’ lineage, Alexander was not viewed as a full legitimate heir to Philip’s throne. – Also, a myth surrounds the conception and birth of Alexander Macedonia • Athens feared Philip’s growing power and decided to take the fight to him. • Philip crushed the Athenian army and it’s allies at the battle of Chaeronea. • Following this victory, Philip quickly took control of all Greek city-states, and disbanded the various leagues of Greece. Macedonia • Two years following his conquests of Greece, Philip was assassinated. • Two different theories prevail: – 1) Philip’s wife and Alexander’s mother Olympias had him murdered so Alexander would be the only legitimate heir – 2) The Athenians (rather all Greeks) did not want to be subjected to the rule of one man, and had him assassinated so that Philip’s empire would fall. Macedonia • Following Philip’s death, Alexander rose to power. – He was only 20 years old. • Alexander was already well prepared for such a task. – He had been groomed from a young age to be a perfect king, and brilliant military tactician. Macedonia Philip’s empire at the time of his death Alexander • Alexander was born in July of 356 BC – He was not a legitimate heir, his mother was not Macedonian • Philip constantly took Alexander with him on conquests – Alexander learned battle tactics and military strategies while doing this Alexander • As a boy, Alexander was tutored by Aristotle – Philip wanted Alexander to have the best education possible • Olympias always feared that Philip would find a new wife, a full blooded Macedonian women and produce a “legitimate” heir. Alexander • Alexander studied at the Mieza, (think of it as a boarding school) – He studied with men who would later become his friends and future generals – He also fell in love with the epics of Homer • He was given an annotated copy of the Iliad and the Odyssey which he kept with him at all times. Alexander Ascension to Glory • At age 16, his father Philip left to wage war with Byzantium, and left Alexander as the stand in king • The citizens of Thrace revolted while Philip was away, and Alexander quickly responded and put down the revolt Alexander Ascension to Glory • Following Philip’s death, Alexander had to fight for the right to be King of Macedonia. • Eventually he became king, and set out to fulfill his father’s dream. Alexander Ascension to Glory • Following Alexander’s rise to power, many Greek city-states rebelled – Thebes, Athens, Thessaly, and Thrace • Alexander quickly responded and squashed the rebellions – Following the rebellions, Alexander consolidated the troops he conquered, and rode for the Peloponnesus Alexander Ascension to Glory • Alexander then sets his eyes on securing his borders – He starts at the northern borders of Thrace, and slowly works his way down through the entirety of the Balkans. – Thebes once again rebelled and Alexander squashed the revolt and razed the city following immense bloodshed Alexander Ascension to Glory • Following the destruction of Thebes, Alexander cements his grip as ruler and unifier of Greece – Other city-states were too scared to revolt following the burning of Thebes – Various other city-states gave their loyalties, their armies, and their money to support Alexander Alexander • Alexander was now supreme ruler of Greece – Also known as the Basileus of Macedon, and all of Greece Alexander Becoming the Great • Once all of Greece was conquered, Alexander set out to fulfill his father’s wish to see the Persian empire fall – Ever since the Greco-Persian war, Greece had wanted to take out Persia – Alexander would see this dream a reality – He dreamed to be like Achilles, the famous warrior from the Iliad Alexander Becoming the Great • To conquer Persia, Alexander would need to rethink his military strategy – Macedonian military tactics mirrored the Spartans, so he adapted his phalanx – The soldiers began wielding longer spears, and their shields shrank in size. Alexander Becoming the Great The Phalanx becomes a pure offensive formation under Alexander Alexander Becoming the Great • Alexander also relies less on his phalanx formation, and utilizes the swiftness of his cavalry Alexander Becoming the Great Alexander Becoming the Great • With his new tactics and skills set for his military campaign, he sets out for Persia, to conquer Darius • But, first things first – Alexander marches through Asia Minor, conquering city of city – He conquered Ionia, then Israel, then finally Egypt Alexander Becoming the Great • In Egypt, Alexander seeks out an oracle of the gods – The oracle tells Alexander that he is a descendant of Zeus himself – This lie spurs Alexander on, and is his continuing motivation throughout his campaigns Alexander Becoming the Great • Following the conquest of Egypt, Alexander and his troops march toward Babylon. • He meets Darius and his forces in Syria, defeats them and chases them through Mesopotamia – Darius retreats to Gaugamela, where he makes a valiant stand against Alexander Alexander Becoming the Great • Alexander defeats Darius at Gaugamela, and cements his place as ruler of Babylon and the Persian Empire Alexander Becoming the Great • Following the conquest of Babylon, Alexander marches east towards India – His troops are weary of battle and homesick • He meets with success less and less – The morale of his soldiers decline and become near mutinous Alexander Becoming the Great • Alexander’s men refuse to march past the Hyphasis river, fearing the strength of the Nanda Empire and the Gangaridai Empire – This river marks the easternmost point of Alexander’s conquests • He then returns to Babylon Alexander The Decline • Once back in Babylon, Alexander disciplines his provincial governors • Then it becomes time to celebrate – He parties to hard and becomes deathly sick – Whatever ailed him at that time, ended up killing him Alexander The Decline • Following his death, Alexander’s Empire is split into four sections, due to Alexander not having an heir. • The four kingdoms were: Macedonia, Syria, Pergamum, Egypt – The most prosperous one of the four was Egypt, as it became governed by Ptolemy and his family. Accomplishments of the Hellenistic Age • Alexander unites the known world • He spread Greek culture as far as India • He found common ground with the people he conquered and their culture became an amalgam with the Greek way of life • Alexandria, became the most famous place in the world for scholars to live and work Accomplishments of the Hellenistic Age • Alexandria had the largest collection of books in the world. It numbered six million – When Alexandria burned in the middle ages, those books and their knowledge was lost forever • New philosophies sprang up under the reign of Alexander: Epicureanism and Stoicism Conclusion • Alexander was the first man to unite the known world • He believed in a unification of all peoples, living together in happiness • Also, Alexander became the role model for almost every great leader to emerge since his death