Download Unit 6, Section 6 - Warren County Schools

Unit 6, Section 6
Alexander the Great
Macedonia Conquers Greece
 359 BC – Philip II becomes king of
Macedonia
 His main target was Greece. After
the Peloponnesian War, the citystates would not unite.
 As a result, Philip easily conquered
Athens and Thebes. The Greeks
agreed to accept Philip II as their
new leader.
Philip’s Military Strength
 PHALANX – a group of warriors who stood close together in a
square
 Like a “human tank.” As soldiers on the front lines were killed,
another man was right behind him to take his place.
 Philip improved on this by giving soldiers long spears called
pikes—sometimes 18’ long. He also sent cavalry and archers to
support the phalanx.
Philip’s Military Strength
 After Greece, Philip set his sights on PERSIA.
 He was murdered in 336 BC while celebrating his daughter’s
wedding.
 As a result, power shifted to his son, Alexander.
Alexander Builds an Empire
 After the death of Philip, the city
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state of Thebes rebelled again.
They thought Philip’s death meant
the end of strong leadership.
They were wrong!
Alexander defeated Thebes and
enslaved the people as an example
of what would happen if the Greeks
decided to rebel again.
He then focused East to expand his
empire.
Building an Empire
- Alexander’s troops were well-organized and well prepared. Defeated
the Persians time after time.
- Legend of the Gordian Knot – he who untangles it will rule the world.
Alexander sliced through it with his sword.
- Alexander went to Egypt, where the Persian governor surrendered
without a fight.
- Gaugamela – final battle to defeat the Persians.
Marching Home
 Alexander wanted to cross the Indus River further into
Central Asia, but his troops refused to go any further since
they had been gone for 7 years.
 Disappointed, Alexander began to march home.
 In 323 BC, Alexander got sick in the city of Babylon and died
at age 33.
Spreading Greek Culture
 Alexander greatly admired Greek culture
 Modeled many of the cities he built after Greek cities
 Encouraged Greek settlers to move throughout the empire
 Greek language was spoken
 Art, literature, and science spread
 HOWEVER, Alexander also allowed conquered people to
keep their own customs as well.
 Since these cultures are not PURELY Greek, we call them
HELLENISTIC (Greek-like)
Hellenistic Kingdoms
MACEDONIA
SYRIA
EGYPT
Most “Greek” of the three
Included much of the former Encouraged continued
Persian Empire
spread of Greek culture
Weakest government
Put down many revolts by
the Greeks, but it damaged
them
Romans conquer the
Macedonians in 100 BC
Home to many different
cultures
Built largest library at
Alexandria
Rebelled against Hellenistic
rule and slowly broke apart.
Center of culture and
learning
Romans conquer the Syrians
by 60 BC
Romans conquer the
Egyptians by 30 BC