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Alexander the Great
World History/Napp
“In 338 B.C., Philip II, the king of Macedonia (an area north of Greece), brought all the
Greek city-states under his control. His son, Alexander the Great, went on to conquer most
of the Mediterranean world – including Persia and Egypt. He founded new cities, some of
which he named after himself. Alexander even extended his conquests to the Indus River
valley. Although his empire collapsed shortly after his early death, his conquests helped to
spread Greek culture throughout the ancient world.
Alexander was only twenty when his father died. Two years later, Alexander marched
eastward with 35,000 soldiers. Alexander’s soldiers quickly conquered Asia Minor. They
then freed Egypt from Persian rule. Next, Alexander moved east again and conquered
Babylon. He continued to move eastward and by 330 B.C., he had defeated all the Persian
armies. For four more years, Alexander’s tired army moved eastward. They went as far
as the Indus River. For the Greeks, this was the end of the known world. Alexander
wanted to push on, but his men begged him to turn back. In 323 B.C., Alexander
developed a fever in Babylon. Within a few days, the thirty-two-year-old leader was dead.
For 13 years, Alexander ruled. During that time, he had changed the world.
After his death, his followers created separate kingdoms in Egypt, Persia, and the other
areas that Alexander had conquered. These kingdoms often fought each other. But one
thing held them together – their Greek culture. Throughout the Middle East, people
adopted Greek customs. Greek immigrants, traditions, and the use of the Greek language
spread. As Greek culture spread eastward, it blended with other cultures. This blend of
eastern and western cultures is called Hellenism. The word comes from the Greek word
“Hellas”, which means “their own land” or “Greece.” An important new culture emerged.
Known as Hellenistic Culture, it was a blend of Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and Indian
influences.” ~ World History
Alexander the Great’s conquests of Greece,
Asia Minor, Egypt, and Persia led to the
(A) spread of Hellenic culture
(B) adoption of a feudal system
(C) establishment of representative
democracy
(D) spread of Islamic culture throughout
Europe
Who took the throne in Macedonia after
King Philipp II was assassinated?
(A) Alexander
(B) Philip III
(C) Darius II
(D) Archimedes
What was one effect of Alexander the
Great’s conquests?
(A) expansion of Hellenistic culture
(B) formation of the Christian church
(C) decreased importance of the Silk Roads
(D) increased support of the Mayan leaders
Hellenism is
(A) A Greek-like culture
(B) Macedonian culture
(C) Alexander’s own unique culture
(D) Egyptian culture
Conquests
- Instead of waiting for the
Persians to make the first
move, Alexander ordered his
cavalry to attack
Central Asia and India
- During the next three
years, Alexander’s army
fought its way across the
desert wastes and mountains
of Central Asia
- Leading his troops into
battle, Alexander smashed
the Persian defenses in
Anatolia
- He pushed on, hoping to
reach the farthest edge of
the continent
- Alexander then marched
into Egypt, a Persian
territory, in 332 B.C.
- In 326 B.C., Alexander and
his army reached the Indus
Valley
- The Egyptians welcomed
Alexander as a liberator
- At the Hydaspes River, a
powerful Indian army
blocked their path
- The Egyptians crowned
him pharaoh – or god-king
- Alexander then conquered
Mesopotamia, another
Persian territory
- Within a short time,
Alexander’s army occupied
Babylon, Susa, and
Persepolis
- These cities yielded a huge
treasure, which Alexander
distributed among his army
- A few months after it was
occupied, Persepolis,
Persia’s royal capital,
burned to the ground; some
people said Alexander left
the city in ashes to signal the
total destruction of the
Persian Empire or perhaps
the fire was set in revenge
for the Persian burning of
Athens – it remains a
mystery
Legacy
- Alexander became
seriously ill with a fever and
died while returning with his
soldiers home
- He was just 32 years old
- After winning a fierce
battle, Alexander’s soldiers
marched some 200 miles
farther, but their morale
was low
- They had been fighting for
11 years and had marched
more than 11,000 miles
- They had endured both
scorching deserts and
drenching monsoon rains
- After Alexander died, his
Macedonian generals fought
among themselves for
control of his empire
- Eventually, three ambitious
leaders won out: Antigonus,
Ptolemy and Seleucus
- Ignoring the democratic
traditions of the Greek polis,
these rulers and their
descendants governed with
complete power over their
subjects
- But Alexander’s conquests
had an interesting cultural
impact
- Wherever he went,
Alexander spread Greek
culture
- The exhausted soldiers
yearned to go home
- He also adopted aspects of
the cultures of the people he
conquered
- Bitterly disappointed,
Alexander agreed to turn
back
- A vibrant new culture
emerged from his blend of
Greek and Eastern customs
- Hellenism or a Greek-like
culture was spread by
Alexander the Great
Identify and explain the following terms:
Pharaoh
Mesopotamia
Persepolis
Alexander’s Empire
Indus River Valley
Hellenism
- Which of Alexander’s conquests do you think was the most significant? Why?
- What happened to Alexander’s empire after his death?
- Do you think that Alexander was worthy of the title “Great”? Explain.
- If Alexander had lived, do you think he would have been as successful in ruling his empire
as he was in building it? Explain.
- Why do you think Alexander adopted Persian customs and included Persians in his
army?
- According to the timeline, when did Alexander enter Egypt and found the city of
Alexandria?
- According to Alexander, when did Alexander’s army reach the Indus River Valley and in
what year did Alexander die?
Alexander the Great’s conquests of Greece,
Asia Minor, Egypt, and Persia led to the
A) spread of Hellenic culture
B) adoption of a feudal system
C) establishment of representative
democracy
D) spread of Islamic culture throughout
Europe
Alexander the Great set fire to Persepolis
because Xerxes put a torch to:
A) Athens
B) Rome
C) Alexandria
D) Tyre
Alexander 356–323 B.C.
“When Alexander was only eight or nine years old, he tamed a wild horse that none of his
father’s grooms could manage. Alexander calmed the horse, whose name was Bucephalus,
by speaking gently. Seeing the control that Alexander had over the horse, Philip II said:
‘You’ll have to find another kingdom; Macedonia isn’t going to be big enough for you.’
Alexander took his father’s advice. Riding Bucephalus at the head of a great army, he
conquered the lands from Greece to the Indus Valley. When the horse died in what is now
Pakistan, Alexander named the city of Bucephala after it. Maybe he was tired of the name
Alexandria. By that time, he had already named at least a dozen cities after himself!”
~ World History
- Why did Philip II say that Macedonia was not big enough for Alexander”?
- Why was the city named Bucephala?