CHAPTER 6 SECTION 3
ALEXANDER THE GREAT
Philip II of Macedon
· Athens declines in power after the golden age
o Rivalries develop between city-states decreasing Greek unity
o Persia helps undermine unity also
o In 338 B.C. peace is restored in Greece
· Macedon—region to the north of Greece
o Hardy warlike people
o Lived in villages—led by a noble
o Kings ruled only w/support of the nobles
· In 359 B.C. Philip II becomes king
o Had been held hostage in Thebes as a youth
o Came to admire Greek ways—also saw organization of Thebe’s army
o Philip recruited and organized a well equipped an disciplined army
§ Organized army into phalanxes—rows of soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder with 18 foot long pikes—effective against cavalry charges
o First goal was to restore order in Macedon—then won control of several Athenian colonies in northern Greece
o Some Greeks saw him as a savior who could unite Greece again—others felt he threatened their freedom
o Demosthenes spoke against Philip in a series of speeches—wanted to lead Greece against Philip
· Philip defeats Athens and Thebes in 338 B.C. at Battle of Chaeronea—All of Greece under his rule
o He then made plans to invade Persia
o In 336 Philip is assassinated—his 20 year old son Alexander succeeds him as King
Alexander the Great
· Philip had given Alexander the best training and education possible
o Received military training in Macedonian army
o Classically educated by Aristotle
o Became a better military tactician than his father
o His strength, bravery and courage in battle won the loyalty of his troops
· Alexander crushed the rebellions that broke out in Greece after Philips death
· By 331 B.C. he had destroyed Persia conquering Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt and Mesopotamia along the way
· Beyond Persia lay India—marched for 4 years towards the Indus River—here his men refused to go on and he was forced to turn back to Persia in 326 B.C.
o Divides his army at Indian Ocean and sends them west by sea to explore the Persian Gulf and the meet him at Susa
o Leads the rest through the desert where many die from exposure and lack of food and water—finally reached Susa in 324 B.C.
· By 332 B.C. problems spread throughout empire
· In Babylon Alexander becomes ill and dies in June of 323 B.C. at the age of 33
Beginnings of Hellenistic World
· In 13 years Alexander had rarely lost a battle and conquered much of the known world
· Alexander purposely spread the Greek culture wherever his armies marched
o He founded many cities—many named Alexandria—Greeks and Macedonians settled in these cities
o The Persians, Macedonians and Greeks all helped govern themselves making it easier on Alexander to keep power
o To ensure Persian cooperation Alexander married two Persian princesses and had his general marry Persian women of the royal family and 10,000 of his troops married Persian women
· His reign spread Hellenistic—Greek—culture – or the combination of Mediterranean and Asian ideas and values
· 301 B.C. 3 generals divided empire into three kingdoms—Macedon, Egypt, Syria and several smaller ones
o These kingdoms often fought each other and in 200 B.C. Rome invades Macedon and conquers most of Hellenistic empire