ALEXANDER THE GREAT

1. ALEXANDER THE GREAT I can explain how Alexander the great conquered the Persians and expanded the Macedonian empire.

2. ALEXANDER’S CHILDHOOD From the beginning of his life, Alexander was groomed to one day be king. As a child he was tutored by the finest Greek instructors and philosophers in Greece, including Aristotle. He was educated both intellectually and physically, receiving military training from an early age on. Eventually, Alexander became known as one of the finest horsemen in the world. As a child, he encountered and tamed a horse that would be by his side for much of his life. http://safeshare.tv/v/i1J9UueYLNk At the age of 16, his father King Philip II of Macedon, put Alexander in charge of military campaigns. Alexander proved himself to be a courageous fighter and inspirational leader. His fellow troops loved him and followed his lead. Alexander’s horse, Bucephalus, rode with him through many battles.

3. BATTLE OF THEBES: 335 B.C.E Alexander was only 20 years old when his father, King Philip II, was assassinated. He was told that his father had been murdered by Persian spies. Some historians claim that it was Alexander’s own mother who ordered Philip’s assassination. Details of Philip’s death remain a mystery to this day. Alexander’s main goal was to honor his father’s legacy and destroy the Persian Empire and conquer the Greek city-states. As a result of his siege of Thebes, 6,000 were killed and over 30,000 were captured. Alexander destroyed everything except the temples.

4. THE BATTLE OF GRANICUS RIVER: May 334 B.C.E Alexander’s first major battle against the Persian Empire took place at the River Granicus. Alexander’s Macedonian forces numbered around 32,000 against a Persian army of around 50,000. The battle was an overwhelming Macedonian victory which saw upwards of 6,000 Persian casualties. Despite the victory this battle proved to be the closest Alexander came to dying in battle as he was specifically targeted by the Persian leaders. https://safeshare.tv/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DSEHuK6p_xoc

5. BATTLE OF ISSUS: November 333 B.C.E Alexander’s Macedonian forces, which now numbered over 40,000 took on a Persian force that numbered upwards of 100,000 and was led by the Persian King, Darius III. Alexander led the Macedonian cavalry (soldiers on horses) straight into the Persian lines, killing many of the Persians. Darius III, the Persian king, fled from the battlefield. The Persians suffered upwards of 20,000 casualties, while the Macedonians suffered only around 7,000. Darius III, the Persian king left his wife and daughters behind. The women were captured by Alexander, and lived out the rest of their lives with him. This was the first time the Persians were defeated when led by King Darius III.

6. SIEGE OF TYRE: 332 B.C.E Tyre was a strategic Persian coastal base in the Mediterranean Sea. Alexander besieged (attacked) the walled city for 7 months. Alexander was furious at the civilians of Tyre for defending their city. He ordered the destruction of the city including the massacre of upwards of 8,000 Tyrian civilians. Approximately 30,000 men, women, and children of Tyre were captured and sold into slavery.

7. ALEXANDER IN EGYPT: 332 B.C.E Alexander then marched his forces into Egypt and conquered the country. Egypt had been ruled harshly by the Persian empire for many years and they welcomed Alexander, crowning him their new pharaoh. During his months spend in Egypt, Alexander founded the most famous of his cities of Alexandria, which included the famed lighthouse, a building considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

8. BATTLE OF GAUGAMELA: October 1st, 331 B.C.E http://safeshare.tv/w/LnolIwFSym Gaugamela is considered by many historians to be the most important battle fought in ancient history. Modern estimates describe the Persian forces, led by King Darius III, to have numbered around 250,000 men, compared to Alexander’s army of around 47,000. Alexander’s forces crushed the Persians, and only lost around 1,100 men during the battle. Some historical estimates claim the Persians lost as many as 100,000 men during the battle. King Darius III again fled from the scene.

9. BATTLE OF THE PERSIAN GATE: January, 320 B.C.E Alexander led a portion of his military into the Persian territory to conquer the capital city of Persepolis. Historians compare this battle to Thermopylae, only this time it was the Persians who desperately tried to fight off invasion at the hands of the Greeks. The Persians fought valiantly but could not stop Alexander and his forces. Alexander moved his army to the Persian capital, which at the time held the largest concentration of wealth in the world and now guaranteed Alexander financial independence. Alexander later allowed his men to loot the city, kill all the men and enslave all the women. Alexander had accomplished his father’s dream of conquering the Persian Empire.

10. Alexander crosses the Hindu Kush Mtns. into India In the spring of 329 B.C.E., Alexander did the unthinkable and successfully marched his army through the Hindu Kush mountain range and entered India, which is part of the continent of Asia. India had long been rumored to be even wealthier than Persia, and Alexander had his sights set on expanding his growing empire.

11. BATTLE OF HYDASPES: 326 B.C.E In 326 B.C., they reached the Indus River Valley and India. No invading army had ever conquered India. Alexander’s army met the Indian King Porus in what would become the final battle for ATG’s Macedonian army. Widely considered the bloodiest battle they ever fought, the battle ended with neither side gaining control. Alexander’s army retreated back and King Porus was left to rule. It was said that Alexander was greatly impressed with the military tactics of King Porus. Alexander urged his troops to keep going but they refused. They had been away from home for 11 years and had marched thousands of miles and were exhausted. Many thousands had been killed through numerous battles or to disease. Alexander was forced to turn back and return home.

12. In 323 B.C., ATG and His Armies Return to Babylon After leaving India, ATG and the troops stopped in Babylon. Alexander fell ill with a fever and died within days. He was 32 years old. Although he did not live to an old age, he managed to create a great empire. Alexander however did not have time to unify his empire and without a son, he divided his empire to his three top generals. None of them were strong enough to take control and keep the empire together. His empire lasted only 10 years after his death.

13. ALEXANDER’S EMPIRE Alexander and his armies carried their culture and customs everywhere they went. As Alexander conquered one land after another, he set up cities with many named after him. Many of these cities were built on Greek culture. It is thought that there were 70 different Alexandria’s established during his conquests.

14. A BLEND OF CULTURES Alexander left Greeks behind to rule his lands. Greek became the common language in the lands he controlled. At the same time, Alexander adopted Persian clothing styles and Persian customs. He urged his armies to do the same. Some of the Greek settlers married Persian women and adopted Persian ways. In Egypt, the Greek rulers accepted Egyptian culture and blended it with Greek styles. In India, the same blending occurred. This blend of Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and Indian styles and customs became known as HELLENISTIC culture. This Hellenistic culture influenced the lands of the empire for hundreds of years.The combined knowledge made new discoveries possible in science and medicine. http://safeshare.tv/w/OIYZtTItES