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Philip of Macedon and Alexander the Great. So just how great was Alexander the Great?. Greece & Philip of Macedon. Why was Philip able to take over almost all of Greece by 336 BCE? The death of the polis specialization less unity lack of leadership.
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Philip of Macedon and Alexander the Great So just how great was Alexander the Great?
Greece & Philip of Macedon • Why was Philip able to take over almost all of Greece by 336 BCE? • The death of the polis • specialization • less unity • lack of leadership
Did anyone predict this? Yes, Demosthenes did • The Greek orator who saw this coming . . . • In his speeches, called Philipics , he asked the Athenians to organize against Philip
Why was Philip such a formidable opponent? • Tough and well-disciplined soldiers (fought with sarissa) • Hostage at Thebes in his youth • Soldier, diplomat, statesman
What did Athens do? • Athenian-Theban alliance • Defeated at Chaironea by Philip • 337 BCE Philip is elected leader of the League of Corinth
What did Philip want from the Greeks? • He admired Athens and expressed a wish to be their ally • Right to consult Delphic oracle • Allowed to preside over Pythian games
What did Athenians think of Macedonians? • Monarchy is corrupt and barely disguised form of dictatorship • Treats Greeks like second-class citizens
What are the signs of conflict? Greeks divide into two factions: Pro-Demosthenes faction believes Macedonia will harm their democracy Pro-Philip faction believes Macedonia and Greece can be allies and united together
How does Athens declare war in 340 BCE? Demosthenes is given a gold crown during a theater festival in Athens for his services to the people Athens deliberately attacks Philip’s allies and goes to Persia to seek support
How does Philip win the war? Attacks Perinthus (Greek city near Byzantium) Attacks Byzantium Realizes he is trapped Tricks the Athenians with a letter Sneaks out and sends for his son Goes on offensive and wins war
What will you do now, Laconians? (336 BCE) Sparta will not surrender “What else but die like men?” Philip gives Messenia and Argos their land back Philip’s death in 336 BCE means that Alexander will now rule
Who was Alexander? • King at 20, dead at 32 • Finest general in antiquity • Student of Aristotle • Storms through Greece in two months and assures his rule. Abolishes taxes in Macedonia.
Alexander in Thrace Alexander decides his next conquest will be Thrace
Trouble in Thebes • Alexander’s decision there would seal his fate with the Greeks • Greeks have caused him maximum damage with minimum harm to themselves
Alexander in Persia and India • Homeric battle with Persians • Macedonians encounter elephants • The long retreat home
“I leave my kingdom to the strongest.” • Alexander died in 323 BCE after drinking a cup of unmixed wine. • With him died the dream of uniting east and west. • Spreads Greek culture over a very wide area, thus creating Hellenistic civilization