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Alexander the Great. Philip II (Alexander’s father). Became king of Macedon in 359 BC Conquered south Athenian Demosthenes spoke out against him (Three Philippics) Battle of Chaeronea 338 BC, defeated Athens and Thebes, controlled Greece Assassinated in 336 BC. Young Alexander.
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Philip II (Alexander’s father) • Became king of Macedon in 359 BC • Conquered south • Athenian Demosthenes spoke out against him (Three Philippics) • Battle of Chaeronea 338 BC, defeated Athens and Thebes, controlled Greece • Assassinated in 336 BC
Young Alexander • Born in 356 BC to Philip II and Olympias (non-Macedonian) • Tutored by Aristotle and Leonidas • Tamed the horse Bucephalus • Father assassinated in 336 BC • Life of Alexander by Plutarch
“Untying” the Gordion Knot • Gordium, Turkey, 333 BC • Tied by King Midas or his father Gordius • The prophecy • Alexander solves it
Battle of Granicus, 334 BC • First major victory over Persians • Persia ruled by Darius III • 47,000 (Macedonians and various Greeks) versus 24,000 • Greek mercenaries • Granicus - river near Troy
Battle of Issus, 333 BC • Alexander defeats Darius III despite being heavily outnumbered • Darius III flees • Empire expands to include Persia
More battles • Battle of Gaugamela, 331 BC, against Darius III again • Battle of Hydapses, 326 BC, Punjab region of Pakistan, against King Poros, war elephants • Empire extends to western India • Hellenistic vs. Hellenic culture
Alexander’s Demise • Got sick and stayed in Babylon, died there in 323 BC • Divided up empire among the Diadochi (The followers) • Egypt – The Ptolemies 305-30 BC • Asia – Seleucids 305-63 BC • Macedonia – Antigonids, 295-168 BC
Egypt and Alexandria • Ptolemies followed the pharoahs, 305-30 BC • Many Cleopatras • The Library of Alexandria • Three separate burnings • 30 BC – Roman conquest