Alexander the Great

1. Alexander the Great Not your average Colin Farrell

2. Who is Alexander the Great? • Alexander the great was born in Pella, Macedonia in 316 B.C.E. • Alexander’s Father, King Philip, was king of Macedonia and would be assassinated in 336 B.C.E. • Supposedly the assassin was sent by Alexander's mother. • Alexander would become king of Macedonia at age 20.

3. What did Alexander Do • Alexander started out by reconquering the Greek City-States. • He then conquered: Thebes, Asia Minor, Persia, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persepolis, Susa, and part of India

5. How did Alexander do it? • Alexander was well versed in military tactics from his father, King Phillip. • He became a master of the military maneuver known as “the hammer and anvil”

6. The “Anvil” • The “Anvil” was the infantry or Hoplite. The Hoplite were well versed in a tactic known as the Phalanx. • The Phalanx is a formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears.

7. The “Hammer” • Alexander’s elite cavalry, and his elite guard comprised the Hammer component. • They would be used in conjunction with the Hoplite soldiers after the Hoplite had deployed into the phalanx. • The phalanx would fix the enemy in place, or “place them upon the Anvil” and then the cavalry would attack on the flank (sides) pounding the opposition like a “Hammer.”

8. The Death of Alexander the Great • Alexander's men mutiny while starting their march across India and demand that they return home to Macedonia. • Alexander goes into a drunken stupor, becomes ill, and dies several days later. • He dies at the age of 33 before he can produce an heir and his kingdom is divided between three generals.