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Hellenism and Alexander the Great

Hellenism and Alexander the Great. Hellenism. Greece declined after the Peloponnesian War. Greece was conquered by Phillip of Macedonia. Phillip used his son, Alexander, as a general and as an ambassador. Phillip ’ s Innovations in war. Alexander the Great Personal Desire for Greatness.

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Hellenism and Alexander the Great

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  1. Hellenism and Alexander the Great

  2. Hellenism • Greece declined after the Peloponnesian War. • Greece was conquered by Phillip of Macedonia. • Phillip used his son, Alexander, as a general and as an ambassador.

  3. Phillip’s Innovations in war

  4. Alexander the Great Personal Desire for Greatness As a boy, Alexander said: My father will get ahead of me in everything, and will leave nothing great for me to do.

  5. Alexander • Had a vision for the “Greek” world and his own glory. • Created a new empire that is called the Hellenistic World.

  6. The Hellenistic World Fourth Century B.C. (after Alexander) 6

  7. Alexander Made King at Pella Danube • Some territories revolted along the Danube. • Advisors told him to just give up these territories. • He marched to the Danube and stopped the revolt. • While securing the kingdom north to the Danube,Thebes rebelled. • He destroyed Thebes except the temples and the house of the poet Pindar. • The 30,000 survivors were sold into slavery. • He never had a rebellion in Greece again.

  8. Alexander Inspired Confidence • The “Perfect Greek“ • Handsome • Well educated (by Aristotle) • Respectful of Greek past (memorized the Illiad and carried it with him)

  9. Alexander Inspired Confidence • The “Perfect Greek“ • Adept in rhetoric and diplomacy (ambassador) • Athletic (competing throughout his life) • Scientist (strong interest in plants, animals, geography, and even took scientists on his campaigns)

  10. Alexander Inspired Confidence The “Perfect General” • Never lost a battle • Personally fought in battles (wounded several times) • After a battle mingled with the survivors Alexander Personally Covers Darius

  11. Alexander Inspired Confidence • Honored the dead • Strongly religious burials • Exempted their families from further military duty and from taxes • Broke up regional regiments to have loyalty directly to him

  12. Alexander Inspired Confidence The “Perfect Conqueror” • Spared families of conquered kings This won the cooperation of the families. • Treated conquered soldiers with respect This convinced some conquered soldiers to switch sides and support him.

  13. Alexander Inspired Confidence The “Perfect Conqueror” • Respected local religions and customs Desert soothsayer Rebuilt Karnak and Luxor temples Alexander in Egypt

  14. Alexander Inspired Confidence The “Perfect Strategy” • Realized that the Persian navy could land troops behind him Followed a coastal route that allowed him to control all ports behind him When in battles, waited for the perfect moment to commit his elite troops Alexander’s Initial Path

  15. Bactra: Bessus, Darius’ successor, is captured and killed. Babylon: 10,000 marry June 323 BC, Alexander dies (malaria?) Torturous return journey Thousands die Gaugamela: 90,000 Persians Lunar eclipse & meteor showers frighten Persians Darius flees Siwa: Oracle declared him to be Son of Ammon (i.e., Zeus) “Liberated” Persian-occupied Egypt Proclaimed a pharaoh Hydaspes: Indian king Porus Persepolis: Persian capital destroyed Tyre: 7-month siege Half-mile causeway Killed 8,000 Sold 30,000 as slaves Pella: May 334 BC 42,000 soldiers Granicus: 25,000 Persians (only 110 Greeks lost) Troy: Achilles tomb, Sacred shield from Temple of Athena Cut the Gordian knot (rule Asia) Founded Alexandria Alexander’s Campaign Issus: 100,000 – 600,000 Persians (Darius flees leaving wife and mother behind) 40,000 men 20,000 miles 11 years Never lost a battle 15

  16. Alexander I would rather live a short life of glory than a long one of obscurity. —Alexander the Great Sarcophagus dating from the 4th Century BC

  17. Alexander Discussion • Are great leaders great because they are personally good leaders or because the situation makes them great? • Does a great leader need to be creative? • What is the role of preparation in creativity?

  18. Post-Alexander Empire One year old son did not receive the throne Empire divided by the generals Pergamum Attalids Greece, Asia Minor, Macedonia 4Generals Egypt Ptolemy Persian area, India Seleucus

  19. Prophecy Fulfilled One year old son did not receive the throne Empire divided by the generals Then a warrior king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and take action as he pleases. And while still rising in power, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted and go to others besides these. —NRSV Daniel 11:3-4 Pergamum Attalids Greece, Asia Minor, Macedonia 4Generals Egypt Ptolemy Persian area, India Seleucus

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