Alexander the Great & Hellenistic Culture

1. Alexander the Great & Hellenistic Culture

2. WHAT WOULD A PERSON HAVE TO DO TO BE CALLED A “GREAT” FIGURE IN HISTORY?

3. WHAT WOULD A PERSON HAVE TO DO TO BE CALLED A “GREAT” FIGURE IN HISTORY? • The amount of influence that they have had on human history and on the everyday lives of other human beings • Have had a major impact beyond one country or region • Have influenced many different areas of human civilization: religion, politics, economics, culture, technology, warfare …… • Have overcome great obstacles to achieve their goals

4. WHAT WOULD A PERSON HAVE TO DO TO BE CALLED A “GREAT” FIGURE IN HISTORY? • Name one person from U.S. History (dead or alive) that would be considered GREAT, based on the characteristics from the previous slide

5. Setting the Scene… • After the Peloponnesian War, many Greek city-states were severely WEAKENED • Rapid decline in military & economic power • What are your predictions for ancient Greece???

6. Macedonia

7. Macedonia • Large kingdom of mountain villages north of Greece • Ruled byKing Philip II • Wanted to take control of Greece, as well as Persia

8. Macedonia • Philip creates a well-trained army; invades Greece • In 338 BC Philip is victorious - • Greece is under Macedonian control • But in 336 Philip is killed & his son Alexander becomes King of Macedonia

10. Alexander’s Early Life • He is tutored by Aristotle & received extensive military training • At 20, he becomes king You will now memorize The Iliad It’s my favorite book!

11. Persian Invasion • Alexander was determined to carry out the second part of his father’s plan • INVADE PERSIA…

12. Persian Invasion • Alexander & his army march into Egypt • Successfully conquer & liberate Egypt from Persian control • Is crowned Pharaoh • Founds the city of Alexandria

13. Persian Invasion • They capture Babylon & burn the Persian capital city of Persepolis • Eventually, they achieve the total destructionof the Persian Empire

15. Other Conquests • Fights across deserts of central Asia to India • Conquers the Indus Valley around 326 BC • But…

16. Other Conquests • After 11 years of fighting & marching more than 11,000 miles, the troops refuse to go any further – Fail to conquer India • They return to Babylon & Alexander dies in 323 BC; he was just 32 years old ?

17. Alexander’s Legacy

19. Alexander’s Legacy:Hellenistic Culture

20. Alexander’s Legacy • HUGE CULTURAL IMPACT • Blended many different cultures • Resulted in a NEW culture: • Hellenistic Culture

21. Alexander’s Legacy • Hellenistic Culture: • Greek + Persian + Egyptian + Indian influences

22. A New Language? • New Language: • Koine(comes from the Greek word for ‘common’) • Allowed for a common means of communication throughout the Hellenistic world

23. Trade & Diversity • Alexandria, Egypt: • Located on the Nile River • The cultural & trading center of Hellenistic civilization

24. Science & Technology • Scholars in Alexandria preserved Greek & Egyptian learning in the sciences

25. Science & Technology • Scientific Achievements: • Sun BIGGER than the earth • Earth & other planets REVOLVE around sun • The circumference of earth

26. Mathematics • Euclid: • Geometry • Archimedes: • Value of Pi, law of the lever • Pythagoras: • Pythagorean Theorem

27. Decline of Hellenistic Culture

28. The Decline • By 150 BC Hellenistic civilization was in decline… • A new city called ROME was growing & gaining strength during this time

29. The Decline • Through the city of Rome, Greek drama, architecture, sculpture & philosophy were preserved • The CORE of western civilization…

30. Exit Ticket • Watch the Crash Course on Alexander the Great... • Think back to the reasons someone is considered “great” in history • Identify 3 reasons why Alexander the Great is considered “great”