Alexander the Great Mr. Fitzpatrick

Objective How was Alexander the Great able to spread Greek Culture throughout the known world.

Philip II Ruled Macedonia from 359-336 B.C. and transformed it into a powerful military machine Moved into northern Greece and met little resistance due to the Peloponnesian War By 338 he had Greece under his control

Macedonia

Alexander the Great Philip intended to use Greece as a launching pad to invade Persia, but he was assassinated before he could begin his plan Instead the invasion of Persia would be left for Philip’s son Alexander who was just 20 when Philip was assassinated “Alexander inherited from his father the most perfectly organized, trained, and equipped army of ancient times.” J.F.C. Fuller, The Generalship of Alexander the Great

Warfare in the Age of Alexander Phalanx: A formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears, developed by Philip II and used by Alexander the Great Bucephalus: Alexander’s famous horse. Read story from the Blue Book (page 126) Watch tribute. Spear

Warfare in the Age of Alexander Hoplite The main melee warrior of the Macedonian army. Worked mainly in the tight phalanx formation, creating impregnable lines that often left the enemy demoralized.

Hoplites in Action

Warfare in the Age of Alexander Companions Alexander’s elite cavalry, the offensive arm of his army, and his elite guard. They would be used in conjunction with the phalanx. The phalanx would fix the enemy in place and then the companion cavalry would attack on the flank. Alexander would lead the charge with his cavalry, normally in a wedge formation. These troops would also protect the flanks of the Macedonian line during battle. Gulf War - 1991

Warfare in the Age of Alexander Sieges involved the surrounding and blockading of a town or fortress by an army trying to capture it. A variety of weapons were built to hurl projectiles over city walls, scale or batter the walls, and transport soldiers over them. Battering Ram Torsion Catapult/ Ballista Siege Tower

Alexander and the town of Gordian, and the Gordian knot.

Battle of Issus Darius III Alexander Alexander wins and Darius turns and runs away.

Tyre Old city on the mainland was abandoned New city built on an island two miles long and separated from the coast by a half mile channel Walls were 150 feet high Had two harbors (Sidonian and Egyptian) Alexander originally had no ships so he built a mole across the channel

Tyre Mole was designed to be 200 feet wide and was built by driving piles into the bottom and filling in the space with stones, earth, and wood Entire trees --- branches, leaves, and all -– were thrown beside the piles to serve as a break wall. Stone was hauled in from the old city. “A city and a forest were exhausted to build this wonderful mole.” Theodore Dodge, Alexander, 330. Alexander’s original mole has grown over the centuries and is now a broad landbridge with roads and buildings on it.

Tyre After a seven month siege, Tyre fell. 8,000 Tyrians were killed in the fighting 2,000 more were hung afterwards 400 Macedonians were killed in the siege and just 20 in the assault

Gaugamela (Arbela) At Issus, Alexander captured Darius’ family and was holding them hostage but treating them well Darius needed to rescue them Seal of King Darius

Darius III, King of Persia Gaugamela (Arbela) Darius had assembled a huge army from all the Persian nationalities Estimates range from 200,000 to a million infantry and 45,000 to 100,000 cavalry 200 scythed chariots 15 elephants Alexander had about 40,000 men He wanted to capture Darius to replace him as king of Persia Darius III, King of Persia 336-330 B.C.

Gaugamela Alexander Psyches his men up The End of the Battle

After Gaugamela Darius ran away, AGAIN!!! His escape frustrated Alexander because it prevented him from full claim to being king of Persia Eventually Darius’ followers assassinated him As Alexander became king of Persia and continued to advance east, he took on an increasingly Eastern attitude. He didn’t always listen to his men.

"The Marriage of Alexander the Great and Roxanna" by Ishmail Parbury The End of the Empire Alexander Married Roxanna and had his men also intermarry Adopted Eastern dress and habits Publicly insisted upon his descent from the gods Began giving key positions to Persians The Macedonians were tired of campaigning and resented the changes in Alexander’s behavior and become mutinous Alexander died in June 323, perhaps as a result of poisoning, perhaps Malaria "The Marriage of Alexander the Great and Roxanna" by Ishmail Parbury

Horrible Histories – Alexander Conquers

After Alexander After Alexander died, his generals jockeyed for power and by 275 they had divided up his kingdom into four large states Antigonus took Greece and Macedon Ptolemy took Egypt Seleuces took the former Achaemenid empire The period of Alexander and his successors is called the Hellenistic period to reflect the broad influence of Greek culture beyond Greece’s borders Alexander’s Song

Alexander’s Legacy He spread Western (Greek) Culture all over the known (Mediterranean) world. Song Parody Iron Maiden

Big Quarterly Question Alexander worked to spread Greek culture throughout his empire. What conclusion can you draw from this? Alexander admired and enjoyed Greek culture and ideas.

All the Video Links in the Presentation If you cannot open this PowerPoint at home, copy the links below and email them to yourself, or save them on your flash drive. Tonight: Watch the videos Read the story of Bucephalous Tomorrow in class, we will follow up with an activity. Tribute to Bucephalous http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1J9UueYLNk&feature=fvw Alexander’s Deadliest Weaopn http://www.spike.com/video-clips/2jpwys/deadliest-warrior-rashad-tests-alexanders-baddest-weapon Gulf War (1991) Hammer and Anvil Tactic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJGs2BDKq5g Torsion Cataplut https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMqkL2qRdvY Building the Mole http://www.tubechop.com/watch/1554512 Review of Tyre http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1GIHgUgLZI Alexander Psyches up his men http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buXBDQvZjFk Video Game reenactment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xaf4gON8mQ Death of Alexander http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV_CbI69rcw Song Parody http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Idh5pWvr8yU Iron Maiden http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oTEQf1d9Iw