Alexander “the Great”? CHW3M Metropolitan Museum, Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, Stater with Head of Alexander the Great, 286-281 BC, 2000, http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/52.127.4 (March 26, 2012); BBC History, Alexander the Great, 2004, http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/alexander_the_great.shtml (Oct. 23, 2015).

Alexander in Action Alexander fighting king Darius III of Persia", Alexander Mosaic, Naples National Archaeological Museum from Wikipedia, Alexander the Great, 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great (April 3, 2017)

We Must Ask… Was he great? Does the answer depend on who you ask? How much continuity and/or change was there between how he ruled the Persian Empire and the Persians ruled their empire?

Origins in Macedonia Far north of Greece Spoke a dialect of Greek Considered barbarians (uncivilized) by other Greeks Had a more tribal culture But it was a rising power Giampaolo Casati, Alexander the Great: the Conqueror (San Diego: Thunder Bay Press, 2004), p. 28.

Rise of Macedonia 404 BCE: After the Peloponnesian War (between Athens and Sparta) Thebes was the strongest city-state 359 BCE: Phillip II came to power Philip then turned his kingdom into a major power He used Theban battle tactics (phalanx) 338 BCE: He defeated the southern Greeks at Chaeronaea Unity of Greece for the first time Then he was assassinated

Theban Phalanx 16 rows Each soldier had a long pike (sarissa added by Phillip) Robert J. Walker, World Civilizations: A Comparative Study (Don Mills, ON: Oxford, 1998), p. 121.

A Big Ego? At the Oracle at Delphi (where the future was predicted) Alexander was told, just before leaving for Persia, “You are invincible, my son.” Alan Fildes and Joann Fletcher, Alexander the Great: Son of the Gods (London: Duncan Baird Publishers, 2004), p. 37.

Alexander’s Conquests Areas conquered by Alexander EyeWitness to History. Alexander Defeats the Persians, 331 BC. 2000. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/alexander.htm (March 26, 2012).

Persian Empire s Persian relief from Persepolis, 358-338 BC, city looted by Alexander Metropolitan Museum of Art. Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Relief: two servants bearing food and drink. 2000. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/34.158 (March 26, 2012).

Riches of the Persian Empire Ruins of Persepolis, former ceremonial capital of the highly organized Persian Empire Alison Behnke, The Conquests of Alexander the Great (Minneapolis: Lerner Publishing Group, 2008), p. 67.

Hellenism “Greek civilization especially as modified in the Hellenistic period by influences from southwestern Asia.” Blending of eastern and western cultures W E Merriam Webster, Hellenism, 2012, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hellenism (March 26, 2012).

Alexandria, Egypt Founded by Alexander in 331 BCE Model of Pharos Greek architecture Greek, Persian, Jewish, Syrian and other residents Well known as a centre of learning (library) Pharos lighthouse Model of Pharos Tour Egypt, Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria, 1996-2011, http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/pharoslighthouse.htm (March 26, 2012).

Hellenistic World After his death, three of Alexander’s generals, after fighting, split his empire: Seleucid Empire (Syria and Persia) Ptolemaic Empire (Egypt and part of Libya) Antigonid Empire (Greece and Macedonia)

Task: Categorization Go through the Alexander worksheet in your handouts and categorize his actions. Can be multiple categories per action.

Task: Creative Questions What questions do you have about Alexander’s actions in and against the Persian Empire? Motivations, effectiveness, precedents, ???

Task: Assess Alexander’s Motivations H Did Alexander use Hellenism for political purposes to rule the Persian Empire more effectively (make them like him)? MC Did he believe in true multiculturalism, wherein he genuinely appreciated other cultures?

Task: Continuity and/or Change To what extent did Alexander continue practices from the Persian Empire? – assign a % of the circle To what extent did he introduce changes? – assign a % of the circle

Homework: Get ready for Friday’s test. For your interest: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/11/141121-amphipolis-tomb-alexander-great-greece-archaeology/ Archaeology of a mysterious tomb associated with Alexander