Unit 5

 Alexander’s invasion

  331 B.C.  Most inspired battle  Darius creates his largest force ever  Macedonians – 47,000 troops  Persians – 200,000 – 250,000 troops, including scythed chariots!  Alexander waited for Darius’ troops to become separated, and then flooded the opening  Alexander chased Darius once again and Darius fled, his troops giving up behind him  Alexander was now the undisputed ruler of Asia!  Why isn’t Alexander totally satisfied? Battle of Gaugamela “Alexander does not steal victory” - Alexander

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  Battle of Gaugamela

 Alexander’s invasion

  Welcomed as liberator in Babylon, treasures were surrendered to him  Then took Susa and Persepolis, considered the Persian capitals  The riches had been gathered for centuries!  8,000 talents (57.5 lbs.) of gold in Persepolis alone!  120,000 talents (6.9million lbs) of treasure total taken!!  It would have taken Athens 300 years to gather this much treasure….  Alexander was drunkenly convinced by Thais, (an Athenian courtesan) to burn down Persepolis…. Alexander Plunders ander/alexander_9.htm

  Why does Alexander need to kill Darius?  Panhellenic war is over – released Greek troops  80 miles in 30 hours! Bessus murders Darius  Many Persian commanders defected to Alexander Conquest of Iran

 Alexander’s invasion

  Dysentery was rampant, winters were cold  Had to put down many rebellions, taxed the people  What is the difference between Alexander’s and Darius’s methods of ruling?  Ironically, Greek city states became very wealthy from these taxes Western Asia

  Over time, Alexander began to lose the support of his men  Why? How was this journey different than what the men initially expected?  Asians and Perisans as ushers and guards  Wore Persian dress, slept with different Persian women  Decides to marry a Bactrian princess named Roxana  AGRUMENT – 1:23:27 – 1:27:15 AGRUMENT  Began drinking a lot, disowning Philip  330 B.C. - Kills Philotas and Parmenion  328 BC – Kills Cleitus – VIDEO; 2:16 – 2:21VIDEO;  327 B.C. – kills Calisthenes (personal historian)  Calisthenes spoke out about proskynesis Rebellions “He who sins when drunk must be punished twice. Once for sinning and once for being drunk” - Aristotle

  Losing the confidence of his men  He is increasingly violent and unpredictable. Massacring and enslaving all tribes that rebelled against his control.  Uses mercenaries more as opposed to Macedonian troops  Wants to continue to India  326 B.C. – Crosses the Hindu Kush and Indus River to put down a rebellion Alexander continues East

  VIDEO – 2:32:30 - 2:39:45 VIDEO  There were no cities to conquer in India  Released 10-18k men to allow them to retire  Owed 6 years of back pay, Alexander executed 13 men  Alexander hides in his tent for 3 days, his men relent and apologize. Alexander accepts their apology and has a huge celebration afterwards Mutiny at Opus

 Alexander’s invasion

 Battle of Hydaspes  “Yes, I’ll meet you. On the battlefield.”  Deceived and assembled, tricked Porus  1. Ordered new supplies of grain.  2. Now marches his troops up and down stream “looking for a place to cross”  3. He then tells his men to make as much noise as possible, EVERY single night  How does this trick Porus?  Had 20,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 200 ELEPHANTS  What is the primary purpose of war elephants?  Alexander moves 15,000 across the river and leaves 12,000 across the river  Alexander defeats Porus, allows him to remain king and keep his subjects  He becomes one of Alexander’s greatest allies! Arguably Alexander’s greatest strategic battle! Who does he no longer have to support him during battle?

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 Battle of Hydaspes

  VIDEO – 2:40:44 – 2:50:00 VIDEO Battle of Hydaspes

 Alexander Marches Home  70 straight days of rain  Conquered hostile tribes in the south  Alexander becomes injured with an arrow, never fully recovers  324 B.C. - Hephaestion died in a drinking session  Executed the physician  Alexander grieved and fasted for 3 days  Alexander is becoming increasingly removed from reality  He truly believes he is a god Makran Desert

 Alexander Rules Absolutely  Executed many Macedonian satraps  Allowed Greek exiles back into their cities  Increasingly removed from political realities  June 323 B.C. – Alexander dies in Babylon  One account says he drank 12 pints of wine  He had lingering illnesses for a while which only increased by his alcoholism “TO THE STRONGEST”