1. Alexander the Great
Ancient Empires

2. Macedonian Power Peloponnesian Wars weaken Greece
King Philip II of Macedonia has an idea – hit them while they’re weak
Leads his rugged people against the Greeks

3. Macedonian Might Fearless leadership
The new phalanx formation was difficult to attack
Cavalry then finished the broken

4. Setting the Stage for Al
Philip conquered the divided Greeks
He dies before attacking Persia
Persians were spread too thin
Alexander names himself king upon Philip’s death

5. Alexander’s genesis 20 year old king
Kills 6,000 rebels to prove strength
Greece is under his control
Persian campaign may begin

6. Look out Persia!
334 BCE – 35,000 troops invade Persia and win at Granicus River
Persian King Darius II vowed revenge but is forced to flee at Issus
Darius offers all land west of the Euphrates – he rejects
Give me everything

7. Expansion Egyptians name him pharaoh and liberator
Crushes Darius again in the massive battle of Gaugamela & burns the capital of Persia

8. India & Beyond – 326 BCE Reaches India and defeats war elephants
11,000 miles in 11 years
Soldiers demand to go home
A period of Pax will follow

9. Peace and Collapse Dedicates time fixing the empire
Trade and building become the focus
Dies at age 33 from a disease
Empire will split and crumble as generals struggle for control

10. Significance Hellenistic culture spreads
Ideas are brought home to Greece
Largest empire so far
Collapse gave rise to other powers
Wealthiest man in history?

12. Leadership? What qualities make a good leader?
What qualities make a bad leader?
Alexander was a good or bad leader?
Explain
Name a leader (past or present) that is good
Are leaders necessary? Why or Why not?

13. Primary Source
"As for the Macedonians, however, their struggle with Porus blunted their courage and stayed their further advance into India. For having had all they could do to repulse an enemy who mustered only twenty thousand infantry and two thousand horse, they violently opposed Alexander when he insisted on crossing the river Ganges its banks on the further side were covered with multitudes of men-at-arms and horsemen and elephants. For they were told that the kings of the Ganderites and Praesii were awaiting them with eighty thousand horsemen, two hundred thousand footmen, eight thousand chariots, and six thousand fighting elephants."
- Plutarch, Vita Alexandri,

14. EMPIRE MODEL: ALEXANDER’S EMPIRE

15. PRE-CONDITIONS
Strong Military: Philip II created a professional army (phalanx)
Strong Government: Macedonia was ruled by many powerful kings
-Philip II & Alexander
Control of resources: Philip II controlled much of Greece, including the fertile regions of Northern Greece
No Rivals: The Greeks were unable to organize

16. MOTIVATION Greed: Greece contained great wealth
Ideology: Alexander believed he was a demi-god (½ man, ½ god) & his father was Zeus
Conquest is best defense: Philip II had warned Alexander about a threat of Persian invasion

17. PAX
New cities, roads, & public buildings created to improve life in the empire
Alexandria was a center of learning, culture, and trade.
Hellenistic culture combines the traditions of the conquered lands

18. REASONS FOR THE FALL
Morale of soldiers declined after the military campaign ended and demanded to return home.
Alexander failed to name a successor & his generals fought amongst themselves
The division of Alexander’s empire into smaller districts made it weaker and reduced the power of the emperor over his lands.