1. Alexander The Great

2. Macedonia Conquers Greece
King Phillip II of Macedonia saw that Greece was weakened by the Peloponnesian Wars
Phillip had a well-trained army that combined heavy phalanxes with fast-moving cavalry
In 338 B.C. Phillip invaded Greece. The city-states were too weak and disorganized to defend themselves. Greece came under Phillip’s control.
Phillip is stabbed to death in 336 B.C. His son Alexander becomes king.

4. Alexander Defeats Persia
Alexander was 20 when he became King, but he was well-prepared to rule
Tutored in philosophy, science, geography, literature, and politics by Aristotle
Trained in horsemanship, archery, and the use of weapons from a young age
Put down a rebellion in Thebes with brutal efficiency. Killed 6,000; sold the rest into slavery.
Other city-states chose not to obey his rule

5. Alexander Defeats Persia
After ensuring the loyalty of Greece, Alexander invades Persia with a force of 35,000
Persian King Darius III led an army of 75,000 against alexander, but was defeated by a surprise attack
Alexander rejected a peace settlement, and invaded Egypt; he was welcomed as a liberator and crowned Pharaoh
Alexander defeated Darius once again in Mesopotamia, which brought all of Persia under Alexander’s control in 332 B.C.
Alexander was 24 years old by this time

6. Alexander’s Other Conquests
By this time Alexander had a reputation for being unstoppable—he had never lost a battle
Cities would see his army coming and surrender before he even arrived
He treated conquered peoples fairly, but was brutal to those who resisted him
By 323 Alexander had conquered an empire that spanned from Greece to India—the largest empire that had ever existed up to that point
Alexander had plans to continue expanding his empire, as well as building roads and unifying the people under his control; but he died from a mysterious fever at age 32 (may have been poisoned)
His empire was divided among is three top generals

7. The Empire of Alexander the Great5
The Empire of Alexander the Great

8. Hellenistic Culture

9. The Legacy of Alexander5
The Legacy of Alexander
Although Alexander’s empire did not last, he had unleashed changes that would ripple across the Mediterranean world and the Middle East for centuries.
Alexander’s most lasting achievement was the spread of Greek culture.
Across the empire, local people absorbed Greek ideas. In turn, Greek settlers adopted local customs.
Gradually, a blending of eastern and western cultures occurred. The resulting culture is what we call Hellenistic Culture
Alexander had encouraged this blending by marrying a Persian woman and adopting Persian customs.

10. Alexandria
The City of Alexandria in Egypt became a hub of science, mathematics, architecture, and literature
A massive trade hub, Alexandria had a population exceeding 500,000
The harbor contained a 350 foot high lighthouse with a polished bronze mirror that reflected firelight

11. Pharos Lighthouse

12. Science and Learning in Alexandria
Alexandria contained the largest library in the world, with over ½ million papyrus scrolls
The first research library in the world
A home for astronomers, inventors, philosophers, and mathematicians
Destroyed by fire between AD

13. Astronomy
Hellenistic scientists provided nearly all western scientific knowledge until the 16th century
Aristarchus estimated the sun to be 300 times larger than the earth (it’s actually 1.3 million times larger, but until then people thought earth was bigger)
Aristarchus believed the planets revolved around the sun
Eratosthenes estimated the circumference of the earth to be 28,000 miles (actually 24,860 miles)

14. Math Euclid invented geometry Archimedes discovered the value of pi
Archimedes also discovered the laws governing leverage, invented a screw that could pull water from deep underground, and created compound pulleys
Hellenistic scientists used these ideas to build pneumatic machines and steam engines

15. Philosophy and Art
Although Plato and Artistotle continued to be influential, philosophers during the Hellenistic age began to concern themselves more with how people should live their lives
Zeno founded the school of Stoicism
Taught that everyone should live in harmony with the will of the gods
Taught that desire, power, and wealth could be dangerous pursuits, and that people should maintain control of their passions
Believed that by practicing self-denial they could obtain the greatest happiness in life
Mr. Spratt’s personal favorite school of philosophy!

16. Philosophy Contd. Epicurus founded the school of Epicureanism
Taught that the gods didn’t care what people did
The only real things are what we can perceive with our five senses
The greatest good in life comes from virtuous conduct and freedom from pain
Sought harmony between body and mind
Philosophy has been adapted in modern times to describe anyone who pursues worldly pleasures, especially good food

17. Sculptures
Hellenistic artists abandoned the idealist of ancient greek sculptors, and instead embraced realism
Colossus of Rhodes: a huge statue in the harbor of Rhodes
Nike of Samothrace