1. Alexander’s Empire

2. Philip Builds Macedonian Power
Macedonia—Kingdom of mountain villages north of Greece
King Philip II—ruler, brilliant general; dreams of controlling Greece
Macedonians call themselves Greek; rest of Greece does not
Philip’s Army
Philip creates well-trained professional army; plans to invade Greece

3. Philip Builds Macedonian Power
Conquest of Greece
It was easy because more than one Greek city felt hesitant about fighting back
Some Greek cities invited Philip to invade
Athens asked Sparta for help against invasion, but Sparta declined
At the Battle of Chaeronea one thousand Athenians were killed.
338 B.C. Macedonians defeat Greece

4. Murder of King Philip
Philip married again, for a fifth time, a Macedonian woman.
His son Alexander was half Greek.
Greek historian Diodorus tells us that Philip was killed by his bodyguard, but some suspect, that Alexander was behind the murder.
His son became king of Macedonia and becomes Alexander the Great

5. Alexander The Great Alexander’s Early Life Tutored by Aristotle
Inspired by the Iliad
Military training
Becomes king when 20 years old

6. Alexander Defeats Persia
Invasion of Persia
334 B.C. Alexander invades Persia with a quick victory at Granicus River.
Darius III, King of Persia, assembles an army of 50,000-75,000 men.
Alexander defeats Persians again, forces King of Persia to flee.

7. Alexander Defeats Persia
Conquering the Persian Empire
Alexander marches into Egypt and is crowned Pharaoh in 332 B.C.
At Gaugamela in Mesopotamia, Alexander defeats the Persians again.
Alexander captures cities of Babylon, Susa, and Persepolis
Persepolis, the Persian capitol is burned to the ground which signals total destruction of the Persian Empire.

8. Alexander’s Other Conquests
Alexander in India
Alexander fights his way across the deserts of Central Asia to India
Alexander conquers Indus Valley area in 326 B.C.
Reluctantly returns to Babylon and dies in 323 B.C.

9. Map of Alexander’s Empire

10. Alexander’s Legacy Alexander blends Greek and Persian cultures.
He takes a Persian wife.
Empire becomes three kingdoms
Macedonia, Greek city-states
Egypt
Persia
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