chapter 30 Alexander the Great and his Empire for Alan

Why did Alexander decide to attack Persia?

Alexander wanted to carry out his father's plan to invade Persia. In 334 BCE Alexander invaded Asia Minor. Alexander planned to use terror and kindness to conquer an empire. The towns and cities that surrendered would keep their government officials, and Alexander would help them rebuild damaged property.

2 ways Alexander used religion to convince people in his empire to accept him as their leader.

First he honored the Egyptian and Persian gods. He treated them as equal to Greek gods. The priests welcomed him as "God's son". The priests words helped Alexander gain the loyalty of the Egyptians. Second Alexander encouraged the idea that he himself was a god.He began wearing a crown of two ram's horns. He required all Greeks to accept him as the son of Zeus.

Why was Alexander well trained to be leader?

He became king only 20 years old. He studied under Aristole, the famous Greek philosopher. Aristole taught him public speaking, science, and philosophy. He also taught Alexander to appreciate Greek culture.

4 foreign ideas or customs that Alexander adopted

His plan was to show respect for the cultural practices of the people he conquered. First he allowed Persian governors to run the day-to-day business of their lands. He also made sure his own people controlled the taxes. Second, he borrowed Persian customs. He began wearing decorative Persian-style clothes. He received official visitors as a Persian king would, in a luxurious tent. The tent was supported by 30 foot columns covered in gold and silver and stones. Third, a visitor had to kneel in front of the throne and bend over until his head touched the ground. Alexander then raised his visitor to his feet, kissed him and called him "Kinsman". Fourth, Alexander encouraged marriage between Macedonians and Persian. He himself married the eldest daughter of Darius, the Persian king he had defeated.

What happened to the Greek city-states as result of the Peloponnesian War.?

In 431 B.C.E the quarrel between Athens and Sparta boiled over into war called the Peloponnesian. The war lasted for 27 years, from 431 BCE to 404 BCE. In the end, Sparta won. While the Greek city-states fought one another, Macedonia was growing stronger. For a long while the Macedonians had been a collection of scattered tribes. Then a bold leader King Philip II, took the throne.

How successful the plan was?

In a short time, Alexander extended his rule over Asia Minor, Egypt, and central Asia. He marched to the farthest limit of the Persian Empire. He reached western India. His goal was to bring people of very different cultures together under a single government. The plan had three keys: First he would spread Greek culture and ideas. Second he would use religion to inspire loyalty. Third he would show respect for the cultures he conquered and even adopt some of their customs.

2 ways Alexander spread Greek ideas in order to unite the different peoples of his empire

One way Alexander tried to accomplish his goal was by building Greek-style cities. He established many cities in different parts of the empire. They had market places, temples, theaters, Greek laws, art and literature. Alexander wanted local soldiers and government officials to speak only Greek. Alexandria was the famous new city located in Egypt near the sea. It had a market place, university, a gymnasium and a theater. Its library contained more than half a million books.

Philip unites Greece

Years of war had left the Greeks divided and weak. Philip thought he could take advantage of their weakness. By 338 BCE King Philip had conquered most of mainland Greece. He allowed the Greek city-states to keep many of their freedoms. But they were now under his control. Philip wanted to attack Persia next, but in 336 BCE he was murdered. His son, Alexander, became the new Macedonian king.

the empire Crumbles

by 324 BCE after 10 years of fighting, Alexander's exhausted soldiers refused to go on. Alexander returned to Babylon, in Persia. Next year Alexander caught a swamp fever, he died in his soldiers' tent at the age of 33. After his death, Alexander's empire crumbled. In the end Alexander's vast realm was divided into three separate kingdoms. Egypt kingdom, Asia kingdom and Macedonia and Greece kingdom.