Alexander the Great

Order

1. Birth Alexander 2. Battle Chaeronea 3. Philip dies 4. Battle Granicus 5. Gordian knot 6. Battle of Issus 7. Battle of Tyre. 8. Conquers Egypt 9. Battle Guagemala 10. Darius dies. 11. Invades India 12. Death

Sarissa

A long spear or pike about used by Philip in his Macedonian phalanxes. This was part of his advanced military.

How did Alexander die?

After he conquered Persia, he took his troops into Afghanistan and then into India. His men finally rebelled and refused to go on Alexander was wounded and they returned to Persia. Alexander then spend years trying to govern his empire. He was about to send his troops into Arabia, to further expand his empire, but he got sick with the flu and died. After his death, his empire fell apart.

Battle of Granicus

Alexander and his men battled the Persians in 334 B.C.E. This was his first real battle in Asia and claimed victory. This battle took place in Asia Minor where he also broke the Gordian knot.

Battle of Guagemala

Alexander and his men had battled Darius again because he wanted revenge after what happened in Issus. In 331 B.C.E In Guagemala. Alexander won even though he had far less men than Darius. Alexander fought because he wanted the Persian empire. Darius fled and Alexander won the battle.

What was Alexander's Legacy?

Alexander conquered Greece and then spread Greek culture into the Near East. He ended the threat from eastern kingdoms and launched the Hellenistic era (which means spread of Greek culture). Greek culture was considered the highest form of culture at the time, but had previously been isolated in Greece (the Hellenic era refers to the time before Alexander the Great).

Why is he known as Alexander the Great.

Alexander had a highly trained army and modern fighting strategy that couldn't be defeated. Because he never lost a battle, people thought he was invincible. As he conquered Greece (with his father) and the Persian Empire he worked to be a universal leader who united people. Many thought he would conquer the world. When he was in Gordium, he cut the fabled knot, which many thought was a sign that he would rule the world.

About Alexander the Great

Alexander was from Macedonia, Greece and ruled the Macedonian army after his father Philip had died. He was well educated and learned about politics and warfare from his father. Alexander built on his father's Phalanx style of fighting that couldn't be defeated. He was personally very brave and knew and loved his men. He conquered Greece and the Persian Empire before his death.

Elements of Greek Life

Before Phillip conquered Greece they were formed into city states. Alexander liberated the cities and restored democracy. Greece was considered to have the highest culture that everyone wanted to imitate.

Philip II

Father of Alexander the Great; taught war and politics to Alexander and led the conquest of Greece

Phalanx

Formation of soldiers carrying shields close together for defense; any very close group of people. Invented by Philip.

Persian Empire

Mesopotamian empire that conquered the existing Median, Lydian, and Babylonian empires, as well as Egypt and many others. Also known as the Achaemenid Empire. Alexander's victory at the battle of Gaugamela on the Persian plains was a decisive conquest that insured the defeat of his Persian rival King Darius III.

Battle of Chaeronea

Philip and Alexander fought the Greeks in 338 B.C.E in Charonea because they wanted to control the empire. Philip ended up winning the battle. This marked the end of the Greek city state as a force.

Parmenio

Philip's top general

Darius

The third king of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. He ruled the empire at its peak. Defeated by Alexander.

Battle of Issus

This was the first battle in Persia in 334. When Darius saw Alexander's army he fled and this marked the beginning of the end of Persian power in the Mediterranean. Alexander won this battle.

Siege of Tyre

Tyre was an island that was though impregnable. Alexander and his men blockaded their supplies from coming into their city in 333 B.C.E but could not defeat the city. He finally built a mole (a land bridge to the mainland) and invaded the island. Alexander needed their city to control the Eastern Mediterranean and get supplies. Alexander won this battle and this is one of the sieges that made him famous.