Section+5-4+Alexander's+Empire

Section 5-4: Alexander's Empire

__Philip II__- a man who wanted to control Greece after the Peloponnesian War after many city-states were weakened.
 * Bold:**

__Macedonia__- a kingdom in Greece located in northern Greece with a rough terrain and a cold climate.

__Alexander the Great-__ the son of Philip who made himself king after his father died and over the next 13 years his accomplishments gave him this nickname.

__Darius III-__ a ruler of the Persian Empire raised a huge army to fight the Macedonians.


 * Key People:**


 * Key Events:**

- After the Peloponnesian War many city-states were weakened, this includes their economies and military powers. Philip II took charge to try to accomplish his dreams of conquering Greece, so he went to fight the Persians to take control of Greece's vast wealth.
 * Setting the Stage:**

- The people who inhabited Macedonian lived in mountain villages not city-states. The rest of Greece saw them as uncivilized foreigners who had no great philosophers, sculptures, or writers. They didn't have many important resources so they weren't not that important and they were looked down on.
 * Philip Build Macedonian Power:**

- When Philip II became king he proved himself to be a great general and a ruthless politician. He took the peasants and made them into a well trained army. He organized his men into phalanxes, he used this formation to break through enemies lines. He also used fats moving cavalry to attack his disorganized opponents. Once he used these tactics in the north he planned to invade Greece.
 * Philip's Army:**

- A man named Demosthenes tried to warn the city-states of Philips threats and told them they should unite to and fight against Philip. The city-states did not agree to unite. Finally Athens and Thebes joined forces to fight Philip. The Macedonians easily beat the Greeks at the battle of Chaeronea. This defeat ended Greek independence. The city states kept self-governments. Greek still remained under foreign powers.
 * Conquest of Greece:**

- after conquering Greece he planned to invade Persia. But at his daughters wedding he was stabbed to death by his guardsman. His son then took over the nation.

- He was young to be king but under Aristotle's teaching he had learned science, geography and literature. He was also very inspired by Iliad.
 * Alexander Defeats Persia:**

- At a very young age he was taught how to use weapons, ride horses, and command troops. When the people of Thebes rebelled he destroyed the city. About 6,00 Thebes were killed. Scared of him the other Greek city-states did not rebel.

- Alexander then went to conquer Persia. He lead 35,00 soldiers across the Hellespont into Anatolia. Persian messengers sent messages telling of an army approaching, they ran on the Royal Road. The Persians sent an army of 40,000 men. The two armies met at the Granicus River. Instead of waiting for the Persians to make the first attack Alexander ordered his cavalry to attack. Alexander easily pushed through the Persians defense.
 * Invasion of Persia:**

- he victory gave the Persian king a scare so he sent a army of between 50,000 and 75,000 men to crush the Macedonians. Since the Macedonians were out numbered Alexander sent his finest fighters through a week part of the Persian lines. Alexander won the battle giving him control of Anatolia.

- The Persians tried to make a trues with Alexander. The settlement offered Alexander all the land west if the Euphrates River. Alexander was advised to accept but he declined pushed to conquer the entire Persian Empire.
 * Conquering the Persian Empire:**

- Alexander went to conqueror Egypt and he was crowed a pharaoh. He was welcomed as liberator. He founded the city of Alexandria at the mouth of the Nile. After leaving Egypt he went to meet Darius in Mesopotamia. The Persian king assembled a army of 250,000 men. The two armies clashed at Gaugamela. Alexander launched a phalanx attack and then followed by a cavalry attack. The Persian King fled and Alexander won yet another battle.

- Alexander's Army conquered and now owned Babylon, Susa, and Persepolis. These place had a lot of treasure that was distributed among the army. The city of Persepolis was burned to the ground a few months later some say it was a warning from Alexander signaling the destruction of the entire Persian Empire, and a Greek historian Arrian says it was revenge of the Greeks for burning the city of Athens.

- Alexander followed Darius hoping to kill his and conquer more of the Persian Empire but when he found him he was already dead. Instead of turning back and going back "home" he kept of fighting more and more east hoping to conquer more and more of Asia hoping to conquer all the way to the east coast. He wasn't interested in governing what he had conquered.
 * Alexander's Other Conquests:**

- The Army reached India where an Army waited for them. After winning the battle the soldiers wanted to go home because they had been fighting this war for 11 years and walked over 11,000 miles. Alexander agreed to turn and return home.
 * Alexander in India:**

- Once they were back to Babylon Alexander announced that he had plans to organize and unify his empire by making new cities, roads and harbors. He never did this because he got very ill and died a few day later.

- After the death of Alexander the generals of the army fought to control the empire. Three came out victorious. Antigonus became king of Macedonia and took control of the Greek city-states. Ptolemy seized Egypt and became a pharaoh and made a dynasty. Seleucus took most of the old Persian Empire which became known as the Seleucid kingdom. They changed the democratic government and gave themselves the power of the ruled areas.
 * Alexander's Legacy:**

- Persian cultural aspects effected the Greeks. Alexander dressed like a Persian and married a Persian women. Persians fought in his army as time passed these ways were adapted and a new culture emerged.