Alexander of Macedon

Alexander of Macedon

unstable & relatively insignificant kingdom before 4th centuryweak ties to Greek world

not considered completely Greek by southern Greeks"Medizers" during Persian Invasion (sided with Persia)

Ancient Macedon(ia)

distinctive culture – fringe of the Greek worlddialect, tumulus burials, unmixed wine, royal polygamypowerful monarchy: personal allegiance (treaties, etc.)warrior aristocracy loyal to king (not state, laws etc.)

increasing role in Greek politicsexport of grain to Athens & potential

to control N. Aegean graincentury of inter-Greek war creates opportunities

problem: internal strife nearly destroys Macedon in early 4th C

Macedonian Society

son of Amyntas III and Illyrian Eurydicesent as hostage to Epaminondas in Thebes (369-367 BCE) learns innovative military tactics from Ep.takes power in 359 after death of brother Perdiccas in civil wars

consolidates power against pretenders; defeats external enemies in region by 357

Philip II of Macedon (ca. 382-36 BCE): early years

goal: stabilize the archaic Macedonian government & armyinfluence of Epaminondas

military reformsDevelopment of siege engines (catapults)Macedonian phalanx: longer spears (sarissa – 18feet)Light armed infantry and cavalry (scouts, speed) Recognition of common soldiers (“foot companions”)

Philip II of Macedon: reforms

military reformsRecognition of common soldiers (“foot companions”)Expands ranks of warrior aristocracy (devastated by civil wars)Institution of Royal Pages (children of nobles, serve king)Rewards for nobles increase loyalty

Battle of the Crocus Field – Gains Thessaly (cavalry; double force size)h

Philip II of Macedon

Athens: major Greek power in early 4th C357: Athenian Ally Amphipolis taken by Philip

(effective siege warfare)Athenians fail to unite Greece against Philip

Demosthenes: Athenian orator opposes Philip

Philip II vs. Athens

Athens: major Greek power in early 4th CDemosthenes: Athenian orator opposes Philip

alliance with Olynthos, destroyed by Philip II in 348

Peace of Philocrates (346)attempt to prevent war between Athens/MacedoniaAthens accepts Philip’s power in NEDemosthenes helps negotiate, then seeks to undo

aftermath of Peacebrief lull in hostilities while Philip consolidates power in north4th Sacred War: Philip again uses Delphi as excuse to invadeAthens fails to gain full coalition with other Greeks

Philip II vs. Athens

Demosthenes

coalition of Athens & Thebes faces Philip in BoeotiaResounding victory for PhilipTheban Sacred Band annihilated1000 Athenian hoplites killed, 2000 capturedPhilip's 18-yr-old son Alexander leads decisive cavalry charge

Battle of Chaironeia (338)

Philip’s plans for Greeceharsh treatment of Thebes, leniency toward AthensCorinthian League: legitimizes Macedonian control of Greece

rhetoric: Philip II will lead "free Greeks" in attack on Persiareality: foundation for Macedonian World Empire

assassination of Philip IIsummer 336: killed by member of bodyguard

conflicts within Macedonian aristocracyOlympias, mother of Alexander possibly responsible in response to Philip’s marriage to Macedonian noble

Philip II after Chaironeia

tomb of Philip II

Greece at the death of Philip II (336)

early yearsborn to Philip II and main wife Olympiastutored by AristotleBoucephalus legendaccession to throne at age 20 (336)

consolidation of power (336-34)purge of Macedonian royal familyimmediate trip to Greece

enforces pro-Macedonian regimesdefeats northern "barbarians"returns to crush Greek revolt; Thebes

destroyed

Alexander III "the Great" of Macedon (356-323)

Alexander takes up Philip’s war against Persians; invades Asiabrings retinue of scientists and historians

Faces and defeats force of Persians at Battle of Granicus (334)Persians fail to turn Greeks against AlexanderAlexander executes Greek mercenaries in Persian armyAlexander sweeps through Ionia (tribute > "contributions")

Unties ‘Gordian Knot’

Alexander the Great: invasion of Western Asia

leads army south along MediterraneanBattle of Issos (333) in NW tip of MediterraneanPersian army led by King Darius IIIPersian army soundly defeatedroyal family captured; king Darius III flees back east

Family treated as his own (new king of Asia)

Alexander the Great: invasion of Western Asia

Siege of Tyre – Phoenician city, Persian naval strongholdSiege lasts 8 months; city falls in August of 332City razed to the ground, inhabitants sold into slavery

Alexander continues south to GazaGaza besieged for 2 months, destroyed

Path to Egypt opened

Alexander the Great: eastern Mediterranean (332-1)

destruction of Tyre & Gaza puts end to resistance; path to Egypt openedAlexander in Egypt

Persian satrap surrenders without fightidentifies himself with pharaohs, local gods (syncretism)

called son of Zeus-Ammon by oracle at Siwa (effect on psychology)founds Egyptian Alexandria (later site on Library, Pharos Lighthouse)

Alexander the Great: eastern Mediterranean (332-1)

Alexander as pharaoh

seeks final confrontation with Persian king Darius III; rejects peaceBattle of Guagamela (331): Persian defeat, Darius escapes eastGreeks face war elephants for first timeAlexander assumes title of Persian king

Alexander the Great: conquest of Asia (331-30)

Alexander takes Western capitals of empireBabylon: sacrifices to local gods/restores templesSusa: local customs respected, treasury left intact

Alexander the Great: conquest of Asia (331-30)

Destruction of Persepolis – conquest completespiritual center of Persian Empire (major royal festivals)Main powerbase for Persian rule

burned: revenge for Athens, symbolic of Persian loss of power, he was drunk

Ecbatana in Media, last of capitals taken; all treasuries controlled

Alexander the Great: conquest of Asia (331-30)

Darius III

Death of Darius III (330)flees to Bactria (Afghanistan), killed & replaced by local satrap BessusAlexander assumes role of avenging Darius III, portrays self as successor

buries Darius with honorsBessus turned over to Alexander, executed

Alexander the Great: conquest of Asia (331-30)

Darius III

invasion of central Asia – most difficult part of expeditionBactria and Sogdiana (330-27): subdued with difficulty

Appointed Greeks as satraps (provincial governors)Established military colonies throughout area to secure territoryTensions among Macedonian generals grows

Alexander the Great: conquest of Asia (331-30)

Orientalizationmarriage to Sogdian Rhoxane – first wife; unrest increasesbehaving like a Great King (dress, customs)

proskynesis – first sign of open resistance to Alexander by GreeksIncorporation of Iranians to king’s inner circle

personality problemsparanoia – execution of Philotas, Parmenionalcoholism – murder of Cleitus the Black

Alexander the Great: conquest of Asia (330-27)

Alexander & Rhoxane

Approach to India (Indus Valley), edge of known worldLand of mystery, fantastic peoples and creatures

goal: control the whole worldKashmir surrenders without oppositionBattle of Hydaspes (326): defeats King Poros

Reinstates Poros to his throne, adds territory

Alexander the Great: invasion of India (327-25)

Had enough: army refuses to go further east They campaign to mouth of Indus before returning westwardreturn takes two years

Macedonian satraps hang on in India only a few yearsReturn by land through Gedrosian dessert, be sea

thousands die on two month march

Alexander the Great: invasion of India (327-25)

Alexander's policies

administration of Empireadopts the Persian model (Macedonian satraps, loyal locals)

relations between Greeks and non-Greeksurges fusion between cultures (especially royal families)Mass marriage at Susa in 324 between Greek/Persian nobles

Iranians incorporated into high ranks of armyGreeks mutiny at Opis in summer of 324

death of Alexanderincreasingly erratic behavior

grief over death of Hephaistionplans to conquer Arabia (armies not eager)dies in Babylon June 10 323 aged 32

Generals divide empire amongst themselves; Successor kingdoms fight each other for next 2 centuries.

Ptolemy founds longest lasting kingdom in Egypt

ends with Cleopatra in 31 BC

Alexander's policies

Alexander's Empire (332-26)