Alexander the Great

356-323 B.C.One of the greatest military

commanders to ever live.

Who Is Alexander?

• He was Philip, King of Macedon’s Son.• Macedonia is a region in Greece.• He became King after his father’s assassination.• Noble Macedonian Youth• He was Aristotle’s Pupil• By Age 30, he conquered and created one of the

largest empires in history.

The Military

• Alexander used both military skill and diplomacy to accomplish his feats.

• Bucephalas- his horse.• Greek Take Over• Weapons: Phalanx• Sacred Band of Thebans• Battle of Charonea• Diodorus- the scribe

The Phalanx

King Philip

• Cleopatra causes rift• Olympus• Desire to conquer Asia• Alpha Male Philip vs. Effeminate Alexander• Hephastian• Conspiracy over death

Superstition

• The Greeks were extremely superstitious.• Oracle at Delphi• Gordian Knot

King Dirius

• Persian King• 100 K to 40 K ?• Tyre• Temple of Hercules• The Causeway• Battle of Gagamela• Bressos

His Reign

• Babylon• Persian Customs• India• The Arrow• Return to Greece• Hephastian’s Death/ Alexander’s Grief• Alexander’s death• Ptolemy hijacks body

Quotes

• “To the strongest”- last words.• “I am indebted to my father for living but to my

teacher for living well.”• “I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep;

I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.”• “There is nothing impossible to him who will try. “

Wrap Up

• Greatest of all leaders.• 40 K soldiers, 20 K miles, 12 years.• Challenges Notions: -- Of a warrior -- Of a leader -- Of conquest -- Of manliness In short, he rocked.

Maps

Achilles

• As a child, Alexander was preoccupied with Homer’s accounts of war.

• He idolized the great hero of the Trojan War, Achilles.

• Who was this Achilles that Alexander so admired? That’s for next time…