Alexander “the Great”? Was he great? Does it depend who

you ask?CHW3M

Metropolitan Museum. Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Stater with Head of Alexander the Great, 286-281 BC. 2000. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/52.127.4 (March 26,

2012).

Macedonia

Far north of Greece Spoke a dialect of Greek Considered barbarians by

other Greeks Had a more tribal culture

Giampaolo Casati, Alexander the Great: the Conqueror (San Diego: Thunder Bay Press, 2004), p. 28.

Rise of Macedonia

404 BC: After the Peloponnesian War Thebes was the strongest city-state

359 BC: Phillip II came to power Philip then turned his kingdom into a major power He used Theban battle tactics (phalanx) 338 BC: He defeated the southern Greeks at

Chaeronaea Unity Then he was assassinated

Theban Phalanx

16 rows Each soldier had a long pike (sarissa added

by Phillip)

Robert J. Walker, World Civilizations: A Comparative Study (Don Mills, ON: Oxford, 1998), p. 121.

A Big Ego?

At the Oracle at Delphi Alexander was told, just before leaving for Persia, “You are invincible, my son.”

Alan Fildes and Joann Fletcher, Alexander the Great: Son of the Gods (London: Duncan Baird Publishers, 2004), p. 37.

Alexander’s Conquests

EyeWitness to History. Alexander Defeats the Persians, 331 BC. 2000. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/alexander.htm (March 26, 2012).

Areas conquered by Alexander

Persian Empire

s

Persian relief from Persepolis, 358-338 BC, city looted by Alexander

Metropolitan Museum of Art. Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Relief: two servants bearing food and drink. 2000. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/34.158 (March 26, 2012).

Riches of the Persian Empire

Ruins of Persepolis, former ceremonial capital of the highly organized Persian Empire

Alison Behnke, The Conquests of Alexander the Great (Minneapolis: Lerner Publishing Group, 2008), p. 67.

Hellenism

“Greek civilization especially as modified in the Hellenistic period by influences from southwestern Asia.” Blending of eastern and

western cultures

Merriam Webster. Hellenism. 2012. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hellenism (March 26, 2012).

W E

Alexandria, Egypt

Founded by Alexander in 331 BCE Greek architecture Greek, Persian, Jewish, Syrian

and other residents Well known as a centre of

learning (library) Pharos lighthouse

Tour Egypt. Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria. 1996-2011. http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/pharoslighthouse.htm (March 26, 2012).

Model of Pharos

Hellenistic World

Three of Alexander’s generals, after fighting, split his empire: Seleucid Empire (Syria

and Persia) Ptolemaic Empire (Egypt

and part of Libya) Antigonid Empire

(Greece and Macedonia)

Alexander

Seleucus Ptolemy Antigonis

Under Roman control after 133 BC

Under Roman control after 30 BC

Task: H or MC?****

Did Alexander use Hellenism for political purposes to rule the Persian Empire more effectively (make them like him)?

Or, did he believe in true multiculturalism, wherein he genuinely appreciated other cultures?

**** Test question on Alexander will relate to this using evidence and argument.

Homework:

Take notes on rise of Macedonia, page 139. Read pages 140-144.