Alexander Heads East

Unit 5

Alexander’s invasion

331 B.C.

Most inspired battle

Darius creates his largest force ever

Macedonians – 47,000 troops Persians – 200,000 – 250,000 troops, including scythed chariots!

Alexander waited for Darius’ troops to become separated, and then flooded the opening

Alexander chased Darius once again and Darius fled, his troops giving up behind him

Alexander was now the undisputed ruler of Asia!

Why isn’t Alexander totally satisfied?

Battle of Gaugamela

“Alexander does not steal victory” - Alexander

Alexander’s invasion

Welcomed as liberator in Babylon, treasures

were surrendered to him

Then took Susa and Persepolis, considered the Persian capitals

The riches had been gathered for centuries! 8,000 talents (57.5 lbs.) of gold in

Persepolis alone! 120,000 talents (6.9million lbs) of treasure

total taken!!

It would have taken Athens 300 years to gather this much treasure….

Alexander was drunkenly convinced by Thais, (an Athenian courtesan) to burn down Persepolis….

Alexander Plunders

http://www.grahamphillips.net/alexander/alexander_9.htm

Why does Alexander need to kill Darius?

Panhellenic war is over – released Greek troops

80 miles in 30 hours! Bessus murders Darius

Many Persian commanders defected to Alexander

Conquest of Iran

Alexander’s invasion

Dysentery was rampant, winters were cold

Had to put down many rebellions, taxed the people What is the difference between Alexander’s and

Darius’s methods of ruling?

Ironically, Greek city states became very wealthy from these taxes

Western Asia

Over time, Alexander began to lose the support of his men

Why? How was this journey different than what the men initially expected?

Asians and Perisans as ushers and guards

Wore Persian dress, slept with different Persian women

Decides to marry a Bactrian princess named Roxana AGRUMENT – 1:23:27 – 1:27:15

Began drinking a lot, disowning Philip

330 B.C. - Kills Philotas and Parmenion 328 BC – Kills Cleitus – VIDEO; 2:16 – 2:21 327 B.C. – kills Calisthenes (personal historian)

Calisthenes spoke out about proskynesis

Rebellions

“He who sins when drunk must be punished twice. Once for sinning and once for being drunk” - Aristotle

Losing the confidence of his men

He is increasingly violent and unpredictable. Massacring and enslaving all tribes that rebelled against his control.

Uses mercenaries more as opposed to Macedonian troops

Wants to continue to India

326 B.C. – Crosses the Hindu Kush and Indus River to put down a rebellion

Alexander continues East

VIDEO – 2:32:30 - 2:39:45

There were no cities to conquer in India

Released 10-18k men to allow them to retire

Owed 6 years of back pay, Alexander executed 13 men

Alexander hides in his tent for 3 days, his men relent and apologize. Alexander accepts their apology and has a huge celebration afterwards

Mutiny at Opus

Alexander’s invasion

Battle of Hydaspes

“Yes, I’ll meet you. On the battlefield.”

Deceived and assembled, tricked Porus 1. Ordered new supplies of grain. 2. Now marches his troops up and down stream

“looking for a place to cross” 3. He then tells his men to make as much noise as

possible, EVERY single night How does this trick Porus?

Had 20,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 200 ELEPHANTS What is the primary purpose of war elephants?

Alexander moves 15,000 across the river and leaves 12,000 across the river

Alexander defeats Porus, allows him to remain king and keep his subjects He becomes one of Alexander’s greatest allies!

• Arguably Alexander’s greatest strategic battle!

• Who does he no longer have to support him during battle?

Battle of Hydaspes

Alexander Marches Home

70 straight days of rain

Conquered hostile tribes in the south Alexander becomes injured

with an arrow, never fully recovers

324 B.C. - Hephaestion died in a drinking session Executed the physician Alexander grieved and fasted

for 3 days

Alexander is becoming increasingly removed from reality He truly believes he is a god

Makran Desert

Alexander Rules Absolutely

Executed many Macedonian satraps

Allowed Greek exiles back into their cities Increasingly removed from

political realities

June 323 B.C. – Alexander dies in Babylon One account says he drank

12 pints of wine He had lingering illnesses

for a while which only increased by his alcoholism

“TO THE STRONGEST”