Alexander’s Empire

Chapter 10.3

Phillip II of Macedonia

• Macedonia was a country north of Greece

Macedonia was an agricultural civilizationBecame strong kingdom under King Phillip II

Conquering Greece

Conquering Greece

• Philip planned to unite the Greek city-states

• Trained to fight like the Greeks

• Greek city-states were weak from Peloponnesian War

• By the time the Greeks tried to unite, it was too late.

• Philip defeated the Greeks at Chaeronea

Alexander Takes Over

• Philip hoped to lead the Greeks and Macedonians to war against the Persian Empire

• Before he could carry out plan, Philip was killed

• His son Alexander became king at age 20

War with PersiaWar with Persia

Alexander had40,000 soldiersStrong cavalryDefeated the Persians

Alexander’ Empire

• After he conquered Persia, he did not STOP

• March into India

• Soldiers refused to go further

• Alexander led them home

• He died in Babylon at 32 years old

Alexander’s Empire

Alexander’s Legacy

• Alexander the Great spread Greek language, ideas, art, and architecture throughout Southwest Asia and Egypt

Hellenistic Era

• The Hellenistic Era refers to when Greek culture spread to the non-Greek peoples that Alexander had conquered

• Hellenistic means “like the Greeks”

A Divided Empire

• Alexander’s Empire divided into 4 kingdoms

• Macedonia, Pergamum, Egypt, and Seleucid

The Hellenistic Kings

• Hellenistic kings had to speak Greek

• Preferred to give jobs to Greeks and Macedonians

• Created new cities and military posts

• Spread Greek Culture into Egypt and India

Alexandria, Egypt

• Largest city in Mediterranean world

• 2 harbors• Towering

lighthouse• The library at

Alexandria had the largest collection of writings in ancient times