the hellenistic era of greece the rise of macedonia and alexander the great

The Hellenistic Era of The Hellenistic Era of GreeceGreece

The Rise of Macedonia and The Rise of Macedonia and Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great

GeographyGeography• The Hellenistic Era is The Hellenistic Era is

classified by the rise classified by the rise and reign of Alexander and reign of Alexander the Great.the Great.

• Alexander hailed from Alexander hailed from the area of northern the area of northern Greece known as Greece known as MacedoniaMacedonia..

• The mainland Greeks The mainland Greeks treated the treated the Macedonians as the Macedonians as the rejects or hillbilly rejects or hillbilly cousin’s of the Greeks.cousin’s of the Greeks.

MacedoniaMacedonia

• Macedonian cities had not developed Macedonian cities had not developed into independent city-states like into independent city-states like mainland Greece.mainland Greece.

• Rather, they stayed small farming Rather, they stayed small farming communities.communities.

• Despite the insults of the “civilized” Despite the insults of the “civilized” Greeks, the Macedonians were still Greeks, the Macedonians were still related.related.

MacedoniaMacedonia

• The Macedonians were closely related The Macedonians were closely related to the Spartans. Both had descended to the Spartans. Both had descended from the Doric clans of the early from the Doric clans of the early Greeks.Greeks.

• Therefore, Macedonian practices, both Therefore, Macedonian practices, both culturally and militarily were closest to culturally and militarily were closest to the Spartans.the Spartans.

MacedoniaMacedonia• In 359 B.C. a man by the In 359 B.C. a man by the

name of name of Philip IIPhilip II came came to power.to power.

• He admired the overall He admired the overall Greek culture, and Greek culture, and wanted to unite Greece wanted to unite Greece under the Macedonian under the Macedonian flag.flag.– The big picture, was to The big picture, was to

eventually conquer eventually conquer Persia.Persia.

• He built a strong He built a strong military and readied military and readied himself for such himself for such conquests.conquests.

MacedoniaMacedonia

• In 356, Philip’s wife, In 356, Philip’s wife, Olympias gave birth Olympias gave birth to Philip’s first son, to Philip’s first son, Alexander III of Alexander III of Macedon.Macedon.– Due to Olympias’ Due to Olympias’

lineage, Alexander was lineage, Alexander was not viewed as a full not viewed as a full legitimate heir to legitimate heir to Philip’s throne.Philip’s throne.

– Also, a myth surrounds Also, a myth surrounds the conception and the conception and birth of Alexanderbirth of Alexander

MacedoniaMacedonia

• Athens feared Philip’s growing power Athens feared Philip’s growing power and decided to take the fight to him.and decided to take the fight to him.

• Philip crushed the Athenian army and Philip crushed the Athenian army and it’s allies at the battle of Chaeronea.it’s allies at the battle of Chaeronea.

• Following this victory, Philip quickly Following this victory, Philip quickly took control of all Greek city-states, took control of all Greek city-states, and disbanded the various leagues of and disbanded the various leagues of Greece.Greece.

MacedoniaMacedonia

• Two years following his conquests of Two years following his conquests of Greece, Philip was assassinated.Greece, Philip was assassinated.

• Two different theories prevail:Two different theories prevail:– 1) Philip’s wife and Alexander’s mother 1) Philip’s wife and Alexander’s mother

Olympias had him murdered so Alexander Olympias had him murdered so Alexander would be the only legitimate heirwould be the only legitimate heir

– 2) The Athenians (rather all Greeks) did not 2) The Athenians (rather all Greeks) did not want to be subjected to the rule of one want to be subjected to the rule of one man, and had him assassinated so that man, and had him assassinated so that Philip’s empire would fall.Philip’s empire would fall.

MacedoniaMacedonia

• Following Philip’s death, Alexander Following Philip’s death, Alexander rose to power.rose to power.– He was only 20 years old.He was only 20 years old.

• Alexander was already well prepared Alexander was already well prepared for such a task.for such a task.– He had been groomed from a young age to He had been groomed from a young age to

be a perfect king, and brilliant military be a perfect king, and brilliant military tactician.tactician.

MacedoniaMacedonia

Philip’s empire at the time of his death

AlexanderAlexander

• Alexander was born in July of 356 BCAlexander was born in July of 356 BC– He was not a legitimate heir, his mother He was not a legitimate heir, his mother

was not Macedonianwas not Macedonian

• Philip constantly took Alexander with Philip constantly took Alexander with him on conquestshim on conquests– Alexander learned battle tactics and Alexander learned battle tactics and

military strategies while doing thismilitary strategies while doing this

AlexanderAlexander

• As a boy, Alexander was tutored by As a boy, Alexander was tutored by AristotleAristotle– Philip wanted Alexander to have the best Philip wanted Alexander to have the best

education possibleeducation possible

• Olympias always feared that Philip Olympias always feared that Philip would find a new wife, a full blooded would find a new wife, a full blooded Macedonian women and produce a Macedonian women and produce a “legitimate” heir.“legitimate” heir.

AlexanderAlexander

• Alexander studied at the Mieza, (think Alexander studied at the Mieza, (think of it as a boarding school)of it as a boarding school)– He studied with men who would later He studied with men who would later

become his friends and future generalsbecome his friends and future generals– He also fell in love with the epics of HomerHe also fell in love with the epics of Homer

• He was given an annotated copy of the Iliad He was given an annotated copy of the Iliad and the Odyssey which he kept with him at all and the Odyssey which he kept with him at all times.times.

AlexanderAlexanderAscension to GloryAscension to Glory

• At age 16, his father At age 16, his father Philip left to wage war Philip left to wage war with Byzantium, and with Byzantium, and left Alexander as the left Alexander as the stand in kingstand in king

• The citizens of Thrace The citizens of Thrace revolted while Philip revolted while Philip was away, and was away, and Alexander quickly Alexander quickly responded and put responded and put down the revoltdown the revolt


• Following Philip’s Following Philip’s death, Alexander death, Alexander had to fight for the had to fight for the right to be King of right to be King of Macedonia.Macedonia.

• Eventually he Eventually he became king, and became king, and set out to fulfill his set out to fulfill his father’s dream.father’s dream.


• Following Alexander’s rise to power, Following Alexander’s rise to power, many Greek city-states rebelledmany Greek city-states rebelled– Thebes, Athens, Thessaly, and ThraceThebes, Athens, Thessaly, and Thrace

• Alexander quickly responded and Alexander quickly responded and squashed the rebellionssquashed the rebellions– Following the rebellions, Alexander Following the rebellions, Alexander

consolidated the troops he conquered, and consolidated the troops he conquered, and rode for the Peloponnesusrode for the Peloponnesus


• Alexander then sets his eyes on Alexander then sets his eyes on securing his borderssecuring his borders– He starts at the northern borders of He starts at the northern borders of

Thrace, and slowly works his way down Thrace, and slowly works his way down through the entirety of the Balkans.through the entirety of the Balkans.

– Thebes once again rebelled and Alexander Thebes once again rebelled and Alexander squashed the revolt and razed the city squashed the revolt and razed the city following immense bloodshedfollowing immense bloodshed


• Following the destruction of Thebes, Following the destruction of Thebes, Alexander cements his grip as ruler Alexander cements his grip as ruler and unifier of Greeceand unifier of Greece– Other city-states were too scared to revolt Other city-states were too scared to revolt

following the burning of Thebesfollowing the burning of Thebes– Various other city-states gave their Various other city-states gave their

loyalties, their armies, and their money to loyalties, their armies, and their money to support Alexandersupport Alexander

AlexanderAlexander

• Alexander was now supreme ruler of GreeceAlexander was now supreme ruler of Greece– Also known as the Basileus of Macedon, and all of Also known as the Basileus of Macedon, and all of

GreeceGreece

AlexanderAlexanderBecoming the GreatBecoming the Great

• Once all of Greece was conquered, Once all of Greece was conquered, Alexander set out to fulfill his father’s Alexander set out to fulfill his father’s wish to see the Persian empire fallwish to see the Persian empire fall– Ever since the Greco-Persian war, Greece Ever since the Greco-Persian war, Greece

had wanted to take out Persiahad wanted to take out Persia– Alexander would see this dream a realityAlexander would see this dream a reality– He dreamed to be like Achilles, the famous He dreamed to be like Achilles, the famous

warrior from the Iliadwarrior from the Iliad


• To conquer Persia, Alexander would To conquer Persia, Alexander would need to rethink his military strategyneed to rethink his military strategy– Macedonian military tactics mirrored the Macedonian military tactics mirrored the

Spartans, so he adapted his phalanxSpartans, so he adapted his phalanx– The soldiers began wielding longer spears, The soldiers began wielding longer spears,

and their shields shrank in size.and their shields shrank in size.


The Phalanx becomes a pure offensive formation under Alexander


• Alexander also relies less on his Alexander also relies less on his phalanx formation, and utilizes the phalanx formation, and utilizes the swiftness of his cavalryswiftness of his cavalry


• With his new tactics and skills set for With his new tactics and skills set for his military campaign, he sets out for his military campaign, he sets out for Persia, to conquer DariusPersia, to conquer Darius

• But, first things firstBut, first things first– Alexander marches through Asia Minor, Alexander marches through Asia Minor,

conquering city of cityconquering city of city– He conquered Ionia, then Israel, then He conquered Ionia, then Israel, then

finally Egyptfinally Egypt


• In Egypt, Alexander seeks out an oracle In Egypt, Alexander seeks out an oracle of the godsof the gods– The oracle tells Alexander that he is a The oracle tells Alexander that he is a

descendant of Zeus himselfdescendant of Zeus himself– This lie spurs Alexander on, and is his This lie spurs Alexander on, and is his

continuing motivation throughout his continuing motivation throughout his campaignscampaigns


• Following the conquest of Egypt, Following the conquest of Egypt, Alexander and his troops march toward Alexander and his troops march toward Babylon.Babylon.

• He meets Darius and his forces in He meets Darius and his forces in Syria, defeats them and chases them Syria, defeats them and chases them through Mesopotamia through Mesopotamia – Darius retreats to Gaugamela, where he Darius retreats to Gaugamela, where he

makes a valiant stand against Alexandermakes a valiant stand against Alexander


• Alexander defeats Darius at Gaugamela, and cements his Alexander defeats Darius at Gaugamela, and cements his place as ruler of Babylon and the Persian Empireplace as ruler of Babylon and the Persian Empire


• Following the conquest of Babylon, Following the conquest of Babylon, Alexander marches east towards IndiaAlexander marches east towards India– His troops are weary of battle and His troops are weary of battle and

homesick homesick

• He meets with success less and lessHe meets with success less and less– The morale of his soldiers decline and The morale of his soldiers decline and

become near mutinous become near mutinous


• Alexander’s men refuse to march past Alexander’s men refuse to march past the Hyphasis river, fearing the strength the Hyphasis river, fearing the strength of the Nanda Empire and the of the Nanda Empire and the Gangaridai EmpireGangaridai Empire– This river marks the easternmost point of This river marks the easternmost point of

Alexander’s conquestsAlexander’s conquests

• He then returns to BabylonHe then returns to Babylon

AlexanderAlexanderThe DeclineThe Decline

• Once back in Babylon, Alexander Once back in Babylon, Alexander disciplines his provincial governorsdisciplines his provincial governors

• Then it becomes time to celebrateThen it becomes time to celebrate– He parties to hard and becomes deathly He parties to hard and becomes deathly

sicksick– Whatever ailed him at that time, ended up Whatever ailed him at that time, ended up

killing himkilling him

AlexanderAlexanderThe DeclineThe Decline

• Following his death, Alexander’s Following his death, Alexander’s Empire is split into four sections, due Empire is split into four sections, due to Alexander not having an heir.to Alexander not having an heir.

• The four kingdoms were: Macedonia, The four kingdoms were: Macedonia, Syria, Pergamum, EgyptSyria, Pergamum, Egypt– The most prosperous one of the four was The most prosperous one of the four was

Egypt, as it became governed by Ptolemy Egypt, as it became governed by Ptolemy and his family.and his family.

Accomplishments of the Accomplishments of the Hellenistic AgeHellenistic Age

• Alexander unites the known worldAlexander unites the known world• He spread Greek culture as far as IndiaHe spread Greek culture as far as India• He found common ground with the He found common ground with the

people he conquered and their culture people he conquered and their culture became an amalgam with the Greek became an amalgam with the Greek way of lifeway of life

• Alexandria, became the most famous Alexandria, became the most famous place in the world for scholars to live place in the world for scholars to live and workand work

Accomplishments of the Accomplishments of the Hellenistic AgeHellenistic Age

• Alexandria had the largest collection of Alexandria had the largest collection of books in the world. It numbered six books in the world. It numbered six millionmillion– When Alexandria burned in the middle When Alexandria burned in the middle

ages, those books and their knowledge ages, those books and their knowledge was lost foreverwas lost forever

• New philosophies sprang up under the New philosophies sprang up under the reign of Alexander: Epicureanism and reign of Alexander: Epicureanism and StoicismStoicism

ConclusionConclusion

• Alexander was the first man to unite the Alexander was the first man to unite the known worldknown world

• He believed in a unification of all He believed in a unification of all peoples, living together in happiness peoples, living together in happiness

• Also, Alexander became the role model Also, Alexander became the role model for almost every great leader to emerge for almost every great leader to emerge since his deathsince his death

the hellenistic era of greece the rise of macedonia and alexander the great

Documents

left alexander

reign of alexander

philips wife

philips throne

father philip

conquests of greece

mainland greeks

mainland greece