White Plains Public Schools / Overview



Alexander the Great World History/Napp

“In 338 B.C., Philip II, the king of Macedonia (an area north of Greece), brought all the Greek city-states under his control. His son, Alexander the Great, went on to conquer most of the Mediterranean world – including Persia and Egypt. He founded new cities, some of which he named after himself. Alexander even extended his conquests to the Indus River valley. Although his empire collapsed shortly after his early death, his conquests helped to spread Greek culture throughout the ancient world.

Alexander was only twenty when his father died. Two years later, Alexander marched eastward with 35,000 soldiers. Alexander’s soldiers quickly conquered Asia Minor. They then freed Egypt from Persian rule. Next, Alexander moved east again and conquered Babylon. He continued to move eastward and by 330 B.C., he had defeated all the Persian armies. For four more years, Alexander’s tired army moved eastward. They went as far as the Indus River. For the Greeks, this was the end of the known world. Alexander wanted to push on, but his men begged him to turn back. In 323 B.C., Alexander developed a fever in Babylon. Within a few days, the thirty-two-year-old leader was dead. For 13 years, Alexander ruled. During that time, he had changed the world.

After his death, his followers created separate kingdoms in Egypt, Persia, and the other areas that Alexander had conquered. These kingdoms often fought each other. But one thing held them together – their Greek culture. Throughout the Middle East, people adopted Greek customs. Greek immigrants, traditions, and the use of the Greek language spread. As Greek culture spread eastward, it blended with other cultures. This blend of eastern and western cultures is called Hellenism. The word comes from the Greek word “Hellas”, which means “their own land” or “Greece.” An important new culture emerged. Known as Hellenistic Culture, it was a blend of Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and Indian influences.” ~ World History

|Alexander the Great’s conquests of Greece, Asia Minor, Egypt, and |What was one effect of Alexander the Great’s conquests? |

|Persia led to the |(A) expansion of Hellenistic culture |

|(A) spread of Hellenic culture |(B) formation of the Christian church |

|(B) adoption of a feudal system |(C) decreased importance of the Silk Roads |

|(C) establishment of representative democracy |(D) increased support of the Mayan leaders |

|(D) spread of Islamic culture throughout Europe | |

| |Hellenism is |

|Who took the throne in Macedonia after King Philipp II was |A Greek-like culture |

|assassinated? |Macedonian culture |

|Alexander |Alexander’s own unique culture |

|Philip III |Egyptian culture |

|Darius II | |

|Archimedes | |

|Conquests |Central Asia and India |Legacy |

|- Instead of waiting for the Persians to make |- During the next three years, Alexander’s army|- Alexander became seriously ill with a fever |

|the first move, Alexander ordered his cavalry |fought its way across the desert wastes and |and died while returning with his soldiers home|

|to attack |mountains of Central Asia | |

| | |- He was just 32 years old |

|- Leading his troops into battle, Alexander |- He pushed on, hoping to reach the farthest | |

|smashed the Persian defenses in Anatolia |edge of the continent |- After Alexander died, his Macedonian generals|

| | |fought among themselves for control of his |

|- Alexander then marched into Egypt, a Persian |- In 326 B.C., Alexander and his army reached |empire |

|territory, in 332 B.C. |the Indus Valley | |

| | |- Eventually, three ambitious leaders won out: |

|- The Egyptians welcomed Alexander as a |- At the Hydaspes River, a powerful Indian army|Antigonus, Ptolemy and Seleucus |

|liberator |blocked their path | |

| | |- Ignoring the democratic traditions of the |

|- The Egyptians crowned him pharaoh – or |- After winning a fierce battle, Alexander’s |Greek polis, these rulers and their descendants|

|god-king |soldiers marched some 200 miles farther, but |governed with complete power over their |

| |their morale was low |subjects |

|- Alexander then conquered Mesopotamia, another| | |

|Persian territory |- They had been fighting for 11 years and had |- But Alexander’s conquests had an interesting |

| |marched more than 11,000 miles |cultural impact |

|- Within a short time, Alexander’s army | | |

|occupied Babylon, Susa, and Persepolis |- They had endured both scorching deserts and |- Wherever he went, Alexander spread Greek |

| |drenching monsoon rains |culture |

|- These cities yielded a huge treasure, which | | |

|Alexander distributed among his army |- The exhausted soldiers yearned to go home |- He also adopted aspects of the cultures of |

| | |the people he conquered |

|- A few months after it was occupied, |- Bitterly disappointed, Alexander agreed to | |

|Persepolis, Persia’s royal capital, burned to |turn back |- A vibrant new culture emerged from his blend |

|the ground; some people said Alexander left the| |of Greek and Eastern customs |

|city in ashes to signal the total destruction | | |

|of the Persian Empire or perhaps the fire was | |- Hellenism or a Greek-like culture was spread |

|set in revenge for the Persian burning of | |by Alexander the Great |

|Athens – it remains a mystery | | |

Identify and explain the following terms:

Pharaoh

Mesopotamia

Persepolis

Alexander’s Empire

Indus River Valley

Hellenism

- Which of Alexander’s conquests do you think was the most significant? Why?

- What happened to Alexander’s empire after his death?

- Do you think that Alexander was worthy of the title “Great”? Explain.

- If Alexander had lived, do you think he would have been as successful in ruling his empire as he was in building it? Explain.

- Why do you think Alexander adopted Persian customs and included Persians in his army?

[pic]

- According to the timeline, when did Alexander enter Egypt and found the city of Alexandria?

- According to Alexander, when did Alexander’s army reach the Indus River Valley and in what year did Alexander die?

[pic]

|Alexander the Great’s conquests of Greece, Asia Minor, Egypt, and |Alexander the Great set fire to Persepolis because Xerxes put a torch |

|Persia led to the |to: |

|A) spread of Hellenic culture |A) Athens |

|B) adoption of a feudal system |B) Rome |

|C) establishment of representative democracy |C) Alexandria |

|D) spread of Islamic culture throughout Europe |D) Tyre |

Alexander 356–323 B.C.

“When Alexander was only eight or nine years old, he tamed a wild horse that none of his father’s grooms could manage. Alexander calmed the horse, whose name was Bucephalus, by speaking gently. Seeing the control that Alexander had over the horse, Philip II said:

‘You’ll have to find another kingdom; Macedonia isn’t going to be big enough for you.’

Alexander took his father’s advice. Riding Bucephalus at the head of a great army, he conquered the lands from Greece to the Indus Valley. When the horse died in what is now

Pakistan, Alexander named the city of Bucephala after it. Maybe he was tired of the name Alexandria. By that time, he had already named at least a dozen cities after himself!”

~ World History

- Why did Philip II say that Macedonia was not big enough for Alexander”?

- Why was the city named Bucephala?

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