Alexander the Great Born to Conquer

Background -born in 356 B.C. to King Phillip II of Macedon and Olympias

-Dad: taught his son military tactics (refined the phalanx )

-taught son to lead by example (always in front)

Influences

-mom: told Alexander he was special descendent of Zeus

-Aristotle: gave him a copy of Homer’s work the Iliad (story of the Trojan war); “Might

tempered by Mercy”

-also taught him importance of strategy on

the battlefield

Achilles (his role model)

Military Victories: -became King & united all of Greece -at age 20 attacked Persians

-Battle of Gaugamela 331 BC

-At 25, conquered the great Persian Empire

Accomplishments: -Spread Hellenism throughout Asia

(a blend of Greek & Eastern cultures)

-In 11 years, he marched 22,000 miles and conquered 2 million square miles

-Size of area the same as driving across the U.S. eight times

Bucephalus- Alexander the Great's Horse(lived to be 30)

“For the sake of ruling and wielding power, he has

had an eye knocked out, his shoulder smashed, his

leg and hand mutilated.”

Phillip II of

Macedon

Famous Athenian Orator