Peoples and Empires:Peoples and Empires:Alexander The GreatAlexander The Great

By: Josh KessnerBy: Josh KessnerHistory 140History 140

Professor ArguelloProfessor Arguello

Who was Alexander the Great?Who was Alexander the Great?

• Alexander the Great was born Alexander the Great was born in 356 BC in Pella which was in 356 BC in Pella which was the capital of Macedonia.the capital of Macedonia.

• His father was Philip II, King of His father was Philip II, King of Macedonia, and his mother Macedonia, and his mother was Olympias, the princess of was Olympias, the princess of Epirus.Epirus.

• While Philip was further While Philip was further growing the empire, he hired growing the empire, he hired the great Greek philosopher the great Greek philosopher Aristotle to be Alexander’s Aristotle to be Alexander’s teacher.teacher.

• Alexander had a very large Alexander had a very large interest in science, medicine, interest in science, medicine, and philosophy.and philosophy.

Alexander’s Rise and ConquestsAlexander’s Rise and Conquests

• While Philip had been invading Thrace there had been a tribe of Maedi that was threatening to While Philip had been invading Thrace there had been a tribe of Maedi that was threatening to Macedonia. Macedonia.

• In response to this, Alexander quickly gathered an army of his own and defeated the rebelling tribe, In response to this, Alexander quickly gathered an army of his own and defeated the rebelling tribe, renaming their residence Alexandropolis.renaming their residence Alexandropolis.

• All of this had been done while Alexander was only sixteen and in only two short years, he was given a All of this had been done while Alexander was only sixteen and in only two short years, he was given a commanding position for the army when they invaded Greece.commanding position for the army when they invaded Greece.

• A mysterious assassination of Philip had happened and because of that, Alexander had become KingA mysterious assassination of Philip had happened and because of that, Alexander had become King• Alexander was very quick in getting rid of anyone that was a minor threat, as well as rebellious areas Alexander was very quick in getting rid of anyone that was a minor threat, as well as rebellious areas

outside of Macedoniaoutside of Macedonia• He was incredibly swift in arriving to many of these enemy cities, completely destroying them which He was incredibly swift in arriving to many of these enemy cities, completely destroying them which

inhibited fear into other cities. inhibited fear into other cities.

Final Conquests and Death of Final Conquests and Death of AlexanderAlexander• Alexander had arrived in Egypt in 331 BC where the Alexander had arrived in Egypt in 331 BC where the

Persian rule was quickly disassembled.Persian rule was quickly disassembled.• After Egypt, he headed back towards Babylon and After Egypt, he headed back towards Babylon and

came across the Persian army.came across the Persian army.• Later in 327 BC, the army headed towards India.Later in 327 BC, the army headed towards India.• The army in India had elephants involved which was The army in India had elephants involved which was

an amazing and demoralizing sight to some of the an amazing and demoralizing sight to some of the members of Alexander’s army for they hadn’t ever members of Alexander’s army for they hadn’t ever seen an elephant before.seen an elephant before.

• Nevertheless, they continued to fight on and Nevertheless, they continued to fight on and eventually reigned victorious.eventually reigned victorious.

• He later died in 323 BC due to a fever which had He later died in 323 BC due to a fever which had seemed to be caused by a drink from a cup.seemed to be caused by a drink from a cup.

• He had never designated a successor to the He had never designated a successor to the Macedonian Empire and because of this his hopes of Macedonian Empire and because of this his hopes of a collaboration between Persians and Macedonians a collaboration between Persians and Macedonians also perished. also perished.