Alexander the Great: Rise to Power

• Alexander the Great was among the most historically significant military leaders.
• In only 11 years, he established an empire stretching from Macedonia and Greece to Persia and Egypt, reaching the borders of modern Pakistan.
• Alexander was born on July 20, 356 BC, in Pella, the Macedonian capital.
• King Phillip II of Macedonia was his father, and Queen Olympias of Epirus was his mother.
• Alexander’s early life took place during great unrest.
• Aristotle taught Alexander philosophy, art, mathematics, and other subjects relevant to a prince.
• Alexander had extensive weapons training.

Rise to Power

• Alexander became king in 336 BC at age 20.
• His reign started the Hellenistic period (336-30 BC).
• Hellenism means "Greekness" or Greek culture study, derived from Greek.
• Alexander strategically secured the allegiance of Greek cities in Corinth to consolidate power.
• The peoples of Thrace and Illyria attempted to exploit the leadership change to annex Macedonia.
• The Balkan Campaign suppressed the uprisings.

Persian Campaign

• Alexander began the Persian Campaign from 334 to 333 BC.
• An army under Parmenion, a skilled Macedonian general, had crossed the Hellespont (Dardanelles, a strait in modern-day Turkey) into Asia but lost to the Persians.
• In May 334, Alexander crossed the Hellespont with 37,000 soldiers to fight, while about 12,000 Macedonians under Antipater secured Macedonia and Greece.
• The goal was to free the Greek colonies from the Persians.
• Alexander went to Troy to consecrate his weapons at Achilles’ tomb.
• Achilles was Alexander's hero and role model since childhood.
• The consecration aimed to secure divine protection, making the campaign a sacred mission.
• Persia was undefeated and thought invincible.
• Alexander won his first battle against the Persians at the Granicus River.
• He marched through the border area of modern Turkey and Syria.
• The Persian army marched in the same border area, threatening Alexander's rear.
• A battle occurred on the open field near Issus.
• Darius, the Persian king, had an army twice the size of Alexander’s.
• Alexander’s tactics led to victory.
• Darius III fled the battle, abandoning his troops.
• Many of Persia’s allies, including Egypt, welcomed Alexander as a liberator.
• Those who resisted Alexander faced severe punishment.
• He was crowned Pharaoh in Egypt and founded Alexandria, modeled after Greek cities.
• Alexander founded over 10 cities bearing his name, including Alexandria in Egypt, Alexandria in Susiana, and Alexandria on the Hyphasis River.
• In the spring of 331 BC, Alexander crossed the Euphrates and Tigris rivers.
• On October 1, the Battle of Gaugamela happened.
• The Persian King pre-selected the battlefield.
• Some claim his army numbered over 100,000, while others reported about 250,000.
• Alexander’s troops numbered only 50,000.
• Alexander aimed to fight Darius, maneuvering to reach the center of the Persian king’s army.
• Darius fled again, abandoning his troops, leading to another victory for Alexander.
• Alexander proclaimed himself Great King of Persia on the battlefield.
• The self-proclaimed Great King entered Babylon in a triumphal march.
• Alexander planned to reside in Babylon.
• After celebrations, Alexander marched via Sosa to Persepolis, needing treasure to replenish his war chest and pay his soldiers.
• Alexander burned Persepolis to the ground.
• He sent much of his army, mainly the Greek soldiers, home, keeping Macedonian soldiers and Greek mercenaries.
• Alexander set out to kill Darius.
• Darius was betrayed and killed in ambush by his own men.
• Alexander married Princess Roxana in modern Afghanistan for political reasons.
• Alexander marched into India via the Khyber Pass, followed by over 135,000 volunteer soldiers.
• By spring 326 BC, he reached the Indus Valley in modern Pakistan.
• The hot and humid climate caused Alexander’s army hardships.
• Indian King Porus confronted Alexander's army at the Hydaspes River.
• The Indian King fought with war elephants and an army of equal size.
• The battle was evenly matched, but Alexander’s troops secured victory.
• This was Alexander’s last major battle because his troops wanted to return home.

Final Years

• Back in Susa, Alexander celebrated a mass wedding where about 10,000 Persian women married soldiers, and Alexander married two women.
• In February 323 BC, he returned to Babylon, planning new campaigns to seize the Arabian Peninsula.
• Alexander fell ill and died on June 10, 323 BC, after celebrations.
• His body was buried in Alexandria, but the exact location is unknown.
• Alexander’s last words when asked who would inherit his empire were, "To the best!"
• The Romans gave him the honorary title "The Great".