alexander, the great?. humble-ish beginnings born 356 bc in macedonia greek "outsider"...

Alexander, the Great?

Humble-ish Beginnings

• Born 356 BC in Macedonia • Greek "outsider"• Father is King Philip II

• “You’ll have to find another kingdom, Macedonia isn’t going to be big enough for you.”

Philip II

• 23 years old • Used phalanx formations to conquer Greece– Intended to conquer Persia

• Assassinated at daughter's wedding by a guard

Alexander Takes Over

Posthumous Legacy

• Empire poorly administrated • Fighting after his death leads to division into 4• General Ptolemy takes over Egypt

Hellenistic Culture

• Mixing of cultures throughout empire – Greek, Persian, Egyptian, & Indian

• Alexander had encouraged assimilation– Soldiers marry foreign women– Adopt cultures

• Increase in education and culture – Alexandria, Egypt

• Lasted from 323-150 BC

Was Alexander really great?

So…..

“15 Minute Essay”: Was Alexander really Great? You need to plan and write an “essay” on the

Alexander the Great. Your thesis should be your answer to the question of is Alexander really great. You need to think about his role in building him empire, what he accomplished, and his legacy. Give examples that are specific. There is no minimum length so write as much as you can, but it is due today. This must be WELL-DEFINED. That means think through all possible answers, be clear, and remember to back up your thesis (this means explain why you answered the way you did).