Map of Macedonia

Philip II (Alexander’s father)

• Became king of Macedon in 359 BC• Conquered south• Athenian philosopher/orator Demosthenes

spoke out against him (Three Philippics)• Controlled Greece after Battle of Chaeronea

338 BC, defeated Athens and Thebes • Assassinated in 336 BC

Young Alexander

• Born in 356 BC to Philip II and Olympias (non-Macedonian)

• Tutored by Aristotle and Leonidas• Tamed the horse Bucephalus• Father assassinated in 336 BC

“Untying” the Gordion Knot

• Gordium, Turkey• Prophecy• How Alexander did it

Battle of Granicus, 334 BC

• First major victory over Persians• Granicus was a river near Troy

Battle of Issus, 333 BC

• Alexander defeats Darius III despite being heavily outnumbered

• Darius III flees• Empire expands to include Persia

The Battle of Issus

More battles

• Battle of Gaugamela, 331 BC, against Darius III again

• Battle of Hydapses, 326 BC, Punjab region of Pakistan, against King Poros, war elephants

• Empire extends to western India• Hellenistic vs. Hellenic culture

Alexander’s Empire

Alexander’s Demise

• Got sick and stayed in Babylon, died there in 323 BC

• Divided up empire among the Diadochi (The followers)

• Egypt – The Ptolemies 305-30 BC• Asia – Seleucids 305-63 BC• Macedonia – Antigonids, 295-168 BC

Seleucids, Ptolemies, Antigonids

A New Power

• Rome annexed Syria/Lebanon in 64 BC ending Seleucid rule

• Rome annexed Egypt in 30 BC