Alexander the great

Macedonia
• The Macedonians were Greeks that
had kept monarchy.
• However, the nobles controlled most
of the countryside outside Pella the
capital.

• Many Greeks considered the Macedonian King a
barbarian. They had many wives, got drunk nightly
with their troops, yet were very generous, brave,
and approachable.

Philip II
• King 359-336 BCE created a
powerful military machine.
• He defeated the nobles and made
Macedonia into a Kingdom.
• He saw the Persian King as the
biggest problem to the world of
Hellas.
– By 338 he controlled Greece by
treaties, battles, and diplomacy.
– All polis except Sparta join him.

Philip II
• He wanted to invade Persia, but his bf killed him at a
wedding in 336 BCE.

Alexander
• Instead, his son Alexander would
lead the invasion of Persia.

• Olympus, mother of Alexander, 4th
wife of Philip, had a strong influence
and relationship with her son.

Alexander the Greatest general in history
Aristotle’s most famous student.
Brought up in Macedonian army
Never lost a battle
Conquered the known world from age 20-33

• Alexander brought scholars and
scientists with his army. They
collected thousands of plant and
animals and sent them back to
Aristotle for classification.

Alexander
• He drank, slept, ate with his men.
• He always lead in the front line in
battle.
• His men loved him.

Alexander's army
• Alexander entered Asia Minor with an
• army of some 37,000 foot and about
5000 cavalry.

Heavy Cavalry
The Companion Cavalry
• 1800 elite
noble
horsemen.

Heavy Cavalry
The Companion Cavalry
• Alexander
• Attacked in a
wedge
formation,
with
Alexander
leading.

Light Cavalry
• Fast light cavalry on the wings of the army during
battle and did reconnaissance missions.

The Foot Companions
• Macedonian
phalanx with
smaller shields.
• Their main job was
to hold the enemy
in place.

Alexander's army
• Light skirmishing
troops
– Loose formations at
the start of the battle
– Worked in front of the
main phalanxes
– Hid the main army
and harassed the
enemy and then run
away

Alexander's army
• Hypapists
– Heavy elite fighters
– Faster than phalanx
– Could do many jobs

Alexander's army
• Greek Hoplites
– The main warrior of
the army
– Worked mainly in the
phalanx formation
– creating impregnable
lines that demoralized
the enemy

Alexander's army
• Sieges are
surrounding a town or
fortress.
• Many weapons built to
throw projectiles over
or hit city walls.
• Others transport
soldiers over walls.

Alexander’s tactics
– Light troops harass
– The phalanx would fix the enemy in place
– then the companion cavalry would attack on the flank or rear.

• Alexander wanted be Achilles of
Homer’s Iliad. He kept a copy of the
Iliad and a dagger—under his pillow.

• Alexander led his men in the front
line. He ate drank and lived with his
men who loved him.

The Battle of Granicus, 334
BCE

333 BCE Alexander crosses into Asia,
the Persian satraps meet him at the
River Granicus

The Battle of Granicus, 334 BCE
• ALEXANDER
• 20,000 light foot
• 22,000 heavy phalanx
• 5,000 cavalry
• PERSIA
• 9,500 Light foot
5,000 Greek hoplites
10,000 cavalry

Macedonians: Persians
300-400
or
Less than1%
6,000
or
25%
By Jonathan Webb, 2009 ©
Casualties & Aftermath

333 BCE Alexander crosses in Asia
freeing the Ionian polis

He stops in Troy at the Temple to
Achilles

Alexander in Persia
• Cuts the Gordian knot
He who
Unties the
Gordian knot
Shall rule AsiaAlexander said it did not matter how the
knot came undone
Prophecy

• Darius III leads more than
200,000 troops to crush him.

Major Battles
ISSUS
Rome Total War-Battle of Issus Part 1.wmv

The Battle of Issus 34 B.C.
Alexander Darius III
Cavalry
Commanders
Alexander the Great Darius III of Persia
Strength
13,000 allied Greeks and
skirmishers
22,000 phalanx
5,850 Cavalry
40,850 total
25,000 Cavalry
78,000 Infantry
108,000 in total
Major Battles

Macedonians: Persians:
7,000
or
17%
20,000
or
20%
Darius runs,
Alexander
captures his
wives and
family!
ISSUS Nov 333 BC
The Macedonian cavalry pursued the fleeing
Persians for as long as there was light. As with
most ancient battles, significant carnage occurred
after the battle as pursuing Macedonians
slaughtered their crowded, disorganized foe

• After Issus
• Most of the cities of
Asia minor
surrender
• Tyre (capital of the
Phonetian empire)
did not
Major Battles
Siege of Tyre

• built on an island two
miles long, a
kilometer from the
coast
– Walls 150 feet
high
• two harbors (Sidonian
and Egyptian)
• Alexander had few
ships so he built a
mole across the sea
Tyre

Tyre
January-August, 332 BC
Strategic Context
After defeating Darius III, Alexander the Great marches down the eastern Mediterranean
coast. He aims to control the sea by capturing Persian seaports, neutralizing their
superior naval fleet. Most fortresses along the coast have surrendered in exchange for
protection but the island fortress of Tyre defies Alexander’s authority. Alexander now lays
siege to the seemingly impregnable island fortress.
Stakes
+ A Macedonian victory would serve as an
example to Alexander’s authority and ease
further conquest of the eastern
Mediterranean coast.
+ A Tyrian victory would frustrate Alexander
and complicate his conquest of the eastern
Mediterranean coast.
No Image
Available

Macedonians
Well
30,000 infantry
Alexander the Great
200 triremes
Tyrians
Well
Citizens
15,000 men of military age
80
triremes
35,000 other civilians
Tyre, 332 BC
Strength

Alexander deploys his army on the coast, unable to reach Tyre with projectiles of any sort; his fleet is slightly outnumbered but outclassed in
training by the Tyrian fleet and therefore remains close to shore. Tyre is also protected by outer walls and two inner walls. Alexander plans to take
the island fortress somehow, no matter the cost. The Tyrians are confident behind their walls and plan to hold out until Alexander’s supply
situation deteriorates or he abandons the siege in frustration.
Alexander orders construction of a mole, a raised tract of land, to reach Tyre. The Macedonian infantry, working as
labourers, are harassed by the Tyrian fleet while Alexander’s fleet is powerless to help. Alexander orders
construction of two wooden towers, reinforced by raw hides to protect against fire arrows, to deter Tyrian sorties.
The Tyrians respond to these wooden towers by converting a horse transport into a fire-ship; they load the ship with dry
branches, other highly combustible materials and sulphur. When a favourable wind turns up, the fire-ship is towed out to
sea and set aflame. The fire-ship collides with the Macedonian mole and explodes, obliterating both towers.
Alexander orders the mole to be widened and then to continue progressing towards Tyre. More wooden towers are
also constructed for further protection against any shrewd Tyrian plans. Alexander’s fleet is reinforced by regional
powers looking to back Alexander after finally learning of Darius III’s defeat at Issus in November.
The Tyrian fleet ventures into the open sea to probe the mole’s new defences but is confronted by the now greatly superior
Macedonian fleet. The Tyrian fleet realizes this and hurries back to harbour where it is blockaded. Meanwhile, the mole
reaches Tyre’s walls although construction is costly as labourers come in range of Tyrian archers.
Alexander constructs catapults and probes the walls to the north and south of the mole while his infantry and
archers create a minor breach in the wall facing the mole. In the south however, Alexander discovers a suitable
place to assault and removes the underwater stones blocking his ships from reaching it.
Alexander continues a cautious attack against the breach in the wall facing the mole to occupy the Tyrians’ attention while
undertaking two preliminary maneuvers. Two fleets are filled with Macedonian infantry; one is fitted with rams and catapults to breach
the southern wall while the other sails around the back of the island to threaten the Tyrian defenders’ rear.
Alexander suddenly launches a well-prepared, all-out attack to defeat the island fortress. Both blockading fleets push into the Tyrian harbours, the
attack from the mole continues and a diversionary attack is launched against the western wall. The decisive attack comes at the southern breach
where the fleet lands two waves of infantry; they shove the defenders back and push into the city. The Tyrians mount a last stand in the city but
their front is pierced and Tyre quickly surrenders.
NN
Macedonians
(Alexander)
Tyrians
(Citizens)
Macedonians
(Alexander the Great)
30,000 infantry
200 triremes
Tyrians
(Citizens)
15,000 men of military age
80 triremes
35,000 other civilians

Macedonians: Tyrians:
420
or
1%
10,000
or
50%
Tyre, 332 BC
Alexander ordered 2,000 Tyrians to be crucified on the beaches as punishment for refusing to
surrender. The majority of the male population was put to death and the rest were enslaved.
The fall of Tyre was not the only fortress to fall along the eastern Mediterranean coast but was
the only one to actively resist. The capture of Tyre reinforced the precedent that cities should
surrender to Alexander to avoid destruction. This aided Alexander in neutralizing Persian
control of the sea and allowed him to push further into Persia overland, culminating in the Battle
of Gaugamela the following year.

The Art of Battle:
Animated Battle Maps
http://www.theartofbattle.com

Tyre • The siege lasted
seven months

Alexander enters Eqypt
Alexander advanced into Egypt in 332 BC, they regard him a
liberator
They pronounce him new "master of the Universe" and son of Amun
at the Oracle of Siwa Oasis.
He founds his most famous Alexandria city.

• Darius III leads more than 100,000
troops to stop him near Babylon.

Major Battles
Gaugamela
October 1, 331 BC
• 1Alexander the Great battle Gaugamela
Greek by descend Macedonian
Αλέξανδρος_(360p).flv
• Alexander the Great - Battle of Gaugamila _
Macedonians 40000 vs Persians
250000_(360p).flv

Major Battles
Gaugamela
October 1, 331 BC
Alexander forces Darius III into another battle. Darius specifically
flattens the battleground for use of his scythed chariots.
The night before battle, Darius keeps his army awake expecting a
surprise night attack. Alexander gives his army rest. Alexander is able to
march his army to the Persian left wing at dawn before Darius can
respond.
Stakes
A Macedonian victory would further
destabilize the Persian Empire.
A Persian victory would check the
Macedonian advance and tarnish
Alexander’s unbeatable reputation.

Macedonians
Well
30,000 heavy infantry
10,000 light infantry
Persians
Fatigued
Darius III
200 scythed chariots
4,000 heavy infantry
52,000 light infantry
35,000 cavalry
Gaugamela, 331 BC
Strength
7,000 cavalry
15 war elephants

Alexander deploys his army in a hollow box to prevent it from being encircled. He places his infantry phalanx in the center, screened by light infantry and flanked by cavalry and
light infantry at a 45-degree angle; this is backed by a second infantry line. Alexander’s right wing edges forward and is strengthened by archers and his elite Companion cavalry
while his weaker left wing is refused. Darius deploys his massive cavalry forces in a line which overlaps the Macedonian line. Darius places his heavy infantry, archers and scythed
chariots at his center, hiding his relatively untrained light infantry levy and war elephants behind the main line. The stars show the position of each commander.
Persians
(Darius)
Macedonians
(Alexander)
Darius uses his archers to soften up the Macedonian phalanx with a rain of arrows and then sends his scythed chariots forward to break it.
Alexander’s light infantry screen allow the scythed chariots through to be destroyed by the phalanx which also opens its disciplined ranks to let
some through to be destroyed in the rear. At the same time, Darius sends some cavalry from his left wing to hit the Macedonian right; Alexander
responds by committing infantry units from his reserve to stiffen this front.
With Alexander’s attention diverted to his right, Darius sends his cavalry wings in two massive sweeps against both Macedonian
flanks. Alexander must commit infantry reserves to prevent his left wing from breaking while his right wing actually pushes the Persian
cavalry back. Both wings break down into stalemate as the Macedonian center advances, led by Alexander himself.
Mazeus renews the attack against the Macedonian left wing which appears to be crumbling while the right wing holds its ground. As this occurs,
Alexander’s strike force at his center exploits the wedge between the Persian center and left wing and smashes the forces arrayed directly in front
of Darius. Darius panics, takes the reigns from his fatally wounded chariot driver and flees the battlefield, followed by many of his troops at his
center who witness this. His last order is to his Indian cavalry to break into the Macedonian camp and rescue his family.
Only now does Alexander receive word that his left wing is in serious danger so he delays the pursuit and turns the Companions around
to hit the Persian right wing in its flank. Word of Darius’ flight rapidly spreads through the ranks, causing the Persian forces to flee.
Darius’ Indian cavalry fail to free his family and are destroyed by Macedonian infantry reserves.
Parmenio
Mazaeus BessusDarius
NN
Persians
(Darius III)
4,000 heavy infantry
52,000 light infantry
35,000 cavalry
200 scythed chariots
15 war elephants
Macedonians
30,000 heavy infantry
10,000 light infantry
7,000 cavalry

Macedonians: Persians:
5,500
or
12%
40,000
or
44%
Darius runs
away and is
killed soon
after
Gaugamela, 331 BC
Alexander’s pursuit of the Persians was so
aggressive that he reportedly lost over 1,000
horses to exhaustion doing so. Darius vanished,
Alexander marched to Babylon to accept
Mazaeus’ surrender and then reopened the
pursuit of Darius. As it turns out, Darius was
murdered by his own generals and so Alexander
merely captured Darius’ murderers, executed
them and consequently stood at the head of the
entire Persian Empire.

Alexander marches into Babylon
proclaimed as King of Persia

• Alexander occupies Persepolis, then
burns it down, in retribution for
Xerses burning of Athens.

• Alexander subjugates Afghanistan
and marches into India.

Hydaspes River
326 BC
Strategic Context
Alexander the Great’s ambition drags himself and his army deeper into India after
dissolving the Achaemenid Empire; now a vast array of powerful kingdoms stand before
him. One such kingdom ruled by King Taxiles equips the Macedonians with equipment
and supplies in exchange for help in subduing his rival, King Porus. The Pauravan
Empire fields an army that is more than a match for the Macedonians.
Stakes
+ A Macedonian victory would extend the
borders of Alexander’s empire and absorb
even more soldiers and supplies for
further expansion into India.
+ A Pauravan victory would sustain King
Porus’ kingdom and spell complete
disaster for the Macedonians struggling in
the harsh Indian climate.

Macedonians
Well
23,000 infantry
8,000 cavalry
Pauravans
Well
King Porus
100 war elephants
30,000 infantry
4,000 cavalry
300 chariots
Hydaspes River, 326 BC
Strength

Under the cover of an intense storm, Alexander moves a large portion of his army upriver to a previously discovered
crossing. He leaves Craterus behind with 8,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry to keep Porus’ attention on the main camp and
instructs him to cross the river and envelop the Pauravan army if he is left unguarded.
Alexander begins his crossing. Porus becomes gradually more aware of a crossing, but believing it to be a feint, sends his son with only
2,000 cavalry and 120 chariots to investigate. It is too late however; Alexander’s force is already across the river and promptly
annihilates this force. Porus, after losing half of his cavalry in one move, decides to face Alexander with the bulk of his army.
The Macedonians encamp opposite the Pauravans, separated by a rapid, rising river. Porus thinks only a madman would attempt a
crossing and Alexander only cements this belief; he sends for large supplies of wheat and spreads rumours that he has no intention to
cross until the monsoon season ends. He also stages continuous cavalry patrols which, with no consequence, cause Porus to relax.
Pauravans
(Porus)
Pauravans
(King Porus)
30,000 infantry
4,000 cavalry
300 chariots
100 war elephants
Macedonians
(Alexander)
Macedonians
23,000 infantry
8,000 cavalry
NN

Alexander
Craterus
Coenus
Porus deploys his infantry behind the war elephants in the center, protected by cavalry on the flanks with a reserve of infantry and war elephants
just behind his line. He leaves an infantry contingent to disrupt any attempted crossing by Craterus. Alexander deploys the phalanx which includes
his elite Hypasists in the center, backed by archers. He divides his cavalry in half: one half including his elite Companions and Scythian horse-
archers on his right wing and the other half hidden on his left wing. He plans to eliminate Porus’ cavalry and then hit with the phalanx.
The Macedonian horses’ fear of the elephants prevent a charge on the main line so Alexander seeks to lure Porus’ cavalry away from
them. Alexander uses his horse-archers to destroy the Pauravan chariots, which are immobilized by the mud, and lure the Pauravan
cavalry into the open where they are assaulted by his heavy cavalry. Porus meanwhile orders an attack on the Macedonian center.
Porus sees his left wing cavalry in danger and shifts his right wing cavalry to aid it. Coenus, following this movement,
circles behind the Pauravan line to attack the rear of the Pauravan cavalry. Porus’ attack on the Macedonian center is a
bloodbath; the Macedonian phalanx is not accustomed to full war elephant charges and is gradually giving ground.
Coenus
The Pauravan cavalry is completely surrounded and is destroyed. The Macedonian phalanx nearly breaks but remains firm
and repels the Pauravan war elephants. Some are killed but others veer around in a rampage, trampling infantry and ripping
holes in the Pauravan line. The Macedonian cavalry then envelops Porus’ left wing, careful to avoid the war elephants.
NN
Pauravans
(Porus)
Pauravans
(King Porus)
30,000 infantry
4,000 cavalry
300 chariots
100 war elephants
Macedonians
(Alexander)
Macedonians
23,000 infantry
8,000 cavalry

Craterus
The Pauravan cavalry is completely surrounded and is destroyed. The Macedonian phalanx nearly breaks but remains firm
and repels the Pauravan war elephants. Some are killed but others veer around in a rampage, trampling infantry and ripping
holes in the Pauravan line. The Macedonian cavalry then envelops Porus’ left wing, careful to avoid the war elephants.
Coenus
Alexander
Porus knows he is in great danger and makes one last counter stroke with his reserve. His infantry is engaged with the
Macedonian cavalry so he uses 40 war elephants in a desperate charge against the Macedonian phalanx. Alexander’s
phalanx is better prepared, using missiles and skirmishers to repel the war elephants.
Coenus
Panics quickly spreads to the Pauravan camp and its garrison flees along with any infantry capable of fleeing the
Macedonian envelopment while Craterus’ force pursues. His force arrives in time to cut off the retreat of the majority of the
Pauravan army, which surrenders soon after.
Craterus
NN
Pauravans
(Porus)
Pauravans
(King Porus)
30,000 infantry
4,000 cavalry
300 chariots
100 war elephants
Macedonians
(Alexander)
Macedonians
23,000 infantry
8,000 cavalry

Macedonians: Pauravans:
4,000
or
13%
21,000
or
62%
Hydaspes River, 326 BC
Alexander spared Porus’ life and allowed him to continue ruling his kingdom,
albeit in Alexander’s name. The Macedonian victory proved to be an empty one
however; Alexander’s exhausted army mutinied shortly after and refused to
undertake any further conquest. The Macedonians were forced to cross the
Gedrosian Desert and suffered horrendously for the chance to sail back home.

His men exhausted, and thinking India the
edge of the world, he returns to Susa.

324 BCE
• Alexander is heart broken when his
second in command and lover
Hephaestion dies in Susa.

323 BCE Alexander returns to Babylon and dies
of a fever age 32-33.

After Alexander
• His generals and family
fought for power. By
275 they had divided
the kingdom into three
large states
– Antigonus took
Greece and
Macedon
– Ptolemy took Egypt
– Seleuces took the
former Persian

Hellenistic Culture
• Alexander planned to integrate the
best of Greek and Asian culture.
• He envisioned one great universal
culture.
• When he burnt the Persian palace at
Persepolis he married Macedonian
officers to Asian wives.

Building Greek Cities in the East

Pergamum:
A New
“Hellenistic”
City
Cosmopolitan
Culture

Trade in the Hellenistic World

Alexandria Egypt
• Becomes the greatest city of the
ancient world, surpassing Athens as
the center of literacy and culture.

Lighthouse of Alexandria
• Another of Herodotus'’ 7 wonders of the Ancient
world, 140 M tall with a range of 50 km.

Library at Alexandria (333 B.C.E.)

Library at Alexandria (333 B.C.E.)
Purpose was to collect all the world’s knowledge.
Ptolemy II set 500,000 scrolls, Mark Anthony
gave Cleopatra over 200,000 scrolls for a
wedding present.

Hellenistic Culture
• The rise of the great kingdoms and
decline of classical polis results in the
rise of international popular and
individual culture.

International organizations
• International boxing and wrestling
association

International organizations
• International actors guilds perform
Hollywood style plays with happy
endings.

Writing focus on individual
• Greek tragedies go out.
• Hollywood style plays with happy
endings come in.
• People write biographers,
autobiographies, and stories about
individuals and problems.

Individual choice in religions
• Polis directed religion goes out,
individual religions comes in.
• Individuals choose to worship who
they want.

• Isis

• Dionysus

• Mithras

• Polis directed art goes out,
individual art comes in.
• Hellenistic art strove for realism,
movement.
• Gods and heroes out, real people
in.

Hellenistic art strove for realism, not the
ideal of classical art.

Still life, which would be irrelevant during classical
times.

Gone are Gods and Heroes from pottery.

• Advances in Science and Math
continued.

Eratosthenes
• He calculated the circumference of the
Earth within 2%, the distance to the sun
and the moon.

Euclid c 300BCE
• Taught in Alexandria. Advanced
Geometry and wrote Elements, still used
today in schools.

Archimedes 287 BC – c. 212 BC
• Pulley, Geometry, established the
value of pi (3.141592653…)

Archimedes
• Discovered specific gravity in his bath. He
jumped out of the water and ran home
nude, shouting, “Eureka!” (I found it!)

Aristarchus  heliocentric theory 270
BCE.

Hellenistic Philosophers
$ Cynics  Diogenes lived in a
barrel: cynical
 ignore society and money.
 Drop out of society
 citizens of the world.
 live a humble, simple life.

$Epicurians  Epicurus
 Epicurean avoid pain & seek pleasure.
 all excess leads to pain!
 politics should be avoided.

$ Stoics  Zeno
 nature is the expansion of divine
will.
 concept of natural laws.
 get involved in politics, not for
personal gain, but to perform
virtuous acts for the good of all.
 true happiness is found in great
achievements.

• The great kinds of Seleucid,
Ptolemaic Egypt and Macedonia took
on Asian characteristics.
• They began to be worshiped like
Gods, which the Greeks rejected.

Hellenistic Kingdoms spread culture
eastward, yet was checked in the west.

A more powerful state arose in
the West
ROME

Alexander the great

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