Yahoo Web Search

Search results

  1. People also ask

  2. Jul 7, 2023 · 1. Conquest of the Persian Empire. Alexander the Great embarked on a series of military campaigns with the goal of defeating the Persian Empire, which was one of the largest and most powerful empires of its time.

    • Overview
    • Rise to Power
    • Alexander and the Greek States
    • Conquest of the Persian Empire
    • Invasion of India
    • Alexander’s Legacy

    verified

    While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

    Select Citation Style

    MLA

    APA

    Chicago Manual of Style

    Alexander was born in 356 bce in Pella, Macedonia, the son of King Philip II and Queen Olympias. In his early teens he became a pupil of Aristotle, who sparked his interest in philosophy and science. However, it was in military affairs that he excelled. In a war against the allied Greek states, 18-year-old Alexander led a cavalry charge that helped...

    As king, Alexander immediately moved to assert his authority over the Greek states and to prepare for an invasion of Persia. In quick succession, Alexander defeated the forces of Thessaly, the Triballi in Thrace, a coalition of Illyrians who had invaded Macedonia, and the city-state of Thebes, which he razed to the ground. Cowed, the Greeks acknowl...

    Alexander knew he needed the wealth of Persia if he was to maintain the army built by Philip. Alexander’s invasion of Persia came at an opportune time. Although the Persian army outnumbered his own, it was less disciplined and poorly led. The Persian king, Darius III, was already losing control over parts of his empire. Alexander commanded a large battle-hardened force of cavalry, foot soldiers, archers, and javelin throwers. He also had a core of skilled, trusted generals including Ptolemy, Cassander, Antigonus, and Seleucus. One of his greatest assets was his own ability to rapidly respond to changing battlefield conditions. With these advantages, the Macedonian king never lost a major battle in 11 years of campaigning. In 334–333 Alexander routed Darius’s forces at the Granicus River and at Issus, forcing Darius to flee. In 332 Alexander conquered Syria, Phoenicia, Tyre, and Egypt, where he founded the historic city of Alexandria. He later defeated Darius for a final time at the battle of Gaugamela. After Darius was killed in 330, Alexander declared himself King of Asia. He spent the next two years consolidating his control over the Persian empire and its vast wealth. During his campaign, Alexander revealed other abilities besides military prowess. As an administrator, he incorporated native rulers into his government, set up democracies in many states, and founded several more cities. He included engineers, architects, scientists, and historians among his entourage. He spread Hellenistic culture and monetary systems across western and Central Asia.

    Alexander also developed a belief in his own divine heritage, which caused problems with his troops. The Macedonians rejected this idea. However, Alexander continued to insist on his divinity, even casting a godlike image of himself on coins.

    In the summer of 327 Alexander invaded India with a newly reinforced army. His ultimate ambition was to reach the Indian Ocean. He impressed the local Indian rulers by storming the nearly impregnable pinnacle of Aornos, a few miles west of the Indus River. On June 1, 326, Alexander fought his last great battle on the banks of the Hydaspes River. He...

    In 323 Alexander traveled to Babylon to plan an exploration of Arabia but was suddenly taken ill. On June 13 he died. His empire split into separate kingdoms. The life of Alexander has fascinated historians and the general public for more than 2,000 years. His reign marked a turning point in European and Asian history. Alexander’s expeditions brought advances in geography and natural sciences and helped shift the major centers of civilization eastward. His greatest contribution was spreading Hellenistic culture from Gibraltar to the Punjab. Greek language and coinage served as common links across these vast trading and cultural networks. In a real sense, Alexander’s achievements helped pave the way for the rise of the Roman Empire, the spread of Christianity, and centuries of Byzantine rule.

    Alexander the Great summary

    Military campaigns of Alexander the Great

    Alexander the Great Timeline

    Alexander the Great | Timeline

    Philip II Summary

  3. Apr 30, 2024 · Alexander the Great, a fearless Macedonian king and military genius, conquered vast territories from Greece to Egypt and India, leaving an enduring legacy as one of history’s most remarkable conquerors.

    • Frank W. Walbank
  4. Nov 14, 2013 · These achievements were not the work of Fortune but of his own force of character, for this king stands out above all others for his military acumen, personal courage and intellectual brilliance. (Book XVI.ch.1)

    • Joshua J. Mark
  5. Alexander the Great's accomplishments and legacy have been depicted in many cultures. Alexander has featured in both high and popular culture, beginning from his own era to the present day. The Alexander Romance , in particular, has had a significant impact on portrayals of Alexander in later cultures, from Persian to medieval European, to ...

  6. Oct 19, 2023 · Alexander the Great, a Macedonian king, conquered the eastern Mediterranean, Egypt, the Middle East, and parts of Asia in a remarkably short period of time. His empire ushered in significant cultural changes in the lands he conquered and changed the course of the region’s history.

  7. Nov 9, 2009 · Alexander the Great was an ancient Macedonian ruler and one of history’s greatest military minds who, as King of Macedonia and Persia, established the largest empire the ancient world had ever...

  1. People also search for