Honors World History Unit II Notes part B

The Macedonians

•Ancient kingdom in the northern-most part of ancient Greece (Dorian descent)
•Viewed as inferior by most Greek city-states
•Led by Philip II, conquered most Greek city-states by 338 BC
•Philip was assassinated in 336 BC

•Eldest son of Philip was Alexander, born to Olympias (nonMacedonian Greek princess—created controversy w/marriage to Cleopatra)
•Macedonian army elected Alexander as their new king
•City-states saw opportunity to rebel
•Put down quickly by Alexander

•Alexander turned his attention eastward toward Persian Empire
•Early victories against forces of Darius III
•Battle of Issus, Darius fled back toward Persia
•Alexander turned south to Egypt
•Egyptians, resentful of Persian rule, welcomed Alexander as a pharaoh

•Finally defeated Darius III at Battle of Gaugamela
•Darius killed by his own people, Alexander proclaimed Persian empire his own
•Pushed on to Indus River Valley
•Wanted to continue eastward, but his men refused
•Headed back to Babylon
•Alexander became ill and died, 323 BC

•Empire divided among Alexander’s generals
•Inept rulers, quick decline
•Revolts led to greater divisions
•No lasting political effects

Alexander’s Greatest Achievement

•Spread of Hellenistic Culture
•Greek culture superimposed upon and eventually mixing with regional cultures
•Created a form of “universal culture”
•Spread of Greek language
•Spread of Greek learning (science, math)