V. Alexander The Great
A. Alexander of Macedonia
1. Because of the Peloponnesian Wars Greece was weak and open to
attack.
2. Macedonia a powerful kingdom to the North was ready to take
control.
3. By 336 B.C. Macedonia’s army had conqueredmost of Greece led by a
20 year old man named Alexander.
4. Alexander was taught by Aristotle, a famous Greek philosopher.
5. Because of Aristotle’s teachings Alexander developed a love for the
Greek culture.
- Expanding the Empire
1. In 334 B.C. Alexander and his army set out to conquer Persia.
- The powerful Macedonian army never lost a battle.
- In 331 B.C. Alexander declared himself ruler ofPersia and Greece.
- After entering the Indus valley and defeating anarmy there,
Alexander died in 323 B.C.
- Alexandria
1. Began 9 years before Alexander died.
2. Located in Egypt on the western edge of the Nile Delta.
3. It was built to resemble a Greek polis.
4. It had an agora, theater, temples, stadium, and gymnasium. (No acropolis)
5. It became a major hub of Mediterranean trade.
6. It had the world’s first lighthouse.
7. It had a library with over 500,000 books, and a museum.
a. Any ship that sailed into Alexandria’s harbor was searched and if it
had any books onboard they were seized, copied by hand, and
returned.
8. Many different cultures of people lived in Alexandria.
9. In Alexandria the Greek alphabet was used because of its simplicity.
The alphabet had less than 30 letters instead of hundreds of symbols.
10. The Greek alphabet was an important legacy because each region that
Alexander conquered was forced to use the Greek language.
11. Most of the math and science we learn today began in Alexandria.
12. Alexandria was special because many different cultures lived and
functioned in the city together despite their differences.
- Alexander’s Legacy
- He spread Greek culture throughout the Mediterranean region.