Alexander the great

• Alexander's father was Philip II of Macedon
• Alexander was born on July 20, 356 BC
• Philip II married Olympias of Epirus
• Alexander died at age 32 on June 10, 323 BC
• Alexander conquered Persia (Iran) from Darius III
• Alexander defeated King Porus of India
• Alexander conquered Persia, Egypt, Babylon, Syria, Phoenicia, Judea, and parts of India
• Alexander had three wives - Roxana, Stateira II, and Parysatis
• Alexander founded Alexandria, Egypt
• Alexander is known as "The Great" because he expanded his empire to include Greece, Asia Minor, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia, Bactria, and parts of India.
• Alexander's father Philip II was assassinated by Pausanius
• whats Plutarch's aim?


  to tell a story of Alexanders life
• whats Arrian's aim?


  to give detail about Alexanders battles
• why could Plutarch be inaccurate?

  1. he glorifies Alexander
  2. he is annecdotal
  3. he excuses Alexander's bad behaviour
• Why may Plutarch be an accurate source?

  He got his information from Cllisthanes which was a contemoporary
• Why may Arrian's account be accurate?

  1. he was a Roman commander of the Roman army
  2. he has had experience within battles
  3. he studied Alexanders battles, even visiting the battlefields
• Who does Arrian and Plutarch recieve their information from?

  Callisthanes
• Who is Callisthenes?


  Alexander's personal historian
• Who were Alxander's companions

  1. Cleitus
  2. Haephaestion
  3. Parmenio
• why did Alexander kill Cleitus the Black? and why was he killed?

  1. He failed to perform proskynesis as he believed this ritual was wrong and should only be performed by gods
  2. he killed him using a spear and it through Cleitus
• Why did Alexander do after he killed Cleitus?


  he tried to kill himself probably out of guilt but one of his men tried to stop him
• Why did Alexander's realtionship breakdown with Callisthenes


  because he did not approve of performing obesience and he was becoming more Persian, refusing to give the kiss.
• Battle of Gaugamela 333BC
• Alexander's tactics + leadership -how did this help him win at the battle of Gaugamela?

  1. he let his troops rest
  2. he curved his flanks to avoid flanking
• The role of Alexander's army- how did this help him win?

  1. the companion cavalry had attacked the Persian centre
  2. Parmenio and the Thessalian cavalry fought to protect the Macedonian centre from the Persians
• the failure of Darius and the Persians-how did this help Alexander win?

  1. Darius had fled the battle and his army had followed him
  2. he didn't let his troops rest as he expected a night attack so he stayed in formation until the morning
  3. Darius impulsively sent his immortals to attack the gap created by Parmenio but this actually exposed Darius' centre
• what were the key features of gaugamela? he expected a night attack so he stayed in formation until the morning, meaning his army had not rested

  1. he curved his flanks to avoid flanking
  2. Macedonian phalanx opend their ranks making them vunerable to be attacked
• Battle of Issus 333BC (DARIUS WAS NOT HERE)
• What was the Gordion knot?


  a knot that was seen impossible to untie and whoever was abvle to solve it wsa the be the overall ruler of Asia
• How did Alexander undo the knot?

  he cut it
• Alexander's tactics- how did this help him win thw Battle of issus?

  1. Alexander was able to hack his way through the left of the Persian army breaking their line
  2. alexander and his men were able to encirle the Persians after attacking the left
• What did Darius do during the battle of Issus?

  Fled the battle
• Features of Alexander's army

  • cavalry was considered the best in the ancient world
  • sarissa-effective when winning as they often fought against short weapons
• battle of Granicus river 334BC
• Why did alexander win at the battle of Granicus river?

  1. he started the battle by going at a sharp angle to attack Persian centre ,enabling them to push the Persian centre back
  2. Cleitus the Black saved his life as someone was about to kill Alexander
  3. Parmenio led a charge by the cavalry
• what were the mistakes of the Persian army?

  1. Darius III was not there to command his army
  2. Persian infantry lacked experience and were not well equipped
• The role of Alexander's army- how did this help him win at the Battle of issus?

  His phalanx were well disiplined ,able to undergo heavy charges of arrows at the beginning of the Battle when crossing the river
• what was the silver tetradachm?


  Ancient coin that showed a depiction of Alexander wearing horns, defined as a god by wearing the ram horns of Zeus Ammon and a crown
• what’s the accuracy of the silver tetradachm?

  • it was minted around the time Alexander was alive
  • it was minted after his death so no one was forced to say anything negative
  • challenged the idea that his companions did not like the fact he was believed to be a god as one of his companions minted this
• What was the Alexander mosaic?

  • A depiction of Alexanders army having a strong companion cavalry
  • believed to be derived from a lost painting but there is no evidence of it to ensure they are related