ALEXANDER THE GREAT

1
ALEXANDER THE GREAT

• CAMPAIGNS IN THE WESTERN PERSIAN EMPIRE
• 334 331 BC

2
CROSSING THE HELLESPONT 334BC

• Alexander took his army across the narrow channel
  that divides Europe from Asia called the
  Hellespont.
• He joined his army with the one Philip had
  already sent to secure a landing place in Asia
• Before he landed from his ship he jumped into the
  water and threw his spear ashore.

3
Symbolism of this Act

• He claimed by this act that Asia was now his
  spear won land.
• He was laying claim to the Persian Empire
• One of the reasons Alexander gave for his
  invasion of the Persian empire was revenge for
  earlier Persian invasions of Greece

4
VISIT TO TROY

• He left most of the army and went to the site of
  ancient Troy.
• He offered sacrifice at the tomb of the first
  Greek to die in the Trojan war.
• He sacrificed to Athena, Zeus,Herakles and
  Poseidon
• He raced around Achilles and Patrocluss graves
  with Hephaestion

5
Symbolism of this Act

• The Greeks (from Europe) had beaten the Trojans
  (from Asia)
• His Macedonians (from Europe) would beat the
  Persians (from Asia)
• He modelled himself on the great Greek warrior
  hero Achilles (who he claimed descent from
  through his mother).

6
THE BATTLE OF GRANICUS 334BC

• Two of Dariuss satraps and Memnon (leader of the
  Greek mercenaries fighting for Darius) gathered
  an army to meet Alexander
• Hard fought battle with Alexander fighting at
  head of his cavalry
• Superior strength and weapons of Macedonians led
  to their victory
• Greek mercenary survivors either killed by
  Alexander or sent as slaves to mines

7
After Granicus

• Many Greek cities in Asia Minor opened their
  gates before Alexanders army
• The important city of Sardis surrendered and gave
  Alexander their tresure
• Miletus was placed under siege and was taken as
  no Persian forces arrived to help
• Important port of Hallicarnassus was besieged for
  12 months supported by the Persian fleet

8
Alexander disbands his fleet

• Alexanders fleet was outnumbered by the persian
  fleet (400 to 160)
• Most ships were from Greek states that he could
  not altogether rely on
• He feared a loss of confidence in his men if the
  fleet was defeated
• He decided he could take the Persian fleet out of
  the war by taking their supply ports

9
The Gordium Knot 333BC

• In this once important city was a wagon tied to a
  pole by a complex knot
• Legend said that whoever could untie the knot
  would rule all of Asia
• Alexander couldnt untie it so used his sword to
  cut the knot open

10
Symbolism of this act

• Alexander went out of his way to visit Gordium
• He wanted this act to reinforce his belief and
  that of his army that they would conquer Asia
• He achieved what others had failed by a decisive
  stroke

11
THE BATTLE OF ISSUS (333BC)

• Darius surprised Alexanders rearguard at Issus
  killing all sick and wounded Macedonians
• Darius left the plain where his larger army had
  an advantage and fought Alexander on a rough
  piece of land between the sea and the mountains
• Alexander told his Macedonian infantry to hold
  the Greek mercenaries in the Persian centre while
  he attacked the weaker Persian infantry on the
  left

12
The Battle of Issus cont.

• He then launched his cavalry at Dariuss
  bodyguard and generals forcing Darius to flee for
  his life.
• With Darius gone the Persians lost the will to
  fight and ran or were killed

13
After Issus

• Alexander captured the Persian camp including
• Dariuss family (mother, wives, children)
• All Persian equipment
• Dariuss treasure
• Alexander now controlled the western Persian
  Empire
• The Greeks saw how strong and successful
  Alexander was and offered him tributes

14
DARIUS WRITES TO ALEXANDER 1

• After Issus Darius sent an embassy to Alexander.
• There are different versions of what was offered
• Friendship and alliance in return for return of
  his family
• A ransom and offer of territory if his family
  were released
• An insulting

15
THE SEIGE OF TYRE 332BC

• Tyre was a major strategic base for the Persian
  navy
• The Tyrians deserted their mainland part of the
  city and went to a fortified 800m off shore
• Alexander blockaded the island for seven months
  and built a causeway to the island so he could
  use siege engines to break its walls
• During the siege the Persian navy surrendered to
  Alexander as he controlled its bases

16
THE SEIGE OF TYRE (cont.)

• The Macedonians managed to use ships fitted with
  battering rams to make a breech in the walls
• Once the Macedonians were inside the city was
  doomed
• Alexander destroyed half the city, killed 8000
  Tyrians and enslaved 30,000 more

17
SIEGE OF GAZA

• The inhabitants of the city of Gaza refused to
  admit Alexander to their hill fortress
• Alexander used siege engines to breech the walls
  and then led the attackers into the fortress
  receiving a shoulder wound
• All male Gazans were killed and the women and
  children enslaved
• The Gazan leader Batis was dragged behind
  Alexanders chariot copying Achilles treatment of
  Hector

18
ALEXANDER IN EGYPT 331BC

• Alexander was welcomed in Egypt as a liberator
  from Persian rule
• The Egyptians made him Pharoah and as in other
  conquests he allowed locals to govern under
  Macedonian military control
• Darius offered Alexander control of the western
  Persian Empire if he stayed away from the Persian
  heartland but Alexander wanted it all.

19
Alexander the God

• While in Egypt Alexander and a few of his closed
  companions undertook a dangerous and difficult
  desert journey to the oasis of Siwah where there
  was a temple to the god Zeus Ammon.
• Legend has that the priests of the temple told
  Alexander he was the son of Zeus and was destined
  to rule the world.