HST 103 Exam

Agesilaus II of Sparta (444-360)

• king of Sparta; biography written by Plutarch

  • Failed campaign in Asia Minor; defeats at Leuctra (371) and Mantinea (362).

    • The Spartan king who embodies Greek virtue/excellence (aretē) but whose personal strengths (i.e., opposition to greed) and weaknesses (parochial loyalties) ultimately contribute to Sparta’s decline.

Alexandria-by-Egypt

founded by Alexander in 332/331 after capturing Egypt from Persia; served as a link between Greece and the Nile Valley with access to the sea and river; after his death, it went on to become one of the most important cities in the Hellenistic world

Antigonid Dynasty

controlled Greece and Macedon following the death of Alexander (Hellenistic period); leaders include Antigonus I Monophthalmus (306-301) and Demetrius Poliorcetes (306-283); ruled until conquest by Rome

Antigonus I the “One-Eyed”

a Macedonian general, successor of Alexander (one of the diadochoi), and founder of the Antigonid Dynasty; died in the Battle of Ipsus (301) 

Aristotle of Stageira (382-322)

philosopher and teacher at the Royal School at Pella, where he taught Alexander; a polymath who has written on many subjects; of note, his theory of natural slavery (slavery in accordance with the inherent nature of the person) in Politics

Arrian of Nicomedia

general and historian; wrote The Anabasis of Alexander, today one of the most important sources on the campaigns of Alexander

Attalid Dynasty

controlled Pergamum (Western Asia Minor), a major cultural center of the Greek world; regional buffer and [after 200] Roman proxy against Antigonids and Seleucids; leaders include Philetaerus (283-263), Eumenes I (263-241), Attalus I Soter (241-197), Eumenes II Soter (197-160) 

Babylon

city in southern Mesopotamia; “liberated” by Cyrus the Great and used as a regional capital for the Achaemenid Empire; controlled by Alexander following the Battle of Gaugamela/Arbela, the final defeat of Darius III (330); location of Alexander’s death in 323; controlled by the Seleucid Empire after

Bactria

ancient Iranian civilization in Central Asia; controlled by the Achaemenid Empire until Alexander defeated Darius III; Alexander established two cities there, including Alexandria Eschate; afterwards controlled by the Seleucid Empire; claimed independence from Seleucid rule after c. 245

Basileus (king)

monarchs, though rarer in Classical Greece than previous eras due to the rise of democracies and oligarchies; Sparta (i.e., Agesilaus) and Macedon (i.e., Philip) were popularly hereditary monarchies at this time 

Battle of Chaeronea (338 B.C.)

Philip and the Macedonians + city-state allies vs. Thebes and Athens; at 18, Philip led a decisive cavalry charge at the Battle of Chaeronea, destroying Thebes’ Sacred Band; Macedon triumphant; settlement with Thebes and Athens and the First League of Corinth → Philip as hegemon of the Greeks 

Battle of Gaugemela (Arbela) (331/330)

Alexander and the Greeks vs. Darius III and the Persians; final defeat of Darius III → Achaemenid Empire’s complete conquest by Alexander

Battle of Granicus (May 334)

Alexander and the Greeks vs. the Persians; Alexander’s first major victory over the Persian Empire; against an Achaemenid Persian army led by western satraps that included a Greek mercenary army (led by Memnon of Rhodes); the liberation of Greek cities in Ionia and Caria (Halicarnassus, Miletus); → campaigns in Anatolia cutting the “Gordion knot” in fulfillment of prophecy 

Battle of Ipsus (301)

Antigonous and son Demetrius (Asia Minor) vs. an anti-antigonid coalition of rival diadochoi, Cassander (Macedon), Lysimachus (Thrace), and Seleucus I Nicator (Babylonia and Persia); Antigonus the “One Eyed” defeated by other successors and his land is split between the winners, suggesting that alexanders empire was beyond repair

Battle of Issus (Sept/Oct 333)

Alexander and the Greeks vs. Darius III and the Persians; first encounter between Darius and Alexander; Alexander’s capture of the royal household (Siygambis, mother of Darius III, Achamenid princesses Barsine and Amastris); Alexander claimed the title of “Lord of Asia”

Bucephalus

Alexander’s horse since he was 12 or 13; died in the Battle of Hydaspes; reflects on Alexander as a master horseman and tamer

Companions

hetairoi; Philip, and then Alexander’s, elite cavalry; friends and military commanders; Alexander’s cavalry included Hephaistion, Ptolemy, Lysimachus, and others

Cyrus the Great (c. 600-530)

founded the Achaemenid Persian Empire by defeating the Median Empire; defeated Croesus of Lydia and “liberated” Babylon; Alexander admired his heroism in battle and governance

Cyrus Cylinder

example of Babylonian cuneiform; Cyrus the Great as Chosen of Marduk in Cyrus Cylinder (539)

Darius III of Persia

king of persia;

Datames (Achaemenid satrap)

• (satrap 384-360 BC)

  •  Provincial governor of Cilicia(southern Asia Minor) during the Persian empire

Demetrius Poliorcetes

• Son of Antigonus, one of Alexander’s generals. 

• Beat Ptolemy during their fight for control of Cyprus during the Battle of Salamis(306 BC), seized Rhodes in 305BC(imitating Alexander's siege of Tyre).

•  “Liberated” Athens, Athenians claimed he was divine, which influenced other contenders for thrones to achieve divine status. Athenians welcomed him and gave him supplication and prayers.

Demosthenes of Athens

• Greatest athenian orator

• Urged athens to protect against philip

• Helped build the peace of Philocrates 346 BC

  • Later turned against the peace in 344

• Though philip was a threat that would destroy greek autonomy

Euhemerus/Euhemerian theory

Gods could be originally mortal but achieved divinity through their accomplishments

“Freedom of the Greeks” 

• Ionian Revolt 499-493 BC

• Alexander freed Ionia during his Asia campaign, and called it “Freedom of the Greeks”

Gedrosian Desert

• desert in southern Pakistan/ southeastern Iran, from the Indus to the streight of Hormuz 

  • Alexander and his army traveled through this desert on their journey back to Babylon after his army rebelled in India at the Hyphasis river. 

    • Lost many men 

  • Nearchus sailed with the navy through the persian gulf

Hellespont

• Thin waterway between Europe and Asia, in Modern Turkey

• Xerxes invaded Greece and used Pontoons to cross it

• Alexander crossed it in 334 BC to give a sacrifice at Troy on his invasion of Asia

Isocrates of Athens

• Athenian Orator 446-338 BC

• Wrote Address to philip 346BC

  • There was too much infighting for the same resources between Greek city states, they needed to expand their resources by taking over persia 

• Wary of Athenian attempt to regain an empire and go bankrupt

• In favor of Philip becoming king, and defeating the Persians to use their resources

Theory of Natural Slavery

• Comes from Aristotle’s Politic’s

• There is a hierarchy in nature

  • Some people are naturally slaves

  • Some are naturally free

Marriage at Susa

• in mesopotamia 

  • capital of the Achaemenid Persian Empire(550-330)

  • Royal roads from Sardis to Susa(1600 miles)

  • Alexander and 80 companions married Persian and Median noble women

    • Weddings were in persian fashion  

    • Alexander gave gifts to 10,000 macedonian soldiers that also took Asiatic wives

    • Alexander married the daughter of Darius

Memnon of Rhodes

• (380-333)

  • Advised Persians to foment rebellion among the Greek city states against Macedon

  • Battle of Granicus was between Alexander and the Persian army and a Greek mercenary army led by Memnon

    • 10,000 mercenaries 

  • Mercenaries were killed when Alexander won

  • Led rebellions in Aegean after his loss

Mutiny at Hyphasis

• Alexander's troops mutinied at Hyphasis(Beas) River in India

  • Refused to continue the campaign 

  • Near the Indus

• Made him start his journey back to Macedon

Mutiny at Opis

• Alexander said he was discharging some of the Macedonians from the army because of age or injury 

• His army was angry, and felt like he was replacing Macedonians for Persians, they spoke out, then Alexander isolated himself 

  • He only spoke to his Persian generals and allowed them to kiss him

• His army was distressed at this and begged forgiveness

• Alexander then made a prayer asking for harmony between Macedonians and Persians

Nearchus the admiral

• Macedonian Satrap, admiral of the indus fleet d. 312BC

• Led the navy through the persian gulf after the end of the Indian campaign, while Alexander went through the Godreosian desert

Persepolis

Plutarch of Chaeronea

Porus of Taxila

proskynesis (obeisance)

A special kind of paying homage practiced by the Persians, like bowing/kissing of rings or feet, discussion of if this should be observed for Alexander, is it the Greek way? Does he deserve that type of recognition?

Ptolemaic Dynasty

Rulers of Egypt - Ptolemy I = Alex’s general, Alexandria (library at), maritime power, blend of Egyptian and Greek customs, Cleopatra was the last ruler before the Romans

Ptolemy I Soter

Macedonian general under Alex, founded Ptolemaic kingdom in Egypt, reigned as Pharaoh, secured Egypt, founded library at Alexandria

Olympias (mother of Alexander)

Wife of Phillip, formidable ruler, ambitious, key role in Alex’s life/shaping his beliefs, her legacy, depicted as a witch in the movie, thought of to have some

Oracle of Ammon-Ra at Siwah

Alex traveled to seek it in the middle of the desert, it confirmed his divine descent and legitimized him as Pharaoh called him “son of Zeus” 

Pella

Capital of Macedon, where the school that Alexander and fellow sons of aristocrats were tutored by Aristotle

Pelopidas of Thebes 

Theban general and statesman, liberated thebes from spartan (battle of Leutra) occupation, sacred band, we looked at him to see an example of the ideologies and identity cultivated by Greek city states

Sacred Band (Thebes)

Elite army, male lovers, cohesive unit, liberated Thebes from Spartan rule

Philip II of Macedon

Alex’s dad, enhanced Macedon to a role in Greek life, making Macedonians more respectable to Greeks, a threat or a help?, Demosthenes says a threat, Isocrates says he can help overthrow the Persians and unite Asia; developed macedon's strong military and united greece under the league of corinth, creating the foundation for alexander's successes

Roxane, daughter of Oxyartes

Bactrian or Sogdian; marries Alex after he defeats Darius and invades Persia, bears him a son (Alexander IV), strategic marriage (Bactrian and Sogdian loyalty to Alexander)

Sardis

Persian satrapal capital; one end of the Royal Road; burning of sardis in the ionian revolt; Became capital of Seleucid Empire

Satrapy and satraps

• Satrapy = province in Persian empire (Achaemenid Empire) 

  • Satrap = governor who presided over it

Seleucid Dynasty

• Macedonian Greek royal family that ruled a large and ethnically diverse empire from 312 - 63 BCE

• Synthesis of Greek and Persian culture

Seleucus I Nicator

Former general under Alex, founded Seleucid Empire

Settlement of Triparadisus, 320

Key conference of Alex’s generals to redivide the Empire after the death of Perdiccas (Macedonian general who succeeded Alex) it established Seleucids and Ptolemies

Sparta/Lacedaemon

city in the peloponnese; hegemons of greece following the defeat of the first athenian empire in the peloponnesian war; we discussed king agesilaus; popular aspects of culture included the agoge and focus on battle

Tyre, Phoenician city and Alexander's Siege of

Alex's siege of the island to establish control over the Persians, built the causeway that remained and made it a part of the landmass today