Alexander the Great

Aristotle

Tutored a young Alexander; made him read the Iliad; Alexander carried a copy everywhere.

Philip II

Macedonian ruler; unified city states; father of Alexander; murdered by former bodyguard at his daughter’s wedding

Demosthenes

Athenian lawyer who warned the Greeks that Philip II and the Macedonians were a threat

Gordian Knot

Famous knot in Persia; legend said whoever untied it would rule all of Asia; Alexander just cut it with his sword.

Alexandria

Name given to approximately 12 cities; most famous was in Egypt on the Nile River delta; noted for its library which contained approximately 100,000 scrolls; Egyptians did not like Persian rule and were so happy that Alexander arrived that they named him pharaoh

Sarissa

20 ft long spear carried by members of the Macedonian army; introduced by Philip II

Hellespont

narrow strait and internationally significant waterway in Turkey that forms part of the continental boundary between Europe and Asia

mercenary

professional soldier paid to serve in a foreign army

Thebes

Greek city state burned to the ground by Alexander

proskynesis

Persian act of bowing before a person of higher social rank

scythed chariot

horse pulled war weapon with blades mounted on each side

Bessus

killed Darius III and proclaimed himself King of Persia.

Hellenic

of or relating to the ancient Greek culture and civilization

Hellenic League

Alliance of Greek city states formed by Philip II; Sparta did not join.

Granicus

First major battle; Alexander narrowly avoids death; Macedonians win

Issus

Macedonians win; Darius III abandons his soldiers and his family; family taken in by Alexander and treated well.

Gaugamela

Final major battle; Persian use war elephants; Darius again flees and abandons his soldiers; ultimately he is tracked down and killed by Bessus

Persepolis

Capital of Persian empire; Alexander impressed by architecture and sophistication; burns it to the ground anyway as revenge for Persia burning Athens 100 years earlier

Malaria

Possible cause of death for Alexander.

Darius III

Persian King of Kings; twice fled battle field, abandoning wife, kids and mother; tried to negotiate peace with Alexander by offering all Persian lands west of the Euphrates River, a fortune in gold, and marriage to one of his daughters.

Peloponnesian War

Weakened Greek city states; left them vulnerable to Macedonians.