Alexander the Great Study Guide Flashcards

Alexander the Great was born in Pella, Macedonia.
He ascended to the throne and became king at the age of $20$ .
His parentage included his father, King Philip II, and his mother, Queen Olympias.
His formal education (referred to as "school learning") was overseen by the philosopher Aristotle.
His physical and military training was conducted by Leonidas.
There were strong mythological and divine associations surrounding his identity; some people believed Alexander was divine and specifically the son of Zeus.
His birth was famously surrounded by omens, which were interpreted as signs of his future greatness.

The Story of Bucephalus: - Bucephalus was a wild horse that no one else could control or tame. - Alexander observed the horse and noticed that it was specifically afraid of its own shadow. - He successfully tamed the animal by turning it toward the sun, which eliminated the shadow from its field of vision. - This event is considered "VERY IMPORTANT" because it demonstrated Alexander's intelligence, confidence, and leadership abilities.
The Visit to the Oracle: - During his travels, Alexander visited an Oracle and was told the following: ‘You are invincible.’ - This prophecy had a profound psychological impact on him, making him extremely confident. - It led him to a state where he was willing to take significant risks and firmly believe he was destined to rule.

The Battle of Granicus: - This marked the first major battle fought against the Persian Empire. - Alexander's tactical actions involved crossing a river to initiate the attack. - He demonstrated high risk-taking by leading from the front of his troops. - During the heat of battle, Alexander was almost killed but was saved by Cleitus. - The general strategy employed was to attack fast, utilize strong positioning, and break the enemy lines.
The Battle of Issus: - Alexander engaged King Darius III in this conflict. - Darius made a critical strategic error: he attacked from behind, resulting in poor positioning. - Being overly confident, Darius brought his family along to the battle. - The result was a victory for Alexander, which included the capture of Darius’s family.
The Battle of Gaugamela: - This is identified as the final, decisive battle against Darius and the vast Persian army. - Alexander's specific strategy involved splitting his army to create a gap in the Persian lines. - He then launched a direct attack at Darius himself. - The result was that Darius fled the field, leading to the total collapse of the Persian Empire.

Granicus: The FIRST battle; characterized by a river crossing and the moment Cleitus saves Alexander.
Issus: Characterized by Darius running away and his family being captured; caused by Darius's mistake of poor positioning.
Gaugamela: The FINAL battle; involves Alexander attacking Darius directly, resulting in the collapse of the Persian empire.

The Corinthian League: - This organization united the Greek city-states. - It was led by Macedonia. - The explicit goal of the league was to launch an attack against Persia.
The Thebes Rebellion: - The city of Thebes rebelled against Macedonian rule while Alexander was away. - Upon his return, Alexander destroyed the city. - The reason for this extreme measure was to send a clear message to others: "Do NOT rebel."

The Siege of Tyre: To conquer this island city, Alexander's forces built a causeway, which functioned as a land bridge.
Significance in Egypt: - Alexander visited the oracle at Siwa. - Following this visit, he was seen as a divine ruler.
Scale of the Empire: Alexander successfully brought under his control Egypt, Persia, and parts of India.
Cultural Legacy: He was responsible for the spread of Greek culture, a phenomenon known as Hellenism, across his entire empire.

Parmenion: Identified as a top-ranking general in Alexander's military hierarchy.
Hephaestion: Recognized as Alexander’s best friend and his most trusted companion.
Cleitus: The individual credited with saving Alexander’s life during active combat.

Reasons for Soldier Discontent: - The soldiers became angry because Alexander adopted Persian customs. - He began giving power and positions to non-Greeks. - He attempted to decommission and send some of his veteran soldiers home.
The Opis Speech: - Alexander addressed his soldiers to remind them of his commitment. - He stated: ‘Look at everything I’ve done for you!’ - He emphasized his personal risk: ‘I’ve fought, bled, and sacrificed!’ - He concluded by declaring that the soldiers owed him their loyalty. - The emotional tone of the speech was confident, angry, and disappointed.

Treatment of Darius: Following the death of Darius, Alexander ensured he was given full military honors.
Death and Succession: - Upon Alexander’s death, he reportedly said the empire should go ‘To the strongest.’ - The immediate result was that his generals fought one another for dominance. - Consequently, the unified empire split apart.
Historical Importance: Alexander remains a figure of study because he created a massive empire, spread Greek culture, and altered the history of three continents.

DOK $1$ (Recall) Focus: Memorize names, places, and specific battles.
DOK $2$ (Understanding) Focus: Comprehend cause and effect and why specific events transpired.
DOK $3$ (Thinking) Focus: Analyze motives and outcomes by asking: ‘What does this show about Alexander?’, ‘Why did he do this?’, and ‘What was the result?’
Final Challenge Review Questions: - Why was Bucephalus important? - What mistake did Darius make at Issus? - Why did Alexander destroy Thebes? - What happened after his death?
Final Guidance on Mindset: To succeed, one must think like Alexander by being confident, being strategic, and taking control.