ALEXANDER THE GREAT
🏛 Study Guide: Macedonia, Alexander the Great, and the Hellenistic Era
1.
Macedonia and King Phillip II
Location: Macedonia was a powerful kingdom north of Greece.
Phillip II:
Became king of Macedonia.
Admired Greek culture and wanted to unite Greece under Macedonian rule.
Successfully took over Greece.
Planned to invade the Persian Empire with the Greek states.
Assassinated before he could begin the invasion.
2.
Alexander the Great
Son of Phillip II.
Became king at age 20 in 336 B.C.
Trained in military strategy by his father
Conquests:
334 B.C.: Invaded Asia Minor with Macedonian and Greek troops.
By 331 B.C.: Defeated the Persian Empire, gaining control over:
Syria
Palestine
Egypt
Babylon
Expansion into India:
326 B.C.: Fought battles in India.
Soldiers eventually refused to continue fighting.
Returned to Babylon.
Death:
Died in 323 B.C. at age 32 in Babylon.
Cause: battle wounds, fever, and exhaustion.
3.
The Hellenistic Era
Started by Alexander’s conquests.
“Hellenistic” = “to imitate Greeks”
Spread of Greek culture:
New cities and military settlements built.
Greek language, architecture, literature, and art introduced across Asia.
Cultural Highlights:
Alexandria, Egypt:
Founded by Alexander as the Greek capital of Egypt.
Became a major center for learning and culture.
Famous for its Library of Alexandria (held 700,000+ scrolls).
Archimedes:
Greatest scientist of the era.
Calculated the value of pi.
Mastered the lever.
4.
After Alexander’s Death
His empire collapsed quickly.
Generals fought for control.
Empire split into several Hellenistic Kingdoms:
Macedonia
Egypt
Former Persian territories
đź“š Key Terms to Remember
Term | Definition |
Macedonia | Kingdom north of Greece |
Phillip II | King of Macedonia, father of Alexander |
Alexander the Great | Macedonian king who conquered much of the known world |
Hellenistic Era | Period of Greek cultural spread following Alexander’s conquests |
Alexandria | Major cultural and scientific center in Egypt |
Archimedes | Greek scientist and mathematician of the Hellenistic Era |
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