Study Notes on Alexander the Great and Macedon

Lecture 6: The Rise of Macedon, Alexander the Great, and the Conquest of the Persian Empire (ca. 400-323 BCE)

Second Test Information

  • Date: October 8th

  • Weight: 20%

  • Content Coverage: Non-cumulative, covers lectures 4-6.

Key Greek Philosophical Concepts

  • ΓΝΩΘΙ ΣΑΥΤΟΝ (Know Thyself)

  • NOSCE TE (Know Thyself)

  • Causes (aitia)

    • Periclean democracy

    • Delian League

    • Megarian decree?

    • Issues in Epidamnus and Corcyra

    • Spartan fear

Lecture Series Information

  • Course: HIST 302 Classical Greece and the Mediterranean World

  • Schedule: Winter Semester 2 2025, Wednesdays & Fridays, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m

  • Instructor: Dr. François Gauthier

  • Contact: francois.gauthier@ubc.ca

Spartan Hegemony (404-371 BCE)

  • After defeating the Athenians, the Spartans expected to dominate Greece ultimately.

  • Historical Source: Thucydides 8.2.4

Age of Agesilaos and Epaminondas

  • Agesilaos: Spartan King, notable for his leadership.

  • Epaminondas: Theban general whose strategies were well-regarded.

    • Agesilaos questioned the justice of Theban independence for Boeotia vs. Laconia's independence.

    • Epaminondas’s responses provoked Agesilaos to hostility, leading to a renewed war between Sparta and Thebes.

    • Historical Source: Plutarch, Life of Agesilaos, 28

Geographical and Military Context

  • Theban Hegemony (371-362 BCE)

    • Notable cities and regions:

    • Boeotia under Theban control.

    • Sparta and allied states weakened.

    • Major battles: Cynoscephalae (364 BCE), Leuctra (371 BCE), Mantinea (362 BCE).

Battles and Outcomes

  • Battle of Leuctra (371 BCE)

    • A significant defeat for Sparta, which shifted power towards Thebes.

    • Historical Description: Included casualties of Spartan king and allies, leading to a truce.

    • Source: Xenophon, Hellenica, 6.4.15

  • Theban Sacred Band: Elite military unit instrumental in these pivotal battles.

The Rise of Macedon

  • Strategic Importance: A bulwark against northern threats (from Illyrians, Thraians).

  • Philip II of Macedon (r. 359-336 BCE)

    • Transformed Macedon into a superpower with military reforms and territorial expansions.

    • Creation of a standing army and the famed Macedonian Phalanx, which emphasized order in combat.

    • Reforms: Establishment of siege weaponry, enhancing the army's capabilities.

    • Historical Source: Diodorus Siculus, 16.3.3

Details of Macedonian Armament

  • Macedonian Phalanx: A combat formation that relied on the cohesive use of spear and shield, emulating warrior tactics from historical conflicts.

  • Aristocracy of Mounted Warriors: Elite cavalry, known as the hetairoi, who were crucial to Macedonian military strategy.

Conquests of Alexander the Great

  • Alexander III of Macedon ('the Great') (356-323 BCE)

    • Initial Victory: Conquered Thebes as a demonstration of power in 335 BCE.

    • Transition to Asia: Symbolically marked as he crossed into Asia, at Troad with the act of throwing his spear ashore, referred to as land earned via warfare.

    • Military Campaigns: Including critical victories at the Battles of Issus (333 BCE) and Gaugamela (331 BCE), ultimately leading to the fall of the Persian Empire.

    • Battles Detailed:

    • Issus: Victory over Darius III marked a pivotal moment in his campaign, highlighting the effectiveness of the Macedonian phalanx versus the Persian forces who dispersed following Darius’s escape.

    • Gaugamela: This decisive battle led to Alexander's proclamation as king of Asia, followed by significant sacrifices and rewards bestowed upon his companions.

  • Oracle of Ammon-Ra: Alexander received divine proclamation regarding his lineage as the son of the god, influencing his subsequent rule and campaigns.

The Fall of Babylon and Persepolis

  • Conquest of Treasure: Upon entering Susa, Alexander discovered an immense amount of treasure, including over forty thousand talents of bullion, instrumental for the Macedonian war efforts.

  • Burning of Persepolis: The nature of the destruction—whether due to drunkenness or a deliberate act of defiance—remains a topic of debate among historians.

Alexander's Final Campaigns and Death

  • Battle of the Hydaspes (326 BCE): Notable for the encounter with King Porus, which engaged the Macedonian forces thoroughly.

  • Refusal to Advance Further: The exhaustion of Alexander's army led to refusal to continue further into India due to overwhelming geography and enemy numbers at the Ganges.

  • Death in Babylon (June 323 BCE): Circumstances surrounding his death are marked by legacy considerations without naming a successor, prompting future conflicts among his generals.

    • Final Words: To