Philip of Macedon and Philip of Macedon and Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great

So just how great was So just how great was Alexander the Great?Alexander the Great?

ReminderReminder

• Final Exam is Dec. 10th during our Final Exam is Dec. 10th during our regular class time.regular class time.

• Please bring photo ID to exam.Please bring photo ID to exam.

Lecture OutlineLecture Outline

• I. Philip The GreatI. Philip The Great• II. Greek Opposition to PhilipII. Greek Opposition to Philip• III. Philip’s ConquestIII. Philip’s Conquest• IV. Alexander the GreatIV. Alexander the Great• V. Alexander’s DeathV. Alexander’s Death

Greece & Philip of Greece & Philip of MacedonMacedon

• Why was Philip able to take over Why was Philip able to take over almost all of Greece by 336 BCE?almost all of Greece by 336 BCE?

• The death of the polisThe death of the polis– specializationspecialization– less unityless unity– lack of leadershiplack of leadership

Did anyone predict this? Did anyone predict this? Yes, Demosthenes didYes, Demosthenes did

• The Greek orator The Greek orator who saw this who saw this coming . . .coming . . .

• In his speeches, In his speeches, called Philipics , called Philipics , he asked the he asked the Athenians to Athenians to organize against organize against PhilipPhilip

Why was Philip such a Why was Philip such a formidable opponent?formidable opponent?

• Tough and well-disciplined soldiers Tough and well-disciplined soldiers (fought with sarissa)(fought with sarissa)

• Hostage at Thebes in his youthHostage at Thebes in his youth

• Soldier, diplomat, statesmanSoldier, diplomat, statesman

What did Athens do?What did Athens do?

• Athenian-Theban allianceAthenian-Theban alliance

• Defeated at Chaironea by PhilipDefeated at Chaironea by Philip

• 337 BCE Philip is elected leader of 337 BCE Philip is elected leader of the League of Corinththe League of Corinth

What did Philip want from What did Philip want from the Greeks?the Greeks?

• He admired He admired Athens and Athens and expressed a wish expressed a wish to be their allyto be their ally

• Right to consult Right to consult Delphic oracleDelphic oracle

• Allowed to preside Allowed to preside over Pythian over Pythian gamesgames

Did the Athenians like Did the Athenians like Macedonia and Philip?Macedonia and Philip?

• Monarchy is Monarchy is corrupt and barely corrupt and barely disguised form of disguised form of dictatorshipdictatorship

• Treats Greeks like Treats Greeks like second-class second-class citizenscitizens

What are the signs of What are the signs of conflict?conflict?

• Greeks divide into Greeks divide into two factions:two factions:

• Pro-Demosthenes Pro-Demosthenes faction believes faction believes Macedonia will Macedonia will harm their harm their democracydemocracy

• Pro-Philip faction Pro-Philip faction believes believes Macedonia and Macedonia and Greece can be Greece can be allies and united allies and united togethertogether

How does Athens declare How does Athens declare war in 340 BCE?war in 340 BCE?

• Demosthenes is Demosthenes is given a gold given a gold crown during a crown during a theater festival in theater festival in Athens for his Athens for his services to the services to the peoplepeople

• Athens Athens deliberately deliberately attacks Philip’s attacks Philip’s allies and goes to allies and goes to Persia to seek Persia to seek supportsupport

How does Philip win the How does Philip win the war?war?

• Attacks Perinthus Attacks Perinthus (Greek city near (Greek city near Byzantium)Byzantium)

• Attacks Attacks ByzantiumByzantium

• Realizes he is Realizes he is trappedtrapped

• Tricks the Tricks the Athenians with a Athenians with a letterletter

• Sneaks out and Sneaks out and sends for his sonsends for his son

• Goes on offensive Goes on offensive and wins warand wins war

What will you do now, What will you do now, Laconians? (336 BCE)Laconians? (336 BCE)

• Sparta will not Sparta will not surrendersurrender

• ““What else but die What else but die like men?”like men?”

• Philip gives Philip gives Messenia and Messenia and Argos their land Argos their land backback

Philip’s death in 336 Philip’s death in 336 BCE means that BCE means that Alexander will Alexander will now rulenow rule

Who was Alexander?Who was Alexander?

• King at 20, dead at 32King at 20, dead at 32

• Finest general of the ancient worldFinest general of the ancient world

• Student of AristotleStudent of Aristotle

• Storms through Greece in two months Storms through Greece in two months and assures his rule. Abolishes taxes in and assures his rule. Abolishes taxes in Macedonia.Macedonia.

Alexander in ThraceAlexander in Thrace

Alexander decides Alexander decides his next conquest his next conquest will be Thrace and will be Thrace and then goes on to then goes on to Illyria to put down Illyria to put down a rebelliona rebellion

Thrace and IllyriaThrace and Illyria

Trouble in ThebesTrouble in Thebes

• Alexander’s decision there would Alexander’s decision there would seal his fate with the Greeksseal his fate with the Greeks

• Greeks have caused him maximum Greeks have caused him maximum damage with minimum harm to damage with minimum harm to themselvesthemselves

Alexander in Persia and Alexander in Persia and IndiaIndia

• Homeric battle with Persians Homeric battle with Persians

• Macedonians encounter elephantsMacedonians encounter elephants

• The long retreat homeThe long retreat home

““I leave my kingdom to I leave my kingdom to the strongest.”the strongest.”

• Alexander died in 323 BCE after drinking Alexander died in 323 BCE after drinking a cup of unmixed wine. a cup of unmixed wine.

• With him died the dream of uniting east With him died the dream of uniting east and west.and west.

• Spreads Greek culture over a very wide Spreads Greek culture over a very wide area, thus creating Hellenistic area, thus creating Hellenistic civilization civilization

What does this mean?What does this mean?