Alexander Heads East
Unit 5
Alexander’s invasion
331 B.C.
Most inspired battle
Darius creates his largest force ever
Macedonians – 47,000 troops Persians – 200,000 – 250,000 troops, including scythed chariots!
Alexander waited for Darius’ troops to become separated, and then flooded the opening
Alexander chased Darius once again and Darius fled, his troops giving up behind him
Alexander was now the undisputed ruler of Asia!
Why isn’t Alexander totally satisfied?
Battle of Gaugamela
“Alexander does not steal victory” - Alexander
Alexander’s invasion
Welcomed as liberator in Babylon, treasures
were surrendered to him
Then took Susa and Persepolis, considered the Persian capitals
The riches had been gathered for centuries! 8,000 talents (57.5 lbs.) of gold in
Persepolis alone! 120,000 talents (6.9million lbs) of treasure
total taken!!
It would have taken Athens 300 years to gather this much treasure….
Alexander was drunkenly convinced by Thais, (an Athenian courtesan) to burn down Persepolis….
Alexander Plunders
http://www.grahamphillips.net/alexander/alexander_9.htm
Why does Alexander need to kill Darius?
Panhellenic war is over – released Greek troops
80 miles in 30 hours! Bessus murders Darius
Many Persian commanders defected to Alexander
Conquest of Iran
Alexander’s invasion
Dysentery was rampant, winters were cold
Had to put down many rebellions, taxed the people What is the difference between Alexander’s and
Darius’s methods of ruling?
Ironically, Greek city states became very wealthy from these taxes
Western Asia
Over time, Alexander began to lose the support of his men
Why? How was this journey different than what the men initially expected?
Asians and Perisans as ushers and guards
Wore Persian dress, slept with different Persian women
Decides to marry a Bactrian princess named Roxana AGRUMENT – 1:23:27 – 1:27:15
Began drinking a lot, disowning Philip
330 B.C. - Kills Philotas and Parmenion 328 BC – Kills Cleitus – VIDEO; 2:16 – 2:21 327 B.C. – kills Calisthenes (personal historian)
Calisthenes spoke out about proskynesis
Rebellions
“He who sins when drunk must be punished twice. Once for sinning and once for being drunk” - Aristotle
Losing the confidence of his men
He is increasingly violent and unpredictable. Massacring and enslaving all tribes that rebelled against his control.
Uses mercenaries more as opposed to Macedonian troops
Wants to continue to India
326 B.C. – Crosses the Hindu Kush and Indus River to put down a rebellion
Alexander continues East
VIDEO – 2:32:30 - 2:39:45
There were no cities to conquer in India
Released 10-18k men to allow them to retire
Owed 6 years of back pay, Alexander executed 13 men
Alexander hides in his tent for 3 days, his men relent and apologize. Alexander accepts their apology and has a huge celebration afterwards
Mutiny at Opus
Alexander’s invasion
Battle of Hydaspes
“Yes, I’ll meet you. On the battlefield.”
Deceived and assembled, tricked Porus 1. Ordered new supplies of grain. 2. Now marches his troops up and down stream
“looking for a place to cross” 3. He then tells his men to make as much noise as
possible, EVERY single night How does this trick Porus?
Had 20,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 200 ELEPHANTS What is the primary purpose of war elephants?
Alexander moves 15,000 across the river and leaves 12,000 across the river
Alexander defeats Porus, allows him to remain king and keep his subjects He becomes one of Alexander’s greatest allies!
• Arguably Alexander’s greatest strategic battle!
• Who does he no longer have to support him during battle?
Battle of Hydaspes
Alexander Marches Home
70 straight days of rain
Conquered hostile tribes in the south Alexander becomes injured
with an arrow, never fully recovers
324 B.C. - Hephaestion died in a drinking session Executed the physician Alexander grieved and fasted
for 3 days
Alexander is becoming increasingly removed from reality He truly believes he is a god
Makran Desert
Alexander Rules Absolutely
Executed many Macedonian satraps
Allowed Greek exiles back into their cities Increasingly removed from
political realities
June 323 B.C. – Alexander dies in Babylon One account says he drank
12 pints of wine He had lingering illnesses
for a while which only increased by his alcoholism
“TO THE STRONGEST”