Alexander the Great

Regional History Final Project

Submitted by: Abuzar Dawood (2093163) Sana Amjad (2093203) Wajeeha Atiq (2103036) Shahzeena Asghar (2103020)

History

Alexander III the Great, the King of Macedonia and conqueror of the Persian Empire is considered one of the greatest military geniuses of all times. When he was 13, Philip hired the Greek philosopher Aristotle to be Alexanders personal tutor who gave Alexander training in rhetoric and literature and stimulated his interest in science, medicine, and philosophy, all of which became of importance in his later life. Alexander succeeded his father, Philip II of Macedon, to the throne in 336 BC after Philip was assassinated. Upon Philip's death, Alexander inherited a strong kingdom and an experienced army.

Contd

In 334 BC he invaded Persian-ruled Asia Minor and began a series of campaigns that lasted ten years. Alexander broke the power of Persia in a series of decisive battles, most notably the battles of Issus and Gaugamela. He subsequently overthrew the Persian king Darius III and conquered the entirety of the Persian Empire. At that point his empire stretched from the Adriatic Sea to the Indus River. Alexander died in Babylon in 323 BC, without executing a series of planned campaigns that would have begun with an invasion of Arabia.

Conquests of Alexander

Battle of Granicus River - 334 B.C. Battle of Issus - 333 B.C. Battle of Gaugamela - 331 B.C. Battle of Persian Gate - 330 B.C. Battle of Hydaspes 326 B.C.

Battle of Granicus River

Date: Probably May/June 334 B.C. Location: Western Turkey, River Granicus (modern Biga, near Bandirma & Balikeshir) Macedonian Probably 47,000 army:

Persian army: From 6,000 (Delbrck) or 15,000 (Fuller) up to 110,000 (Sekunda).

Results

Alexander (purportedly) came close to dying in the battle. Mithridates, Rhoesaces, Spithridates and several other Persian leaders were killed, while Arsites fled and shortly after committed suicide in his satrapy.

The Greek cities in Asia Minor fell to Alexander, and a beachhead was established so that further campaigns against the Persian Empire could be accomplished. Total casualties for the Macedonians were between 300 and 400. The Persians had roughly 1,000 cavalry and 3,000 infantry killed, mostly in the rout.

Battle of Issus

Date: probably November 333 B.C. Location: Hatay province of present day Turkey, just north of Iskenderun. Macedonian army: 30,000 (Fuller, Delbrck) up to maybe 42,000 (Warry).

Persian army: from 25,000 (Delbrck) or 108,000 (Warry) up to 600,000 (Arrian/Sekunda).

Results

Alexander's men rewarded themselves richly with Persian loot. Darius' women at Issus were frightened. At best they could expect to become the concubine of a high status Greek. Alexander reassured them. He told them not only was Darius still alive, but they would be kept safe and honored. Alexander kept his word and has been honored for this treatment of the women in Darius' family.

Battle of Gaugamela

Date: probably October 1st, 331 B.C. Location: Tel Gomel, close to modern Arbil (ancient Arbela), northern Iraq Macedonian army: approximately 47,000 (Warry) Persian army: some 52,000 (Delbrck) or 91,000 (Warry) up to 1 million (Arrian)

Results

Substantial amounts of loot were gained following the battle, with 4,000 talents captured, as well as the King's personal chariot and bow. The elephants were also captured. In all, it was a disastrous defeat for the Persians and one of Alexander's finest victories. Darius had managed to escape the battle with a small core of his forces remaining intact. The Bactrian cavalry and Bessus managed to catch up with him, as did some of the survivors of the Royal Guard and 2,000 Greek mercenaries.

Battle of Persian Gate

January 20, 330 BC Persian Gate, Persepolis Result: victory near

Macedonian

Territorial changes: Alexander consolidates control of half of Persia, capturing its capital.

Results

The Battle of the Persian Gates served as a kind of reversal of the Battle of Thermopylae, fought in Greece in 480 BC in an attempt to hold off the invading Persian forces. Here, on Alexander's campaign to extract revenge for the Persian invasion of Greece, he faced the same situation from the Persians. The defeat of Ariobarzanes's forces at the Persian Gate removed the last military obstacle between Alexander and Persepolis.

Battle of Hydaspes

Date: probably May or July 326 B.C. Location: somewhere near the towns of Malakwal and Haranpur, nothern Punjab, Pakistan Macedonian army: 15,000 up to 25,000 (attack force) plus 11,000 (under Craterus in camp; Fuller) Indian army: 22,000 (Plutarch) or 34,000 (Arrian) plus 85 (Curtius) up to 200 (Arrian) elephants

Results

The bravery, war skills and princely attitude of Porus much impressed Alexander, who allowed him to rule Hydaspes in Alexander's name. The Macedonian regent founded two cities, one at the spot of the battle called Nicaea (Greek for Victory) in commemoration of his success and one on the other side of the Hydaspes called Alexandria Bucephalus, to honor his faithful steed, which died soon after this battle. In 326 BC, the army of Alexander the Great approached the boundaries of the Nanda Empire. His army, exhausted from the continuous campaigning and frightened at the prospect of facing yet another gigantic Indian army, demanded that they should return to the west Alexander finally gave in and turned south, along the Indus, securing the banks of the river as the borders of his empire.

Thank You