Macedonian Supremacy Flashcards
Who was Philip II?
Macedonian king and a shrewd politician and general, who consolidated Macedonian power in the north through political alliances and marriages, then looked south to Greece. Eventually wiped out Thebes and Athens, the only resistance, at the battle of Chaeronea in 338, and set up the Corinthian League of Greeks to submit to Macedon. Assassinated in 336, leading to his son Alexander’s rise to power.
What was a Sarissa?
a longer spear introduced by Philip II as one of his military reforms. 16 to 18 feet long rather than the usual 8-9 feet. This added range made the Macedonian phalanx vastly superior to the other Greeks’
Who was Demosthenes?
the greatest Greek orator, who flourished in Athens in the 340’s when he delivered speeches supporting war with Macedon. Fled when the war actually came. The speeches against Philip were called the Philippics, a name Cicero copies. Demosthenes had a speech disability, and practiced by speaking against the waves with stones in his mouth.
What was Chaeronea?
338 BC; Philip & Alexander wipe out the only Greek resistance, from Athens and Thebes, consolidating Macedonian power. Alexander defeats the powerful Sacred Band of Thebes.
Who was Alexander III “the Great”?
Macedonian king who followed his father Philip and lived from 356-323. He conquered Asia Minor, the Levant, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia, modern Afghanistan and into the Punjab region of Pakistan, initially as a campaign to reclaim Ionian cities and exact revenge on Persia. Cut the Gordian knot, which was prophesied to be untied by the future ruler of Asia. Claimed descent from Zeus Ammon, founded dozens of cities (most called Alexandria), and brought Greek culture to the East, creating Hellenistic cultures from combination with local cultures. His army mutinied in India, and he died on the way home, from fever in Babylon in 323, at the age of 32.
Who was Darius III?
Persian Great King deposed by Alexander’s invasion. Fled from the battles at Issus and Gaugamela, only to be betrayed and killed by the nobleman Bessus.
What happened at the Granicus River?
334 BC; Alexander’s first battle in Persian territory near Troy; frees Ionian Greeks
What happened at the Issus River?
333 BC; Alexander & Darius III meet on the battlefield for the first time; Darius flees, marking the beginning of the end for Persia
What was Tyre?
332 BC; Alexander successfully besieges the island fortress by building a bridge out of debris; takes 7-8 months, but Alexander secures the Levant coast (Turkey south to Israel)
What was Gaugamela?
331 BC; the decisive battle where Alexander defeats the main Persian force and Darius flees again, only to be betrayed. Alexander becomes King of Asia. Can also be referred to as the Battle of Arbela.
What happened at the Hydaspes River?
326 BC; Alexander fights King Porus on behalf of his ally, King Taxiles, in modern Pakistan; Porus uses elephants, resulting in Alexander’s most costly victory. After this his army mutinied.
What were the Four Capitals of Persia?
Persepolis, Susa, Babylon, Ecbatana. Alexander burns Persepolis down.
