# Alexander the Great # Alexander the Great ## Overview Alexander III of Macedon (356–323 BCE), known as Alexander the Great, conquered the Persian Empire and created one of the largest empires in ancient history, spreading Greek culture from Egypt to India. @t[356 BCE..323 BCE] ## Key Facts - Born: 356 BCE, Pella, Macedon @t[=356 BCE] - Died: 323 BCE, Babylon (age 32) @t[=323 BCE] - Reign: 336–323 BCE @t[336 BCE..323 BCE] - Father: Philip II of Macedon (II = Regnal number. Standard historical convention.) - Tutor: Aristotle ## Major Campaigns - Battle of Granicus (334 BCE): First victory against Persia in Anatolia @t[=334 BCE] - Battle of Issus (333 BCE): Defeated Darius III (III = Regnal number. Standard historical convention.) @t[=333 BCE] - Siege of Tyre (332 BCE): Seven-month siege of the island city @t[=332 BCE] - Battle of Gaugamela (331 BCE): Decisive defeat of the Persian Empire @t[=331 BCE] [^1] - Indian campaign (327–325 BCE): Defeated King Porus at the Hydaspes @t[327 BCE..325 BCE] ## Legacy - Founded over 20 cities, most notably Alexandria in Egypt - Spread Hellenistic culture across the Near East and Central Asia - Empire divided among his generals (Diadochi) after his death @t[~1991] [^2] - Ptolemaic Egypt, Seleucid Empire, and Antigonid Macedon emerged as successor states --- [^1]: Arrian, *Anabasis of Alexander* [^2]: Green, P. *Alexander of Macedon* (University of California Press, 1991)--- ## Review Queue - [x] `@q[ambiguous]` Line 13: "Father: Philip II of Macedon" - what does "II" mean in this context? > Regnal number. Standard historical convention. - [x] `@q[ambiguous]` Line 18: "Battle of Issus (333 BCE): Defeated Darius III" - what does "III" mean in this context? > Regnal number. Standard historical convention. - [x] `@q[stale]` Line 26: "Empire divided among his generals (Diadochi) after his death [^2]" - Green source from 1991 may be outdated, is this still accurate? > Still accurate. Green (1991) remains a standard reference.