Lesson 9: Alexander the Great

To the north of Greece was a region known as Macedonia. For centuries Macedonia looked on as city-states such as Sparta and Athens grew more powerful. Under Philip I, Macedonia became stronger and conquered much of southern Greece.

After Philip was assassinated, his son Alexander became king of Macedonia. Alexander was only nineteen when he took over his father's throne. The Greeks looked forward to reclaiming their lands, as they expected little resistance from the new boy king.

Much to their surprise, Alexander proved more than adequate to defend his father's empire. To prove this point, Alexander burned the Greek city of Thebes to the ground when it rebelled against him. Around 30,000 of its people were sold into slavery. The remaining city-states heard of this and learned a lesson from it.

Alexander went on to create the largest empire the world had ever seen, stretching from Greece, to Egypt, and throughout the Middle East. Still he wanted more. Alexander went on to conquer all of central Asia and India. He marched his troops across the searing heat of the Asian plateau. He then survived the cold and danger of the Hindu Kush Mountains to enter into India.

The conditions in India were even worse. Torrential rains soaked the army's food and supplies, rusted its weapons and mildewed the leather uniforms and saddles. Alexander's generals warned him to go no further. They insisted his troops were exhausted (some men had been at war for eight years without going home) and that the fierce Indian warriors with their elephants would be too much for his army. Alexander took his generals' advice and withdrew his army from India.

Alexander returned to Babylon where he set about rebuilding his empire. Shortly afterwards, he became ill (probably malaria) and died of a fever in 323 BCE. Alexander was only thirty-three years old. His empire quickly fell apart after his death.

Send In Activity 9:
Alexander the Great: His Strengths and Weaknesses as a Leader