ATS 8 - Alexander the Great

Question 1

Main events in Philip II’s reign.

5 points.

Answer 1

• Philip II takes throne in 359 BCE
• Wrests control of Macedon and Thrace from neighboring states
• Re-organizes army and introduces pike (sarissa) warfare
• 337 BCE forms the “Corinthian League”
• 338 BCE Takes control of most of Greece

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Question 2

Main events in Alexander’s reign.

7 points.

Answer 2

• 336 BCE Philip dies and Alexander takes the throne at age 20
• 334 BCE invades Persia (Battle of Granicus)
• 333-332 BCE moves down coast to Egypt (Battle of Issus)
• 331-330 BCE takes Mesopotamia (Battle of Gaugamela)
• 330 BCE Burns Persepolis
• 329-324 BCE marches to India and back
• 323 BCE Dies of fever in Babylon at age 33

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Question 3

What was Alexander’s early life like?

6.3 points.

Answer 3

• Son of Philip II (king of Macedonia) and Olympias
• Second son of Philip II (but Philip Arrhidaeus not taken seriously)
• Tutored by Aristotle (from Stageira which Philip had destroyed)
• Trained in military affairs by Philip II and by the Macedonian high command
• Grew up alongside noble sons (who would become his generals)
• Given increasingly significant experience
  • Minor leadership on campaigns nearby
  • left as regent while Philip invaded Byzantium
  • commanded left wing at Chaeronea

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Question 4

Describe Darius III

4 points.

Answer 4

• Placed on throne in 336 after murder of his cousin (Artaxerxes III) and his family
• Killed vizier, Bagoas, responsible for murder
• Persian Empire seriously weakened by chaos
• Satraps operating with much more independence

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Question 5

How is the death of Darius III described?

3 points.

Answer 5

• Arrian: Darius dies from wounds inflicted by Bessus before Alexander can reach him
• Plutarch: Alexander comes right after death and throws his cloak on him
• Diodorus: Alexander arrives just after death and gives him a royal funeral but says that “some have written that Alexander found him still breathing and commiserated with him on his disasters”

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Question 6

What happened after Alexander’s death?

Answer 6

After Alexander’s death, territory divided up among his successors (diadochi) who were mostly the generals and satraps of his campaigns

But partition didn’t last more than a year

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Question 7

Where did Selecus take power?

After Alexander’s death?

Answer 7

• In 312 BCE Seleucus (after murdering Perdiccas) took Babylon and entire east of the empire
• After more fighting between the generals by 301 BCE Seleucus manages to wrest control of much of Anatolia and thereby controls almost all of previous Achaemenid empire

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Question 8

Where did Ptolemy control?

Answer 8

Ptolemy controls Egypt and Levant

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Question 9

What happened to Seleucus?

Answer 9

Seleucus is assassinated in 281 BCE after attempting to cross the Hellespont and take Europe

Succeeded by his son Antiochus

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Question 10

Who were the Hellenistic Syncretic Gods?

2 points.

Answer 10

• Serapis (Osiris, Zeus and Dionysus)
• Isis (Isis, Hathor, and Aphrodite)

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Question 11

What was Ai Khanum, Afghanistan?

5 points.

Answer 11

• Founded by Antiochus I c.280 BCE
• Height in Greco Bactrian period under Eucratides in 2ⁿᵈ century BCE
• Features:
  • Greek style theatre
  • Temple with indented Niches in Mesopotamian style

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Question 12

Key artifacts found in Mesopotamian style temple?

Answer 12

Sandaled foot of cult statue from temple in Greek style

Ceremonial plate with Mesopotamian influenced representation Of Cybele, 3ʳᵈ century BCE

Bronze statuette of Heracles, 2ⁿᵈ century BCE

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