HI 207 exam lecture 15 Flashcards
Greece in the Fourth Century
a. Fragmentation
In the fourth century BCE, Greece experienced significant political fragmentation after the Peloponnesian War, with traditional city-states like Athens and Sparta weakened, paving the way for the rise of Thebes and ultimately Macedon under Philip II, who formed the League of Corinth and brought the Greek city-states under Macedonian control.
b. Military Innovation
In 4th century Greece, military innovations included the rise of siege warfare with the development of catapults, the introduction of the longer sarissa spear by Philip II of Macedon, and the use of cavalry, all contributing to a shift towards professional, more deadly warfare.
II. Macedon
In the 4th century BCE, the rise of Macedon, under the leadership of Philip II, marked a significant shift in Greek history, as it transitioned from a region of independent city-states to a unified kingdom under Macedonian rule, paving the way for the conquests of Alexander the Great.
a. Geography
In the fourth century BC, Greece, located on the Balkan Peninsula, was a region of diverse geography, featuring mountains, islands, and coastlines, which shaped its political and cultural development, leading to the rise of independent city-states.
b. Culture and Society
c. Government
III. Philip (r. 359-336)
In 4th century Greece, Philip II of Macedon (r. 359-336 BCE) rose to power, transforming Macedon into a dominant force through military reforms and diplomacy, ultimately leading to the formation of the League of Corinth and setting the stage for his son Alexander the Great’s conquests.
a. Philip’s Youth
In 4th century Greece, Philip II of Macedon’s youth, marked by political instability and exposure to Greek military and political strategies, shaped his future as a leader. He was sent as a hostage to Thebes, where he learned from the renowned military leader Epaminondas. Philip’s other brother, King Perdiccas III, died in battle against the Illyrians in 359 BC, and Philip seized the throne. Philip’s military skills and expansionist vision brought him early success, and he implemented reforms to strengthen the Macedonian army.
b. Reforms
i. Companions
The Companions (Greek: ἑταῖροι, Greek: [heˈtairoi̯], hetairoi) were the elite cavalry of the Macedonian army from the time of King Philip II of Macedon, achieving their greatest prestige under Alexander the Great, and regarded as the first or among the first shock cavalry used in Europe.
ii. Pezhetairoi
The pezhetairoi (foot companions) were part of the imposing army that accompanied the Macedonian commander Alexander the Great (r. 336-323 BCE) when he crossed the Hellespont to face the Persian king Darius III in 334 BCE. Armed with long pikes (sarissas), the pezhetairoi fought in a Greek phalanx formation and played an important role in the battles of the Granicus, Issus, and Gaugamela.
c. Chaeronea (338)
In 338 BCE, the Battle of Chaeronea saw Philip II of Macedon decisively defeat a coalition of Greek city-states, notably Athens and Thebes, marking a turning point in Greek history and establishing Macedonian dominance. The Battle of Chaeronea effectively ended the independent existence of the Greek city-states as major political and military entities.
IV. Alexander (r. 336-323)
In 4th century BCE Greece, the rise of Macedon under Philip II and the subsequent conquests of his son, Alexander III (Alexander the Great), led to the unification of Greece and the expansion of Macedonian influence into vast territories, ushering in the Hellenistic era. Following Philip’s assassination in 336 BCE, Alexander III, his son, inherited the throne and continued his father’s expansionist policies, consolidating Macedonian control over Greece.
a. Conquests
Alexander the Great (r. 336-323 BCE) of Macedon led his army on a series of campaigns which successfully conquered the then-known world from Macedon, through Greece, down to Egypt, across Persia, to India. initiating the Hellenistic period and spreading Greek culture and influence across the Near East.
b. Administration
In the 4th century BCE, Alexander the Great, who ruled from 336-323 BCE, conquered a vast empire, spreading Greek culture and creating the Hellenistic era. His administration involved a blend of Macedonian and Persian practices, including satrapal governments and the establishment of new cities, while also maintaining a strong military presence.
c. Death
Alexander the Great, who ruled Macedon from 336 to 323 BCE, died in Babylon in June of 323 BCE at the age of 32, after a two-week febrile illness, leaving behind a vast empire and sparking speculation about the cause of his death. Alexander’s death led to the disintegration of his vast empire and the rise of the Hellenistic period, which saw the spread of Greek culture across the Near East and beyond.
Key Terms:
- The King’s Peace (387)
The King’s Peace, also known as the Peace of Antalcidas, was a treaty imposed by the Persian King Artaxerxes II in 387/386 BC, ending the Corinthian War and establishing a period of relative peace in ancient Greece. The Corinthian War (395-387 BC) pitted Sparta against a coalition of Greek city-states, including Athens, Thebes, and Corinth, with support from the Achaemenid Empire (Persia
- Epaminondas (418-362)
In 4th century Greece, Theban general and statesman Epaminondas (c. 418-362 BC) led Thebes to break Spartan dominance, establishing Theban hegemony and introducing innovative military tactics, like the oblique phalanx. Epaminondas’s most notable victory was at the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BC, where Theban forces, including the Sacred Band, decisively defeated the Spartans, ending their military supremacy. Epaminondas supported the reconstruction of the city of Messene, which had been destroyed by Sparta, and liberated the helots, giving them Messene as a capital.
- Leuktra (371)
In 371 BCE, the Battle of Leuctra saw Thebes, led by Epaminondas, defeat Sparta, ending Spartan dominance in Greece and paving the way for Theban influence in the fourth century. By the early 4th century BCE, Sparta had established a period of dominance in Greece, but this was challenged by Thebes and its Boeotian Confederacy. Epaminondas’s victory was attributed to his innovative military tactics, which included a deep phalanx formation on the left flank, allowing the Thebans to overwhelm the Spartan right wing.
- Sarissa
The sarissa or sarisa was a long spear or pike about 5 to 7 meters (16 to 23 ft) in length. It was introduced by Philip II of Macedon and was used in his Macedonian phalanxes as a replacement for the earlier dory, which was considerably shorter.
