Plutarch. Alexander
IV... Even in his childhood, his abstinence was revealed: being otherwise frantic and uncontrollable, he was indifferent to bodily joys and indulged in them very moderately; Alexander’s ambition led to the fact that his way of thinking was serious and sublime beyond his age. He did not love all glory and did not look for it anywhere, as Philip did, like a sophist he boasted of his eloquence and immortalized the victories of his chariots at Olympia with images on coins. Once, when those close to him asked Alexander, who was distinguished by his quick feet, if he would like to compete in a race on Olympic Games, he replied: “Yes, if my rivals are kings!” In general, Alexander, apparently,
Lesson 46. The cities of Hellas are subject to Macedonia 201
did not like athletes: he organized many competitions of tragic poets, flutists, citharedists and rhapsodists, as well as various hunting competitions and stick fights, but did not show any interest in fist fights or pankratium and did not award awards to their participants.
V. When, in the absence of Philip, the ambassadors of the Persian king arrived in Macedonia, Alexander, without being at a loss, warmly received them; he so captivated the ambassadors with his friendliness and the fact that he did not ask a single childish or insignificant question, but asked about the length of the roads, about the methods of traveling into the depths of Persia, about the king himself - what is he like in the fight against enemies, and also about the strength and the power of the Persians, that they were much surprised and came to the conclusion that Philip’s renowned abilities paled before the greatness of the plans and aspirations of this boy.
VIII. It seems to me that Aristotle inspired the love of healing in Alexander more than anyone else. The tsar was interested not only in the abstract side of this science, but, as can be concluded from his letters, he came to the aid of sick friends, appointing various ways treatment and treatment regimen.
Krushkol Yu. S. Reader on the history of the Ancient World.
M., 1987. pp. 163-164, 165. The teacher can supplement the information received with additional material.
OPTION 2. CREATIVE TASK
The teacher, having previously asked the students to familiarize themselves with the materials of the paragraph, offers to write an essay “Why did Macedonia conquer the Greek city-states?” (The essay is designed for 20 minutes; students are allowed to use textbooks and notes.)
Every year the estates and workshops of slave owners in Greece grew. More and more “talking cattle” accumulated among the rich Hellenes. The hour came when the slaves turned into a terrible destructive force.
- Why did slaves become dangerous to slave owners?(They could have rebelled against the slave owners. They could have sided with the Macedonian army, which is why they were dangerous for the slave owners.)
Summing up the lesson
Lesson 47. Alexander the Great's campaign to the East
Goals: familiarize students with the eastern campaign of the Greek-Macedonian troops; to bring students to an understanding of the reasons for the death of the Persian kingdom and the formation of the power of Alexander the Great; continue to develop the skills to work with a historical map, based on the text of the textbook and document, characterize the participants historical events, assessment of their activities.
Equipment: map " Ancient Greece in the 5th century BC e."
Information for teachers
Based on the requirements of the program in history lessons, children should learn to characterize and evaluate the activities of participants in historical events. Therefore, in this lesson it is advisable to introduce students to a special reminder that will help them with this. Moreover, the lesson material (the activities of Alexander the Great) allows you to do this.
Memo for assessing a statesman
What class interests did he express? What were the goals and aspirations of this class?
What personal qualities did you have? How suitable were they for achieving their goals?
What means did you use to achieve your goal? Rate them.
What results did his activities have? Rate them.
During the classes
Organizing time
Update background knowledge students on the topic “The cities of Hellas are subject to Macedonia”
1. Preparation of an oral response on card No. 37.
Sample student answer
In the middle of the 4th century. BC e. The intelligent and energetic King Philip stood at the head of the Macedonian kingdom. He created a powerful and strong army, which consisted of cavalry and infantry. Each infantryman had a six-meter spear. In battle, the first six ranks placed spears on the shoulders of those in front. The last ranks of the phalanx turned to face the enemy. Then the phalanx “bristled” and was impregnable. Philip's army had siege towers. With such a strong army, Philip was able to conquer Hellas, since the Greek city-states were fighting among themselves. Each of them wanted to be the head of Hellas. In addition, Philip could bribe and quarrel opponents among themselves. Thus, as a result of the above reasons, Macedonia was able to conquer Greece.
Working with the class. Problem solving.
Task 1. They say that in Macedonia there were cities, but there were no policies. What does this mean and is it true? (Polis is a city republic. In the Macedonian kingdom there was no city government, there were only royal fortresses and the capital Pella.)
Task 2. Why was not a single city in Hellas able to unite the entire country under its rule, but the Macedonians managed to do this? (Philip of Macedon had 5-10 times more military forces than Athens or Thebes, but much less than the combined military resources of the policies of Hellas. However, Philip was a king and could gather all his forces together, and the Greeks were too jealous of each other and did not want unite. Philip, unlike Xerxes, was well versed in the Roman wisdom: “Divide and conquer!”)
The student’s oral response on card No. 37 and feedback from classmates (for the feedback plan, see lesson No. 10).
So, we found out that under the pressure of the strong Macedonian army, Greece lost its independence. After Philip's death, his son Alexander became the head of state. He continued the work of his father and carried out a campaign to the East. The powerful Persian power collapsed under the blows of the Macedonian army. Why? This is what we will learn in today's lesson.
Why was Alexander the Great able to conquer the Persian Empire?
Studying new topic
Plan,
Victory of the troops of Alexander the Great.
The death of the Persian kingdom.
On the desk:topic of the lesson, new words: p. Granik, Issus, Parmenion,
With. Gaugamela.
1. Work on a historical map (p. 194 Vigasina or p. 206
Mikhailovsky).
Remember how parts of the world are located on the map.
What color is the Macedonian kingdom indicated on the map? (Brown.)
What color is the Persian kingdom represented by? (Green.)
In which states do we know did Alexander the Great make his campaigns? (To Egypt, Phenicia, Mesopotamia, Babylon, India.)
In what part of the world are most of these countries located? (In the east.)
What were the most important cities founded by Alexander the Great in the conquered territories? (These were cities called Alexandria, in honor of Alexander the Great, more than 20 of them were founded (in some sources the figure is more than 30. Encyclopedia for children. Volume 1. M.: Avanta+, 2000. P. 138.))
What strait separates Europe from Asia? (Dardanelles.)
2. Teacher's story .
Assignment for children: from the teacher’s story, understand and write down the reasons for the fall of the Persian state.
In the spring of 334 BC. e. hundreds of ships transported the infantry and cavalry of the Macedonian king Alexander through the narrow strait to the coast of Asia Minor. From here Alexander began his campaign in the heart of the huge Persian power.
The young king had few troops. A total of 30,000 selected and battle-hardened infantry, 5,000 horsemen, a fleet of 160 ships. The convoy carried stone war machines and formidable battering rams for breaking the walls of enemy fortresses.
The Persian state stretched from the Indus River to the Mediterranean Sea. The peoples of Egypt, Assyria, and Phenicia had long suffered from the power of the Persians and dreamed of throwing off the hated yoke of the Persian oppressors.
The Persian army was huge. The best part of it consisted of the royal guard and mercenary detachments different nationalities. The satraps robbed and plundered local population. An army consisting of
people of conquered peoples, was poorly trained and did not know how to withstand difficult campaigns. The Persian nobility continuously struggled for power, and the country was tormented by uprisings, coups and civil wars.
Alexander's opponent, King Darius III, was a weak, indecisive man and an incompetent commander.
Having learned about Alexander's crossing of the Helespont, the satraps of Asia Minor gathered a large army. They had about 20,000 horsemen and 20,000 Greek mercenaries. One of the military leaders, the Greek Memnon, an experienced commander, advised to avoid battle by retreating and devastate the country so that Alexander could not find refuge anywhere. But they didn’t listen to him. The Persians took up a position on the right bank of the small mountain river Granik.
A fierce battle took place here. A hot hand-to-hand battle began. Alexander's victory was complete. The rule of the Persians in Asia Minor fell.
In the city of Gordia, the ancient capital of Phrygia, Alexander's army stopped for the winter. Here Alexander was shown the famous chariot that belonged to King Gordius. It had a knot made of straps that attached the drawbar. There was an ancient prophecy that whoever untied the knot would conquer Asia. Alexander made an attempt to untie the knot, but to no avail. However, he was not at a loss: drawing his sword, he broke the knot in half with one blow. But the conquest of Asia was still far away.
Independent work of students with the text of the textbook.
Find out what major battles Alexander was able to win
Macedonian during the military campaign to the East.
Conversation on reading.
Where is the city of Iss? (On the coast Mediterranean Sea.)
Why were the Macedonians able to break into the city of Tire? (They used rams and throwing machines. They destroyed the walls and captured the city.)
Why did the Egyptians greet Alexander as a liberator? (They were tired of the power of the Persians, of their claims.)
What new character traits appeared in Alexander the Great? (He was intoxicated with victories and agreed that the priests declared him a god.)
What city did Alexander founded in the Nile Delta? (The city of Alexandria, on the island of Pharos.)
What major battle did Alexander win on the territory of Mesopotamia? (Battle near the village of Gaugamela.)
Conversation on issues .
Reinforcing the material learned
Why was Alexander the Great able to conquer the Persian Empire?
Answers:
a) The Persian army consisted of mercenaries, and they could fail at any moment; they were not interested in the results of military operations.
b) The nobility of the Persian state fought for power, the country was restless, so such a state was easier to conquer.
c) The peoples, conquered and tired of the power of the Persians, could take the side of the Macedonian army, since they wanted to free themselves from the yoke of the satraps.
d) The leadership talent of Alexander the Great played an important role in the defeat of the army of the Persian state.
Assessment of the personality of Alexander the Great (use the reminder).
Summing up the lesson
Lesson option 47. Alexander the Great's campaign to the East (lesson-game)
To conduct a lesson, you should first give students the task of reading the required paragraph.
I. Game
The class is divided into two groups: “Persians” and “Greeks”. Representatives of these groups must defend the advantages of the version of absolutism that was implemented in their country. However, they should not proceed from the positions today, and from the ideological attitudes of the 4th century. BC e. During the discussion, the teacher fills out a table on the board, which students are asked to transfer to their notebooks.
Persia | Greece |
|
Political system | Despotism | Cities-policies |
Economy | Economic life is completely subordinated to the king | Society of Landowners |
Regular | Citizens' Militia |
|
Zoroastrianism | Polytheism |
II. Summing up the lesson
During Alexander's campaigns, two civilizations collided, which had very different foundations from each other. Alexander's empire greatly contributed to their synthesis.
Homework: read § 42 Vigasin or § 36 Mikhailovsky; prepare a detailed answer to the question: “Why was Alexander the Great able to conquer the Persian state?”; workbook(issue 2), task No. 52 (p. 37); for the curious: how could 40,000 Macedonians defeat 200,000 Persians at Gaugamela?
Additional material
Death of Alexander the Great
In 324 BC. e. Alexander began to prepare for new campaigns. But the king did not have time to complete what he started. June 23, 323 BC e. Alexander the Great, ruler of half the world, died of a fever in Babylon without realizing all his plans. The coffin with Alexander's body was taken to his part of the domain by the ruler of Egypt, Ptolemy Lagus, who made Alexander the patron god of his family. The mother of Alexander the Great, Olympias, having learned that her son had been lying without burial for a long time, grieved and said: “Child, you strived for the share of the celestials, now you are denied even what all people on earth receive - a grave.” Ptolemy sent Alexander's body in a barrel of honey to Alexandria, where he was buried. His unexpected and mysterious death in the thirty-third year of his life took everyone by surprise. They say that when the generals asked the dying king to whom he intended the throne, Alexander replied: “To the most worthy.”
A long memory remains through the centuries from Alexander the Great. And the reason for this is not his power, which collapsed immediately after the death of the king. He was not the founder of a new dynasty either: his two sons - Alexander and Hercules - died young in bloody feuds. His youth and the ease with which he conquered half the world aroused admiration and envy. How many future great commanders repeated the words of Alexander: “20 years - and nothing for immortality!”
Caesar thought with admiration about the amazing fate of Alexander the Great. Napoleon and Suvorov read books about his campaigns. How many legends circulated around the world and how many eastern rulers traced their lineage to Iskander the Two-horned (as Alexander was called in the East).
And even though the Spartiates, whom the king forced to honor himself as an Olympian, mockingly declared: “Let’s imagine Alexander, if he so wants, call himself a god,” he still became one. He became an idol of young minds, the embodiment of luck, an exciting legend and amazing pain for his contemporaries and descendants.
Encyclopedia for children. Volume 1. M.: Avanta+, 2000.
Lesson 48. In ancient Alexandria of Egypt
Goals: bring students to an understanding of the reasons for the death of the Persian kingdom and the formation of the power of Alexander the Great, acquaint them with the spread Greek culture in the countries of the Ancient East; continue to develop the skills to correctly show historical objects on a map, work with the textbook text and its illustrations, and compose a story.
Equipment: map “The conquests of Alexander the Great in the 4th century. BC e."
During the classes
Organizing time
Updating students' basic knowledge on the topic
"Alexander the Great's Campaign to the East"
Preparation of an oral response on card No. 38.
Sample student answer
The Persian army consisted of mercenaries, and they could fail at any moment; they were not interested in the results of military operations. The nobility of the Persian state fought for power, the country was turbulent, so such a state was easier to conquer. The conquered and tired of the Persian power could take the side of the Macedonian army, as they wanted to free themselves from the yoke of the satraps. The leadership talent of Alexander the Great played an important role in the defeat of the army of the Persian state. Alexander the Great conquered the following states: Egypt, Phenicia, Mesopotamia, Babylon, India.
Individual work (5-6 people, written on pieces of paper). Test 13.
Working with the class. The solution of the problem.
Homer's poem "The Iliad" accompanied Alexander the Great on all his campaigns. He kept the book under his pillow along with the dagger. The king believed that studying the Iliad was good remedy for the education of military valor. Was Alexander right? (Alexander the Great was right, since the poem is dedicated to the Trojan War, about one of its heroes Achilles. The Greeks won this war, which is probably why Alexander carried this poem with him.)
The student’s oral response on card No. 38 and feedback from classmates (for the feedback plan, see lesson No. 10).
Transition to studying a new topic
Immediately after Alexander the Great passed away, his commanders began to divide the lands that were part of his empire. At the beginning of the 3rd century. BC e. the power of Alexander the Great broke up into many states. The most important of them were: Egyptian, Macedonian and Syrian. Even during the period of his military campaigns, Alexander founded new cities in the conquered territories. The names of the cities bore his name. The capital of the Egyptian kingdom, Alexandria, became one of the most beautiful cities in the Eastern Mediterranean. In many ways this city was similar to the cities of Greece. Why?
Let's get acquainted with the sights of the city of Alexandria.
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How did Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) manage to accomplish the impossible in just a few years - create the greatest empire of the ancient world? There are many answers to this question, and over time there are more and more hypotheses, assumptions and theories. Munich archaeological collection dedicated the exhibition “Alexander the Great - Ruler of the World” to the personality of the ancient commander, examining the phenomenon of Alexander from a biographical point of view. The exhibition consists of ten parts and shows life path ruler and commander, starting from his youth at the Macedonian court in Pele and ending with the mythological image that developed after death - the image of an eternally young hero, a great leader, whom many were inclined to deify.
For this exhibition, the gallery in Rosenheim (Lokschuppen Rosenheim) brought together 450 objects from German and European collections that give an idea of the conditions in which Alexander the Great and his army found themselves during their campaigns to the east. The exhibition catalog, in addition to describing the exhibits, gives short review points of view existing in modern scientific circles, from which we can identify ten reasons why Alexander became truly Great.
Origin
Alexander was the son of the Macedonian king Philip II and the daughter of the Epirus king Olympias. His father, who initially ascended the throne as the guardian of his young nephew, was a talented commander and cautious politician who managed to strengthen Macedonia and make it the center of Hellas. Alexander's mother, the power-hungry and despotic Olympias, had big influence to his childhood. On both his paternal and maternal lines, Alexander was a descendant of Hercules and Perseus, greatest heroes ancient Greek myths. They became an example for him.
Upbringing
Despite the fact that, in addition to Olympias, Philip II had other wives, Alexander received an education worthy of an heir to the throne. Together with his friends from aristocratic families, he studied with Aristotle, who at that time was not as famous as he later became. In addition, Philip II took his son with him on campaigns. At the Battle of Chaeronea (338 BC) against the combined army of the Greek city-states, Alexander commanded the cavalry, whose charge secured victory for the Macedonians.
When Philip II was assassinated in 336, his troops were in Asia Minor to repel the Persian army. More than two decades of military campaigns of Philip II made his army an impressive force: six regiments of heavy infantry - 9,000 warriors armed with long spears; 3000 hypaspists, also with long spears, but more maneuverable; 6000 lightly armed soldiers; 1200 getairs (heavy cavalry), guards and 600 scouts. In addition, Philip II's army included 7,000 Greek hoplites, many mercenaries and several thousand horsemen.
Commander's Talent
Alexander was exactly the person who was able to properly dispose of this army. The huge, clumsy Persian army had no chance against the Macedonians. During the Battle of Gaugamela, Alexander, discovering that the Persians had covered the battlefield with spikes against the cavalry, made a tactical maneuver that forced the enemy army to split, after which the Macedonian cavalry, having avoided the spikes, attacked the Persian king's position. In addition, Alexander could trust his generals and his army, which followed him to the ends of the earth. 
Pragmatism
However, it was not the army that made Alexander the Great the ruler of the world, but, above all, his politics. His power was based not on dogma, but on a sober analysis of existing conditions and on the search for practical solutions. It was precisely for practical reasons that Alexander adopted much of the management system of the Persian Empire.
First of all, Alexander refused to turn Asia into a province of the Macedonian-Greek empire. Instead, he brought the local nobility closer to his court, for whom he secured places in the army and government. Unlike his predecessors, Alexander treated the inhabitants of the conquered lands not as a conqueror, but as the legitimate ruler of their state, respecting their traditions.
Ruthlessness
Whether Alexander was generous only out of calculation or not, he was merciless towards those who resisted him. When Thebes and Athens rebelled against him soon after his accession to the throne, Alexander not only destroyed the armies of these cities, but also wiped Thebes off the face of the earth. The Phoenician city of Tire, which was located on a rocky island and was considered impregnable, refused to submit, but after a seven-month siege it was taken and then destroyed.
The commander Parmenion and his son Philotas were executed. Alexander killed his friend Clitus, who saved his life during the battle on the Granik River. with my own hands, because he opposed the borrowing of eastern customs. Some consider the return of the Macedonian army through the deserts of Gedrosia, which cost the lives of 45 thousand soldiers, as punishment for the riot on the banks of Hypasus.
City building
Alexander founded more than twenty cities in the territory from Egypt to India, they were inhabited by veterans and local residents. These cities were to become not only strongholds for the army, but also centers of Greek culture. Alexandria of Egypt was the most famous of them - one of the centers of trade and science of the ancient world. This and other cities founded by Alexander became a unique link between East and West. 
Development of sciences
Like Napoleon two millennia after him, Alexander kept a large staff of scientists with him. Thus, his campaign also became a large-scale expedition, the goal of which was to reach the end of the world. In order to pave the route from the Indus to the Euphrates, entire flotillas were built. Scientists and philosophers explored and described Asia. The court chronicler Callisthenes, Aristotle's grandnephew, made sure that the world knew about the discoveries made during the campaign. However, Callisthenes ultimately fell out of favor because he resisted the introduction of Persian customs at court (namely the tradition of prostrating before the ruler), and was subsequently executed for his alleged participation in the conspiracy.
Deification
After founding the city in the Nile Delta, Alexander visited the oasis of Siwa in the desert, where the oracle of the god Amun greeted him, calling him “son of the deity,” which befitted him as the new ruler of Egypt. This fact only strengthened his conviction to follow the path of Hercules. In addition, as the ruler of a huge empire, Alexander was automatically classified as a cult figure. In the cities he founded, he was also given honor on a par with the gods. The literally superhuman desire to unite Europe and Asia, which possessed him in the last months of his life, suggests that in the end he himself perceived himself more as an almost divine person than as a mere mortal.
Pursuit
“Passionate desire,” ancient authors wrote when they tried to characterize the motive of Alexander the Great. In fact, it was an all-consuming desire that forced him to imitate the heroes of antiquity, especially Achilles. Alexander wanted to prove that he was one of these heroes, but not in legends, but in reality. He took a fortress in northern Iran only because it was said that Hercules had failed in its siege. From the Indus he wanted to reach the Ganges in order to reach the borders of the lands developed by people there. His troops were ready to capture the Arabian Peninsula, and after him Carthage, but the death of the great commander prevented these plans from coming true. However, “passionate desire” still helped Alexander realize his dream: no one else created such a huge empire.
1) Name two countries in which the world's first states arose. What rivers flow in these countries? 2) Why is the letter created in Mesopotamia calledcuneiform? What features did it have? 3) What did books look like in Ancient Mesopotamia? 4) Where did the oldest alphabet originate? Why are there so many fewer characters in it than in cuneiform and the writing of the ancient Egyptians? 5) What is the name and where was the first part of the Bible created? Which of the Ten Commandments given to Moses in the biblical account do you find most important? 6) In which country did they first mint coins? What advantages did the use of mounts in trade provide? 7) What ancient countries were part of the Persian state under Darius the First?
In the depths of centuries, Lyubov Fedorovna Voronkova, Alexander came out of the tent. He was wearing a double linen armor taken from the booty ofIsse. A light sword hung from his belt. A scarlet cloak of ancient work was thrown over his shoulders, a gift from the Rhodians; Alexander wore it only when going into battle. As always before a battle, the king made a speech. And when he saw that the army was ready for battle, that it was impatiently waiting for his command, Alexander mounted his horse, waved his hand, and the army, which had been waiting for this moment, rushed into the attack. The cavalry galloped. The phalanx, shaking the ground, ran toward the Persians. The Macedonians suddenly fell upon them in their entire mass. It was a storm, an element, an uncontrollable squall. The first ranks of the Persian front immediately broke, its chain was broken. Alexander instantly formed his cavalry detachment of the Eters into a wedge and, at the head of this wedge, with a furious cry, crashed into the thick of the Persian army. Alexander was eager to see Darius. Darius moved his elephants against the Macedonians. The elephants, raising their trunks, ran forward with a roar, trampling and knocking down everyone who came under their feet. From above, from the turrets attached to their backs, the Persian warriors rained arrows and darts. But the lightly armed Macedonian infantry soon stopped this attack. The wounded elephants ran roaring, disobeying their masters. Then many sickle chariots rolled towards the Macedonians, the high wheels flashing menacingly with long sharp knives. Ready for this, the Macedonians speared the horses, which, unconscious from pain, rushed without obeying the charioteers. The charioteers, struck in the face by Macedonian arrows, let go of the reins from their hands and fell from their chariots. Where it was not possible to stop the maddened horses, the Macedonian ranks parted, and the chariots rushed further to the rear. There the Macedonian grooms grabbed the horses by the bridle and led them away along with their chariots. But when these chariots managed to crash into the thick of the army, many wounded and maimed people remained. In a frantic battle, victory leaned first one way, then the other. There were moments when the Macedonians lost heart, seeing the huge mass of Persian troops in front of them, and were ready to falter and break ranks. But Alexander, who changed several horses in the battle, kept up everywhere: he encouraged his soldiers with a cry, and a reproach, and with his example, with his fearlessness. There was a hand-to-hand fight, they fought with swords and spears. Bactrian troops managed to break through the Macedonian front. But, finding themselves in the rear of the Macedonians, they immediately rushed to plunder their rich baggage train, forgetting about the battle. Meanwhile, Alexander, seeing that where the Bactrians stood, the Persian army had thinned out, broke through these weakened ranks. He almost got surrounded, but the loyal Agrian horsemen attacked the Persians who surrounded the king. Here both systems mixed - both Persian and Macedonian. Now the two kings stood in battle against each other: Darius on a chariot, Alexander on a horse, both surrounded by their chosen troops. The Persians desperately defended their king, but Alexander fought his way to him stubbornly, stubbornly, uncontrollably. He had already seen Darius’s face, saw how it was distorted with horror... Issus is repeated again, Persian soldiers are falling around him again, and the horses in his royal chariot begin to rear up... Alexander is getting closer to Darius. And behind Alexander’s back his terrible phalanx is pressing... The end! End! Darius's nerves could not stand it - he grabbed the akinak to commit suicide. But the hope of escape stopped his hand. He threw away the dagger and again, as at Issus, was the first to turn the chariot and drive the horses. The king ran and the army ran; none of the military leaders took over command. The army broke up into detachments, into tribes that were powerless before Alexander’s tightly united army.
In what battle did Alexander the Great finally defeat the Persian kingdom?
Which city did Alexander the Great make his capital after conquering Asia?
1) Name two countries in which the world's first states arose. What rivers flow in these countries?2) Why is the writing created in Mesopotamia called cuneiform? What features did it have?
3) What did books look like in Ancient Mesopotamia?
4) Where did the oldest alphabet originate? Why are there so many fewer characters in it than in cuneiform and the writing of the ancient Egyptians?
5) What is the name and where was the first part of the Bible created? Which of the Ten Commandments given to Moses in the biblical account do you find most important?
6) In which country did they first mint coins? What advantages did the use of mounts in trade provide? 7) What ancient countries were part of the Persian state under Darius the First?
Macedonian made his capital after the conquest of Asia?
answer:+1 in detail:+2 with a picture:+3 excerpt from the book:+4 wonderful:+5
Several decades before Alexander's campaign, the balance of power in Greece and Persia changed. The Achaemenid Empire weakened, but remained a major military power and continued to control the Greek states in Asia Minor. Macedonia, as a result of the efforts of energetic kings and, especially, Philip II, from a secondary backward kingdom became the strongest state in the Balkans.
Imposed on the Greeks in 386 BC. The "Tsar's Peace" became a major national humiliation and aroused hatred of the Persians. He returned the Greeks of Asia Minor under the rule of Persia, and Artaxerxes II himself became an arbiter in intercity relations.
In the 4th century BC. the kings of Persia returned to their control the Greek cities of Asia Minor and interfered in the internal affairs of Balkan Greece. In Greece, the ideas of contrasting Greeks and barbarians (representatives of other peoples) and panhellenism - the political unification of Hellas - became popular. Ideas of a pan-Greek military campaign against Persia were expressed. In the 380s BC. The idea of the campaign was put forward by the orator Isocrates. IN different years he saw different states as leaders of the campaign, ultimately settling on Philip II. Xenophon wrote in Cyropaedia that modern Persians had become weak and called for a campaign against them.
In the 340s BC. The pro-Macedonian Greeks looked to Philip as the new leader of all Greece. In the 340s BC. he expanded the possessions of Macedonia and conquered lands in the Hellespont region. This displeased Persia. In 340 BC. The satraps of Asia Minor sent mercenaries, money, food and weapons to the Greek city of Perinth and thereby prevented Philip from capturing it.
After the Battle of Chaeronea, Philip II created the all-Greek League of Corinth and proclaimed its goal a campaign against Persia. A year later, the Macedonian corps of the military leader Parmenion entered Asia Minor. The goal was the liberation of the Greeks of Asia Minor. After the tragic death of Philip II, the corps was recalled.
Alexander the Great's invasion of the Persian Empire
In 334 BC. Alexander the Great landed in Asia Minor with an army. Near the Hellespont on the Granicus River he won his first victory over the Persians. Phrygia and Lydia surrendered to Alexander without a fight. After this, he moved along the Asia Minor coast to deprive the Persians of ports in the Aegean Sea. Greek cities went over to his side. Only Miletus and Halicarnassus had to be stormed. In the liberated Greek city-states, he established a democratic form of government.
In 333 BC. Alexander completed the conquest of Asia Minor and entered Cilicia. There he was met with his army by the king of Persia, Darius III. Alexander defeated him at the Battle of Issus.
After his victory in Cilicia, Alexander moved to Syria. Damascus and most of the Phoenician cities surrendered to him without a fight. After a tense siege, the Macedonians took the largest Phoenician city of Tire and Arab Gaza. Alexander created a strong fleet of Cypriot and Phoenician ships.
In 332 BC. The Macedonian army entered Egypt. The satrap of this country surrendered without a fight. In Egypt, Alexander was crowned with a double crown according to local customs and proclaimed pharaoh. He was called the son of the god Amun. On the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the king founded the city of Alexandria.
A year later, Alexander returned to Syria with his army. In the autumn he met with the new army of Darius III at Gaugamela. The Macedonians were victorious again. Darius II retired to Media I with the remnants of his troops. The satrap of Babylonia surrendered its capital to the Macedonians without a fight. After entering Babylon, Alexander occupied Elam and Persia.
In 330 BC. the conqueror continued to pursue Darius, who retreated from Media to Eastern Iran. The King of Persia was gathering a new army from the eastern provinces. The satrap of Bactria, Bessus, killed Darius III and named himself the next king under the throne name of Artaxerxes. In 329 BC. Alexander occupied Bactria and executed the captured Bessus. Bactria and Sogdiana were subjugated by 327 BC.
Alexander's policy in Persia
Alexander tried to create an empire where Persian traditions were preserved. He made Babylon his capital. Returning from the eastern campaign, the king married the daughters of Darius III and Artaxerxes III. Alexander organized the marriages of his associates with Persian women from noble families. A year before his death in Susa, he arranged a grand wedding of the Greek-Macedonian elite with the daughters of Persian families.
The Macedonian conqueror attracted noble Persians to his court. After Gaugamela, the satrap of Babylonia Mazeus surrendered the capital of the governorship without a fight. Alexander retained this post for him. The fate of Mazeus became an example for other Persians. Later, the king of Macedonia greeted Ariobarzanes with honor, who remained loyal to Darius III to the end and refused to join Bessus when he overthrew the king.
Persian lands after the conquest
Alexander's campaign changed the history of the region. The Achaemenid Empire was replaced by several states founded by the king's associates. The Seleucid Empire, centered in Babylon, inherited some of the traditions of the Persian Empire. In this state there was a division into satrapies, which were territorially different from the Persian ones. Babylonia, the center of the Achaemenid Empire, became the center of a new state of conquerors.
200 years before the campaigns of Alexander the Great began, Persia was considered the most invincible country in the world. She successfully conquered countries one by one, destroyed cities and had hundreds of thousands of prisoners, the number of which increased after each battle. That is why most historians have a logical question: why Alexander the Great was able to conquer the Persian state. There are many answers to this question, including frankly mystical, logical and fully substantiated by historical documents.
Persia is powerful and weak
If we begin to consider the reasons why Alexander the Great was able to conquer the Persian state, then we should immediately focus on time - 200 years have passed since the time of a powerful country with a huge army. During this war, it was not Xerxes who ruled, but Darius III, the soldiers had little experience, and the main goal of the government was two actions:
collection of taxes from subordinate lands;
fending off attacks from smaller neighbors.
TO strengths included a large army, a large number of fortified castles and huge reserves of gold that were taken from all over the world. King Darius III was a very proud commander, and his army consisted of well-armed infantry and heavy cavalry, which struck fear into most of his opponents. In addition, Greek mercenaries occupied a special place.
Campaigns
It was the appearance of a strong army that became the first reason why the Persians lost all the key battles in turn. Among the most significant mistakes of the commanders of the once powerful empire are:
Granik. The army was grouped on only one section of the coast, thanks to which the cavalry of the still inexperienced Alexander easily surrounded and destroyed the defenders. The Greek mercenaries were not even allowed to approach the battlefield, after which they were also killed.
Rock of Sogdiana. The defenders in the mountain fortress did not expect that a detachment of military men would climb the rocks without weapons, which is why the day before they made fun of the besiegers instead of preparing everyone possible options. In the morning, a surprise awaited them in the form of a crowd of military men watching from above, after which the surrender took place without a fight.
Gaugamela. Darius III kept his army in full uniform all night, because he was afraid of an attack from the Macedonians, and the latter were getting enough sleep at that time. As a result, the meeting with a ratio of 20 to 1 ended in victory for the small, well-rested army.
Considering all the factors described above, there is no longer any doubt why Alexander the Great was able to conquer the Persian state. Such a conclusion to the campaigns was logical and natural for a young and talented commander, while the time of the old empire and its relevance had long been exhausted.
Most historians agree that the reasons for the victory were several criteria: the genius of the commander and the use of military science as a science, as well as the unpreparedness and relaxation of the armies of the Persian Empire.
