Class 3/15, Alexander the Great

Notes:

• Macedonia- north of Greece, rough terrain, cold climate, people lived in mountain villages, thought of themselves as Greeks, had fearless kings
• Greeks looked down on Macedonians 
• Philip II, King of Macedonia- 23 years old when he came to be king, brilliant general, ruthless politician, transformed army, organized phalanxes 16 men by 16 men, each had 18-foot pike, used fast cavalry against enemies and defeated them (northern enemies), began to plan to invade Greece
• Demosthenes (Greek orator) tried to warn Greeks of Philip
• He urged them to unite but city-states could not agree
• 338 BC Athens and Thebes unite to fight Philip but the Greeks had already been defeated at the battle of Chaeronea
• Greek independence ends
• City-states retained self-government in local affairs 
• Greece all together was under the control of Macedonia (Philip)
• Philip was murdered and his son Alexander immediately took King of Macedonia for himself 
• Alexander the Great- 20 years old, well prepared, taught by Aristotle, enjoyed Homer's work, learned how to ride a horse, use weapons, and command troops as a boy