ALEXANDER BUILDS AN EMPIRE

Alexander was only 20 when he became king. Alexander's dad, Philip II had trained Alexander very carefully for leadership since he was very young. As a boy Alexander would ride to the battle front with his father, at the age of 16 Alexander had became commander of the Macedonian army

By the time his dad died, Alexander was ready to be king and, he was also ready to fulfill his dad's dream, the invasion of the Persia Empire. By spring of 332 B.C., he had invaded Asia Minor with about 37000 foot soldiers and 5000 mounted soldiers. With Alexander at their head they destroyed the forces of the local satraps at the battle of Granicus.

By the next year Alexander had freed Greek cities in Asia Minor from Persian rule and defeated a large Persian army at Issues. By winter of 332 B.C. he had captured Syria and Egypt. After that he built the greatest city of the time, Alexandria as a center of business. By the age 25 he had was the leader of Greece, overlord of Asia Minor, pharaoh of Egypt, and Great King of Persia.

Eight years after becoming great king of Persia he led army further 11000 miles from his empire, founding 70 more cities and creating an empire that stretch over three continents and around 2 million square miles.

The entire area from Greece in the west, north to Danube, South into Egypt and as Far East as the Indian Punjab, was linked together in one vast international network of trade and commerce. It was all united by common Greek language and culture, while Alexander adopted foreign customs in order in order to rule millions of ethnically divers subjects.

Alexander was acknowledged as a military genius who always lead by example, although his belief in his own indestructibility meant he was often reckless with the life of his own soldiers. The fact that his army only refused to follow him once in 13 years of reign during which there was constant fighting, indicates the loyalty he inspired.
He died of a fever in Babylon in June of 323 BC.

Untitled Slide

• At the age of 20 he became king of Macédoine
• Built one of the greatest cities of the ancient world and named it after him self

PAGE 177 SECTION 3

• Alexanders empire extended to which river to the east?
• Which city of Alexanders was in Egypt?

Untitled Slide

SYRIA

• It's southwestern of Asian country on the east side of the Mediterranean Sea.

ALEXANDRIA

• As a center of business and trade.
• The city became one of the most important cities in the ancient world.

Untitled Slide