Week 4b special question

When Alexander was 19 he became king of Macedonia when his father was assassinated along with the countries of Greece that his father had conquered. Alexander launched a long campaign to take over Persia to avenge the Persian wrongs they had done only 150 years ago when they invaded Greece. This campaign lasted 10 years and alexander was victorious. He never lost a single battle; he was undefeated. Alexander’s journey was entirely worth it; however what happened after his death destroyed what he worked so hard to build.

The first major battle against the Persians was the battle of Issus. “Alexander had not yet even gotten out of turkey. He was still trying to get down the mountains and find the way to the sea. Darius however was waiting for him.”(Boise state university) Alexander had to get across a river to fight his opponent Darius. He had Parmenio lead an attack left and Alexander took his force from the right straight at Darius. Darius got scared and fled which made the entire Persian force collapse. (Boise state university). The Biggest and could be said most influential battle against the Persian Empire was Gaugamela.  The Persians Outnumbered the Greeks by at least 4-1. However, Alexander had a plan. Alexander led his Calvary way right leading the Persians Calvary chasing him and his Calvary thinking they can take alexander by himself. But in a feat of wit, on alexander’s signal the Calvary turned and headed straight for Darius.  Again the Persian leader fled (YouTube video we watched). But alexander forced him out of his empire and took over the capital, burned the palace, and became ruler of Persia.

Alexander came through turkey and down the coast into Egypt. When he arrived in Egypt he was greeted warmly. In fact, the welcomed him in and made him pharaoh (Michael wood). When Alexander came into Egypt he walked across the desert to an oasis known as Siwa. It was here where alexander started his own myth. When he came to the temple the oracle there came out and said he had been waiting for Alexander and Alexander was the son of the god Zeus (movie).  Alexander accepted this and embraced it throughout his conquest and every one believed it.

After Alexander defeated Darius for a second time he continued to chase him up into Afghanistan.  But as the King got closer and closer to Darius and his fleeing army Alexander found him face down dead in a pool of water (movie). Alexander felt sorry for the king and chased after Bessus up to the Hindu Kush Mountains. In order to catch Bessus Alexander ordered his army to go through the Mountains. He led his troops through the Mountain range and caught Bessus who thought he had lost Alexander (movie). Alexander took Bessus and ordered that he be killed by stake back in Babylon. (movie) this marked the end of the Persian Empire.

After conquering the known world Alexander traveled to india and attempted to take it over. Alexander slaughtered everyone there. In panic the people fled to a mountain base called aornos. This fortress was unreachable by alexander because of a valley between them. So alexander ordered his engeneers to build towers and a bridge. In seven days’ time Alexander was able to siege the fortress. His siege equipment put constant firs on the base while alexander leads his men to the base.  The people at the base tried to surrender but alexander slaughtered everyone. (movie/Wikipedia)

Through Alexander’s journey he was told he was a god, conquered the greatest empire of their time, and sieged a base not even Hercules could take over. Alexander built the largest empire in the known world, and his generals separated it after his death. Alexander’s journey was worth it but the aftermath of the conquest when Alexander dies makes it not worth it.