Alexander the great

Birth of alexander

356 BCE

Alexander is born in 356 B.C., at Pella in Macedonia, the son of King Philip II and Olympias.

Childhood

343 BCE

His first tutor, Leonidas, teaches Alexander math and military skills, such as archery and horsemanship.He trains Alexander to be physically tough. In 343 B.C., Philip hires the Greek philosopher Aristotle to tutor Alexander. Over the next three years, Aristotle teaches Alexander to appreciate philosophy, geography, Greek poetry, and scientific investigation. Alexander particularly
loves Homer's Iliad, which inspires him to dream
of becoming a great warrior.

Teenage years

340 BCE

In 340 B.C., at age
16, Alexander finishes studying under Aristotle
and joins his father's army. By this point, Philip
controls all the Greek city-states except Athens
and Thebes. He aims to unite the Macedonians
and Greeks and invade the Persian Empire.

Alexander in battle

338 BCE

In August 338 B.C., the Macedonians meet the Athenians and Thebans in battle at Chaeronea. Alexander leads the attack against the Thebans, while his father leads the attack against the Athenians. It is Alexander's first taste of battle, and he and his father defeat the Greeks, placing all Greek city-states except Sparta under Macedonian control.

The new king of Macedonia

336 BCE

In October 336 BCE, Philip celebrates his upcoming departure to attack Persia, as well as the marriage of his daughter Cleopatra. However, one of his bodyguards assassinates him in the theater of Agae. Alexander becomes king of Macedonia at the age of 20.

Continuing his fathers legacy

335 BCE

In the Spring of 335 B.C., the Thracians and Illyrians rise up in rebellion. This inspires the Greek city- state of Thebes to rebel, and Alexander quickly besieges the city and razes it to the ground. The inhabitants are executed or sold into slavery, showing the other city-states that Alexander is just as powerful as his father. After subduing rebellious Greek city-states, Alexander plans his campaign against the Persians, hoping to fulfill his father's dream of conquering the empire.

Alexander's conquering

334 BCE

In June 334 B.C., Alexander leads the Macedonian army against the Persians at the Granicus river. After savage fighting, the Persians retreat, and Alexander's army moves across the southern coast of Asia toward Gordium. As they travel, they liberate a number of cities from Persian rule. Alexander spends the winter of 333 BCE at Gordium, in present-day Turkey.

His conquering continues

331 BCE

After conquering Syria, Alexander sweeps south and easily conquers Egypt after besieging Gaza. In 331 BCE, he creates the city of Alexandria, which is meant to be a hub of Greek commerce and culture. This is justone of many cities he names after himself during his conquests. Alexander and Darius, king of the Persians, meet at Gaugamela in a decisive battle. Alexander's military skills overwhelm Darius, who orders his men to flee, and the Macedonians are victorious.

Turning point for Alexander

328 BCE

Suffering from the tensions of warfare and command, Alexander becomes drunk at a banquet in the fall of 328 B.C. He and his close companion Cleitus, who saved his life at the battle of Granicus, fall into an argument. Alexander accidentally stabs Cleitus with a spear, and is filled with remorse at Cleitus' death. However, this incident marks a turning point for Alexander, whose officers begin to fear him.

Death of alexander

323 BCE

In May 326 B.C., hoping to add even more territory to his empire, Alexander and his troops cross the Hindu Kush into northern India. After several months in India, however, Alexander's army refuses to go any farther, and he is forced to return to Babylon. He spends the next few years trying to consolidate power in his
empire. Before he can set
out on his new campaign,
Alexander falls ill with a
sudden fever and dies at the
age of 32 in June 323 B.C.

The end of an era

320 BCE

According to legend, he leaves his empire to "the strongest" of his commanders, but after his death, his empire falls into disorder. His three commanders divide up the empire and compete for control.