Alexander the Great
Alexander III:':, king of Macedonia, is known as Alexander tbe Great. In his short life he conquered all parts of tbe world that were known to his people. Alexander was born in 356 bc in Pella, tbe capital of Macedonia, a kingdom to tbe north of tbe Greek states. The Greek philosopher Aristotle gave him lessons. But Alexander’s chief interest was war. In 338 bc Alexander’s father, Philip II, brought all tbe Greek city-states except Sparta under his rule. Young Alexander commanded one section of tbe Macedonian army. In 336 bc Philip II was killed and Alexander became king. He soon won tbe loyalty of nearly all tbe Greek states. In 334 bc he brought together a large army and invaded Persia. He freed tbe Greek settlements in Asia Minor from Persian rule and made them his allies. In 333 bc Alexander defeated King Darius III of Persia, at Issus. Alexander then marched southward along tbe coast of Phoenicia. Late in 332 bc Alexander took Egypt from tbe Persians and became pharaoh. He then controlled tbe whole eastern Mediterranean. Near tbe Nile River he founded tbe city of Alexandria. In 331 bc Alexander went back into Asia and again defeated Darius. Then he was called king of Asia. Soon afterward he captured Babylon, and Susa, tbe Persian capital. Many of Alexander’s men wanted to go home, but instead he had them advance further into Asia. In 327 bc Alexander went to India. There he fought his last great battle. He defeated tbe Indians and founded two cities. At this point Alexander’s men refused to go farther. In 324 bc Alexander returned to Susa. The next year Alexander went to Babylon. Weakened by his travels and battles, he died there of a fever. His body was eventually placed in a golden coffin in Alexandria, Egypt. His generals divided up his empire.