Macedonia's Invasion of Greece and Alexander the Great

Macedonia's roots and early beginning

Macedonians were viewed as barbarians by the Greeks. The Macedonians were rural people organized into groups, not city-states like Greece. In the 5th century BC, however, Macedonia emerged as a powerful empire and was a force to be reckoned with. 

Phillip and Alexander

By 359 BC, Phillip the II came to throne, and transformed Macedonia form a rural state to a thriving, powerful empire and chief power of the Greek world. He was a longtime admirer of Greek culture and longed to unite Greece under Macedonia. The Athenians however, resisted, and united with other city-states to fight in the battle of Chaeronea near Thebes in 338 BC. The Macedonian empire defeated the Greeks with ease. 

Phillip the II rid the Greek city-states of their freedom and insisted that they form a league to undertake Persia. Before he can complete the massive invasion of Persia, however, Phillip was assassinated, hence leaving the difficult task to his son Alexander. 

Alexander the Great was only 20 years old when he took over as king. However, he was very well prepared for his leadership role, as his father took him on his military campaigns, hence giving him a vast, extensive military training. After his father's death, Alexander moved quickly to fulfill his father's dreams of invading Persia. Alexander was driven by glory and conquest, as well as revenge for the Persian burning of Athens in 480 BC. 

Alexander's Conquests

By attacking the Persian Empire Alexander was taking a huge risk. Although weakened, Persia was still a powerful empire in the spring of 334 BC when Alexander entered Asia Minor with an army of 37,000 men, both Macedonians and Greeks. The cavalry (soldiers who fought on horses) played a crucial striking force and made up about 5,000 soldiers in the army. 

The following year Alexander freed all Ionian Greek cities in Asia Minor from Persian control after defeating a large Persian empire at Issus. Afterwards, Alexander continued his campaign by turning South, and by the winter of 332 BC, Alexander had Egypt and Syria under his control. He then built the Greek capital Alexandria in Egypt which remains to be one of the most important cities in Egypt and the Mediterranean world. It was the first of a series of cities named after Alexander. 

Alexander gained control of the rest of the Persian Empire by turning east and fighting the decisive battle with Persia at Gaugamela, not far from Babylon. Over the next 3 years, he moved as far as modern-day Pakistan, and in 326 BC, he reached India where the campaigning became difficult. His soldiers refused to go further, thus Alexander agreed to return home. He led his troops across the desert of present day southern Iran where many of his troops were dying of thirst. Eventually, Alexander returned to Babylon where he planned to recharge and continue his conquests, however, Alexander died in 323 BC, as he was exhausted from wounds, fever, and too much alcohol. He was only 32 years old.

Alexander's Legacy

Alexander's success can be attributed to his excellent leadership and military skills. He was considered a master of strategy and tactics, as well as being able to fight in all kinds of terrains against various opponents. He was brave and even a bit reckless, ready to risk his own life, and these traits inspired others to follow him in his vast campaigns. 

Alexander the Great left an immense legacy. He expanded his empire to vast lengths. His successors attempted to imitate him by using force and claims of divine rule to create military monarchies. Nevertheless, mainland Greeks remained devoted to the concept of city-states, yet monarchies were still developed as a part of Alexander's extremely influential political legacy. 

Moreover, Alexander left a cultural legacy as Greek language, art, architecture, literature, and religious diversity spread through parts of Asia and Northern Africa. The diffusion of these cultures led to the formation of a new culture known as Hellenism.