For Alexander wanted to fuse the cultures of all the peoples that he conquered. Alexander’s greatest impacts on history comes from his policy of cultural exchange, his policy of unclear succession which the break up of his empire upon his death, and the reputation that he established.Īrguable the most important aspect of Alexander’s conquests was his policies of cultural exchange. While Alexander the Great is most known for his conquests, that is only one reason why he is one of the most significant men to ever live. It was here that Alexander became ill dying a few days later at the age of 35 on June 11, 323 BC. On his journey back to Macedonia, Alexander and his troops rested in the city of Babylon. Alexander was quite successful for the short time that he spent in India, but was forced to return to his home due to mutinies among his troops, who had grown homesick after being at war for 15 years. With the Persian empire effectively destroyed Alexander turned his attention to the realm which bordered his new empire, India. The second defeat of Darius allowed Alexander to enter the Persian heartland and conquer the Persian capital at Persepolis. The Macedonians and Persians met at Gaugamela (near modern-day Mosul, Iraq), and once more Darius was defeated. By the time Alexander had conquered all of these regions, Darius had managed to muster another army. With Darius temporarily defeated Alexander was free to conquer the Levant, Syria, and Egypt virtually unopposed. Alexander was initially losing the battle, but managed to turn the tide when he charged Darius’s position, causing the Persian King to flee. When he had finished conquering Turkey, he battled and defeated the main Persian royal army that was personally led by the Persian King, Darius III. His heavily armed and armored spear men made easy work of the armies of the Persian satraps (governors) in Turkey. After securing his succession, Alexander crossed into Turkey in the year 334 BC with a massive army, beginning the war with Persia, in the process. Before these plans could be realized Phillip was assassinated, leading the crown to pass to Alexander. The reason for this was that Phillip was preparing an invasion of the Persian Empire and did not want the Greeks to rebel while he was off campaigning. It was during this time that Alexander established his reputation as a ruthless commander, for he would completely raze any cities that took up arms against his father’s rule. Many of these missions dealt with quelling rebellion within the Macedonian holdings in Greece. After proving his competence as a general, Phillip continued to give Alexander military assignments in Greece for the next 4 years. He did so to crush a revolt that had sprung up in Thrace, while his father was campaigning against the city-state Bzyantion. While his conquests are very frequently mentioned, the historical significance of his empire is very often minimized.Īlexander’s life does not really become noteworthy until the age of 16 (the year is 340 BC), when Alexander took command of his first army. Alexander’s empire spanned from the Balkans to the Indus. Alexander the Great is best known as a conqueror and with good reason. In 321 BC, two years after Alexander's death, Chandragupta Maurya of Magadha founded the Maurya Empire in India.While you might not have heard about many people on this list, I am certain that you have heard about Alexander the Great. Therefore, Alexander turned south, advancing through southern Punjab and Sindh, along the way conquering more tribes along the lower Indus River, before returning into the west.Īlexander died in Babylon on 10 or 11 June 323 BC. Subsequently, his army refused to cross the Beas River, fearful of the powerful Nanda Empire which lay to the East along the banks of the Ganges. The Battle of the Hydaspes river against a regional Indian King, Porus, is considered by many as the most costly battle fought by Alexander and his armies. The rationale for this campaign is usually said to be Alexander's desire to conquer the entire known world, which the Greeks thought ended in India.Īfter gaining control of the former Achaemenid satrapy of Gandhara, including the city of Taxila, Alexander advanced into Punjab. After conquering the Achaemenid Empire of Persia, the Macedonian king (and now the great king of the Persian Empire), Alexander, launched a campaign into the Indian subcontinent. The Indian campaign of Alexander the Great began in 326 BC.
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