Alexander the Great
Kimberly Howard and Mina Knapp-Castillo
The Conquer of Greece
In the 4th Century King Phillip of Macedonia took advantage of the disunity of the Greek city states, defeating an Athens. Despite his victory, Phillip was assassinated in 336, the 20 year old Alexander became the new king of Macedonia. He immediately ordered the execution of all of his potential rivals and marched south with his armies in a campaign to solidify control of Greece.
The Conquer of Persia
His victory at the battle of Gautama on the Persian plains was a decisive conquest that insured the defeat of his Persian rival King Darius III. Darius was prepared for battle having selected this spot to meet his enemy. After his defeat at Issus two years previously, Darius made sure that this battleground favored his army and its tactics - particularly the use of his feared scythe-wheeled chariots. The ground here was flat, perfect for chariots. Darius made it even flatter by ordering the terrain plowed and leveled. All was ready and on October 1, 331 BC the Persian army of possibly 200,000 (ancient texts exaggerate the number up to 1 million) faced off against Alexander's 35,000. The Macedonian leader immediately sized up the Persian's tactical advantage and countered by ordering his cavalry to shift to the right hoping to move his enemy away from its flat field. Darius took the bait ordering his troops to follow. Soon the Persians found themselves on rough, rock-strewn terrain. Seeing the thinning Persian line, Alexander led the charge that crashed through to the Persian rear. As at the battle of Issus, Darius fled, leaving the field and victory to Alexander.
The Conquer of India
This was a battle to remember Alexander. This had happened after he met at a river with King Porus, who came armed with large military forces and something new to battle--- Elephants. Porus thought the river was a good tactic because Alexander and his troops could not cross the river because it was monsoon season, but was then proved wrong by Alexander dividing the troops into 3 groups in which he led one upstream using the heavy rains to conceal his actions they then quickly crossed the river, surprising the enemy with a full-scale attack. He attacked Porus's foot soldiers, cavalry, and elephants. Then he sent his cavalry to attack the rear and one by one they picked off elephant riders scaring the elephants into attacking Porus's own army. Finally he went in with his infantry to end the war once and for all surrounding the last of Porus's troops causing him to surrender.
The Conquer of Egypt
For the previous 20 years prior, the Persians had ruled over Egypt, and the Egyptians welcomed Alexander more as a savior rather than an invader. The Egyptians sought that Alexander would show more respect for their religious practices and cultural traditions rather than how the Persians had disrespected them. Rather than the need to conquer over Egypt, Alexander was treated as a King as he had the opportunity to visit the oasis, and according to legend, upon arrival, the priests had greeted him as the true "Son of the King of the Gods."
In the chance he got he asked several questions, even asking if the most significant of will he be able to conquer the whole world, the answer being yes. Lastly, before Alexander left Egypt he named a city after himself; Alexandria, a site northwest of the city of Memphis.