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History of Macedon
Alexander the Great inherited most of Greece that had been conquered
by his father Philip II. Alexander III used the military techniques developed
by Philip II to conquer the 200 year old Persian Empire all the way to
what is now India. This was a great military accomplishment, although most
of the Persian Empire was subjugated and frequetly did not put up much
of a fight. One important battle was directly commanded by the Persian King Darius III.
The Persians had drafted a huge army, and dressed them lavishly with gold
trim to show the invincibility and might of the Persian empire. Darius III
brought his whole family to watch the parade. This impressive show was
meant to scare the enemy into submission, Alexander III was expected to simply
accept the fact that no one could withstand the great Persian Empire, but
Alexander's relatively small force was not scared. Alexander III put his men
in the Greek Phalanx formation, 1000 men wide by 16 men deep. The Phalax
was a human tank completely protected (sides and top) by shields with 16
spears per rank pointing out the front. The poorly trained Persian forces
could not stand against this human tank and fled. The Persian army reorganized,
but was defeated by Alexander III at the battle of Gaugamela in 331 BC. Alexander III
continued to Persepolis (the Persian ceremonial capital) and burned the city in
revenge for the Persians destruction of Athens. Alexander III continued east. He
reached the Indus river (India) in 327 BC. Alexander's troops refused to go any
further. Alexander III returned to Babylon where he died on 13 June 323, without
naming a successor. It is said that on his death bed he was asked who his successor
should be he replied - the strongest.
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