Changes

Once Alexander reconquered [[Greece]], he decided to put into action his father’s plan of conquering Persia, led by the Persian king [[Darius]]. He formed an army of thirty thousand foot soldiers, five thousand cavalry men, and engineers to build siege engines.

Once Alexander reconquered [[Greece]], he decided to put into action his father’s plan of conquering Persia, led by the Persian king [[Darius]]. He formed an army of thirty thousand foot soldiers, five thousand cavalry men, and engineers to build siege engines.

In four years Alexander conquered the Phoenician cities of [[Tyre]] and [[Sidon]], the countries of [[Canaan]] and [[Egypt]], the Persian cities of [[Susa]] and [[Persepolis]], and many other lands. Wherever he went, Alexander triumphed and spread Greek language and culture. Palestine fell in 332, and Greek conquest and [[Hellenization]] became a new threat to [[Judaism]] and its traditions.  The Persians offered resistance to Alexander with massive armies in two great battles, the [[Battle of Issus]] in 333 and the [[Battle of Arbela]] in 331 both of which Alexander won.  The Persian capital was captured and sacked shortly after that.  Alexander wasn't satisfied with just conquering Persia.  He also wanted to conquer the unknown and continued east into [[India]].  Finally when he reached the [[Indus River]], his homesick army decided that they would go no farther. Alexander sadly withdraw from extending his military conquests and decided to set up a capital for his new empire in [[Babylon]]. He had never been defeated in battle.  Alexander sought to bring about a blending of Greek and Persian cultures, even encouraging his men to take Persian wives.  In 323 BC, after a period of very heavy drinking and homosexual revelry, Alexander died of fever.  He had ruled in Babylon for about a year.  To what extent he could have continued to bring about a harmony of cultures is unknown.  Failing to appoint a heir to carry on his legacy, his vast Empire descended into a generation of civil strife aka [[the Wars of the Diadochi]] upon his death.  When the dust cleared, his empire had been broken into 4 different parts, never again to re-emerge.

In four years Alexander conquered the Phoenician cities of [[Tyre]] and [[Sidon]], the countries of [[Canaan]] and [[Egypt]], the Persian cities of [[Susa]] and [[Persepolis]], and many other lands. Wherever he went, Alexander triumphed and spread Greek language and culture. Palestine fell in 332, and Greek conquest and [[Hellenization]] became a new threat to [[Judaism]] and its traditions.  The Persians offered resistance to Alexander with massive armies in two great battles, the [[Battle of Issus]] in 333 and the [[Battle of Arbela]] in 331 both of which Alexander won.  The Persian capital was captured and sacked shortly after that.  Alexander wasn't satisfied with just conquering Persia.  He also wanted to conquer the unknown and continued east into [[India]].  Finally when he reached the [[Indus River]], his homesick army decided that they would go no farther. Alexander sadly withdraw from extending his military conquests and decided to set up a capital for his new empire in [[Babylon]]. He had never been defeated in battle.  Alexander sought to bring about a blending of Greek and Persian cultures, even encouraging his men to take Persian wives.  In 323 BC, after a period of very heavy drinking, Alexander died of fever.  He had ruled in Babylon for about a year.  To what extent he could have continued to bring about a harmony of cultures is unknown.  Failing to appoint a heir to carry on his legacy, his vast Empire descended into a generation of civil strife aka [[the Wars of the Diadochi]] upon his death.  When the dust cleared, his empire had been broken into 4 different parts, never again to re-emerge.

Although never mentioned by name, it is commonly believed that the [[book of Daniel]] in the [[Bible]] makes reference to Alexander and his sudden demise.

Although never mentioned by name, it is commonly believed that the [[book of Daniel]] in the [[Bible]] makes reference to Alexander and his sudden demise.