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=== The Persian Empire versus Athens, and the Persian Wars (500-479 B.C.) ===

=== The Persian Empire versus Athens, and the Persian Wars (500-479 B.C.) ===

Nothing unites two rivals as well as a common enemy.  From 500 to 450 B.C. Athens and Sparta had a common enemy:  the Persian empire, located where Iran is today.

Nothing unites two rivals as well as a common enemy.  From 500 B.C. into the early 400s B.C. (e.g. 490s and 480s), Athens and Sparta had a common enemy:  the Persian empire, located where Iran is today.

In 530 B.C., the Persian empire formed under a powerful ruler named Cyrus, who established the Achaemenid dynasty.  He conquered the Medes and established trade routes to India and the Mediterranean.  In 525 B.C., Cyrus's son Cambyses expanded the empire further to Egypt and parts of Arabia.  He established loyal governors in distant lands known as "satraps", who were carefully watched by a special force called the "King's Eyes and Ears" to prevent any rebellions.  The distant lands sent taxes and soldiers to the king; in return the king protected them and allowed local customs and traditions to continue (most other empires harshly suppressed local customs).  The Persian empire founded their own religion called Zoroastrainaism, which described life as a struggle between good and evil in the expectation that good would ultimately prevail.  Its sacred text was called "Avesta".

In 530 B.C., the Persian empire formed under a powerful ruler named Cyrus, who established the Achaemenid dynasty.  He conquered the Medes and established trade routes to India and the Mediterranean.  In 525 B.C., Cyrus's son Cambyses expanded the empire further to Egypt and parts of Arabia.  He established loyal governors in distant lands known as "satraps", who were carefully watched by a special force called the "King's Eyes and Ears" to prevent any rebellions.  The distant lands sent taxes and soldiers to the king; in return the king protected them and allowed local customs and traditions to continue (most other empires harshly suppressed local customs).  The Persian empire founded their own religion called Zoroastrainaism, which described life as a struggle between good and evil in the expectation that good would ultimately prevail.  Its sacred text was called "Avesta".

== The Hellenistic Age ==

== The Hellenistic Age ==

The term "Hellenistic" means anything related to Greek history, culture or art '''after''' the life of one remarkable man named "Alexander the Great," who lived from 356 to 323 B.C. and nearly conquered the entire world of his day.  Alexander was not really Greek himself, as he came from Macedonia (the region north of Athens, Corinth and Sparta).  But he spread the Greek culture far and wide with his extraordinary military conquests, the equal of which has never been seen since.

The term "Hellenistic" means anything related to Greek history, culture or art '''after''' the life of one remarkable man named "Alexander the Great," who lived from 356 to 323 B.C. and conquered nearly the entire world of his day.  Alexander was not originally Greek himself, as he came from Macedonia (the region north of Athens, Corinth and Sparta).  But he spread the Greek culture far and wide with his extraordinary military conquests, the equal of which has never been seen since.

The kingdom of Macedon was formed in the 7th century B.C. and became Greek in culture and language by the 5th century B.C., even though the Greeks considered Macedonians to be barbarians.  Philip II of Macedon organized most of the cities into the League of Corinth, and promised to invade the dreaded enemy of Persia to liberate Greek cities there.

Here is Alexander's background.  The kingdom of Macedon was formed in the 7th century B.C. and became Greek in culture and language by the 5th century B.C., even though the Greeks considered Macedonians to be barbarians.  Philip II of Macedon organized most of the cities into the League of Corinth, and promised to invade the dreaded enemy of Persia to liberate Greek cities there.

   

   

In ancient Greece the common military formation was the "phalanx", which is the Greek word for "finger".  It is composed of a rectangular formation consisting of heavily armed infantry carrying spears and shields.  Philip II was able to raise a well-trained phalanx in Macedonia at lower cost than the Greek city-states, and he crushed the Greek armies.  But Philip II was assassinated in 336 B.C., leaving his throne in the hands of his 20-year-old son, Alexander.

In ancient Greece the common military formation was the "phalanx", which is the Greek word for "finger".  It is composed of a rectangular formation consisting of heavily armed infantry carrying spears and shields.  Philip II was able to raise a well-trained phalanx in Macedonia at lower cost than the Greek city-states, and he crushed the Greek armies.  But Philip II was assassinated in 336 B.C., leaving his throne in the hands of his 20-year-old son, Alexander, who became "Alexander the Great."

   

   

=== Alexander the Great ===

=== Alexander the Great ===

Long before his death, Philip II had arranged for Aristotle to tutor his son Alexander, and the remarkable wisdom Aristotle conferred made Alexander the greatest military leader of all time.  I guess we could say that Alexander was homeschooled by this extraordinary tutor!  Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.), as he is known, came closer to conquering the entire world than anyone else before or since.  He mapped out his battles with logical precision and never lost a single one.  He went to sleep at night with Aristotle's marked-up copy of the ''Iliad'', the great work of Greek literature, under his pillow.  He treated his conquered peoples better than Aristotle would have, because Aristotle advised Alexander to treat them like animals.  Alexander personally traveled over 22,000 miles with his troops and often knew the foreign terrain better than his enemies, even though they lived there.  He defeated the most feared empires the world had known and expanded the Greek empire from Persia to Egypt to India, before dying from swamp fever (perhaps malaria) at the young age of 33.  The world would never be the same again.

Long before his death, Philip II had arranged for Aristotle to tutor his son Alexander, and the remarkable wisdom Aristotle conferred made Alexander the greatest military leader of all time.  We could say that Alexander was homeschooled by this extraordinary tutor!  Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.), as he is known, came closer to conquering the entire world than anyone else before or since.  He mapped out his battles with logical precision and never lost a single one.  He went to sleep at night with Aristotle's marked-up copy of the ''Iliad'', the great work of Greek literature, under his pillow.  He treated his conquered peoples better than Aristotle would have, because Aristotle advised Alexander to treat them like animals.   

In a mere four years (334-331 B.C.), Alexander conquered the greatest empire in the history of the world so far:  the Persian empire led by Persian king Darius III.  The Persian armies were far superior to Alexander's army, but Alexander was a brilliant, ferocious and unrelenting military leader.  King Darius III even offered half of the Persian empire and even his daughter's hand in marriage to Alexander in exchange for peace.  Alexander refused and proceeded to completely destroy the Persian army -- capturing every one of its empire's vast treasures.  Darius was then assassinated by one of his own guards, and Alexander became ruler of Persia.  Alexander did not stop there.

Alexander personally traveled over 22,000 miles with his troops and often knew the foreign terrain better than his enemies, even though they lived there.  He defeated the most feared empires the world had known and expanded the Greek empire from Persia to Egypt to India, before dying from swamp fever (perhaps malaria) at the young age of 33.  The world would never be the same again.

There are numerous fascinating stories told about Alexander the Great. Many consider him to have been the finest military mind ever.  Illustrating his approach, legend tells the story of how Alexander confronted a huge "Gordian knot," a massive tangle of rope wrapped too tightly for anyone to unravel.  Alexander and was told that whoever could unravel the knot would rule the world. Alexander supposedly drew his sword and sliced the Gordian knot in two, and proceeded on his way.   

In a mere four years (334-331 B.C.), Alexander conquered the greatest empire in the history of the world so far: the Persian empire led by Persian king Darius III.  The Persian armies were far superior to Alexander's army, but Alexander was a brilliant, ferocious and unrelenting military leader.  King Darius III even offered half of the Persian empire and even his daughter's hand in marriage to Alexander in exchange for peace.  Alexander refused and proceeded to completely destroy the Persian army -- capturing every one of its empire's vast treasures! Darius was then assassinated by one of his own guards, and Alexander became ruler of Persia.  Alexander did not stop there.

He surrounded himself with a staff of secretaries, philosophers and scientists, yet would also engage in drunken brawls to the point where he accidentally killed a friend who had once saved his life.  Alexander enjoyed battle himself, and would often be wounded leading his soldiers.  In one conflict, Alexander even employed underwater divers to defeat the enemy.  Alexander never lost a single battle, and seemed to have unlimited energy, motivation, and determination.  His work ethic was an inspiration to the world.  His vast influence but premature death at 33 has led historians to compare him to Jesus Christ, though obviously they were very different from each other!  Alexander lacked any disciples to carry on after his death, unlike Jesus.

 

He surrounded himself with a staff of secretaries, philosophers and scientists, yet would also engage in drunken brawls to the point where he accidentally killed a friend who had once saved his life.  Alexander enjoyed battle himself, and would often be wounded leading his soldiers.  In one conflict, Alexander even used underwater divers to defeat the enemy.  Alexander never lost a single battle, and seemed to have unlimited energy, motivation, and determination.  His work ethic was an inspiration to the world.  His vast influence but premature death at 33 has led historians to compare him to Jesus Christ, though obviously they were very different from each other!  Alexander lacked any disciples to carry on after his death, unlike Jesus.

Alexander the Great led the Greek empire to the corners of the world as known at that time.  His death of a fever in his capital city of Babylon in 323 B.C. marked the end of his empire, but the beginning of the great Hellenistic influence.  Seeds of Greek knowledge had been planted all around the world and were beginning to spring up everywhere.  For centuries these seeds grew and influenced cultures from Persia to Egypt to Rome.

Alexander the Great led the Greek empire to the corners of the world as known at that time.  His death of a fever in his capital city of Babylon in 323 B.C. marked the end of his empire, but the beginning of the great Hellenistic influence.  Seeds of Greek knowledge had been planted all around the world and were beginning to spring up everywhere.  For centuries these seeds grew and influenced cultures from Persia to Egypt to Rome.

Alexander's empire was too vast to survive his death, and his generals murdered the remaining members of his family.  Athens and Sparta again became independent city-states until the Roman empire conquered them.  However, what mattered was that the many thousands of Greeks who traveled with Alexander during his conquests brought their knowledge and culture to all corners of the ancient world except China.  The great ancient city of Alexandria, Egypt, showed its tribute to him by its name.  Greek-speaking kingdoms had been established in Egypt, Syria and Iran, and the language became popular among the educated for trade in Palestine.  The post-Alexander era is known as the Hellenistic Age (232-146 B.C.)

Alexander's empire was too vast to survive his death, and his generals murdered the remaining members of his family.  Athens and Sparta again became independent city-states until the Roman empire conquered them.  However, what mattered was that the many thousands of Greeks who traveled with Alexander during his conquests brought their knowledge and culture to all corners of the ancient world except China.  The great ancient city of Alexandria, Egypt, showed its tribute to him by using his name.  Greek-speaking kingdoms had been established in Egypt, Syria and Iran, and the language became popular among the educated for trade in Palestine.  The post-Alexander era is known as the Hellenistic Age (232-146 B.C.)

Christianity, which relied primarily on the Greek language, spread like wildfire throughout the Hellenistic world in the first century A.D.  The Greek language, culture, and advances in knowledge had prepared the people well for Christianity to take root.

Christianity, which relied primarily on the Greek language, spread like wildfire throughout the Hellenistic world in the first century A.D.  The Greek language, culture, and advances in knowledge had prepared the people well for Christianity to take root.

Historians emphasize three peoples in Africa.  The Bantu people spread their language through Africa by migrating to the east and south.  They benefited from the iron-smelting technology.  The Kush existed in North Africa and imitated the Egyptians.  They also had iron smelting and traded for iron, especially at their capital city of Meroe.  Finally, the Nok existed in West Africa and created terra cotta sculpture.  They also had iron-smelting technology.

Historians emphasize three peoples in Africa.  The Bantu people spread their language through Africa by migrating to the east and south.  They benefited from the iron-smelting technology.  The Kush existed in North Africa and imitated the Egyptians.  They also had iron smelting and traded for iron, especially at their capital city of Meroe.  Finally, the Nok existed in West Africa and created terra cotta sculpture.  They also had iron-smelting technology.

 

 

 

 

 

[[Category:World History lectures]]

[[Category:World History lectures]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:World History Lecture 02}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:World History Lecture 02}}