Alexander the Great

  • Birth of Alexander
    356 BCE

    Birth of Alexander

    Alexander is born in Pella, Macedonia to King Philip ll
  • Greek tutor Aristotle
    343 BCE

    Greek tutor Aristotle

    Philip hires the Greek philosopher Aristotle to tutor Alexander. Over the next three years, Aristotle teaches Alexander to appreciate philosophy, geography, Greek poetry, and scientific investigation.
  • Alexander joins the father's army
    340 BCE

    Alexander joins the father's army

    At the age of 16, Alexander finishes studying under Aristotle and joins father's army. By this point, Philip controls all the Greek city-states except Athens and Thebas. He aims to unite the Macedonians, Greeks, and invade the Persian Empire.
  • Macedonians, Athenians, and Thebans meet in battle
    338 BCE

    Macedonians, Athenians, and Thebans meet in battle

    In August, the Macedonians meet the Athenians and Thebans in battle, while his father leads the attack against the Athenians. It is Alexander's first taste of battle, he and his father defeat the Greeks, placing all Greek city-states except Sparta under Macedonian control.
  • Philip celebrates but gets killed
    336 BCE

    Philip celebrates but gets killed

    Philip celebrates upcoming departure to attack Persia, as well marriage of his daughter Cleopatra. However, one of his bodyguards assassinates him in theater of Agae.
  • Thracians and Illyrians rise up in rebellion
    335 BCE

    Thracians and Illyrians rise up in rebellion

    This inspires the Greek city-states of Thebes to rebel, and Alexander quickly besieges the city and razes it to the ground. The inhabitants are executed or sold into slavery, showing other city-states that Alexander is as powerful as his father
  • Alexander leads the Macedonian army
    334 BCE

    Alexander leads the Macedonian army

    Alexander leads the Macedonian army against the Persians at the Granicus River. After savage fighting, the Persians retreat, and Alexander's army moves across southern coast of Asia toward Gordium.
  • Wintering at Gordium
    333 BCE

    Wintering at Gordium

    Alexander attempted to untie the knot. When could find no end to the knot, to unbind it, he sliced it he sliced it in half with a stroke of his sword.
  • Alexandria
    331 BCE

    Alexandria

    Alexander creates the city of Alexandria, which it meant the hub of Greek commerce and culture. Then Alexander moves one major Persian city to the next, conquering Babylon and taking treasure to distribute among his men.
  • Suffering from tensions of warfare
    328 BCE

    Suffering from tensions of warfare

    Alexander becomes drunk at a banquet in the fall. He and his close companion Cleitus, who saved his life at a battle of Granicus , fall into an argument.
  • Conquering Eastern Iran
    327 BCE

    Conquering Eastern Iran

    He conquered eastern Iran and capturing Prince Oxyartes, Alexander marries Roxane, the prince's daughter. This is meant to be a political alliance, and it serves as an insult to Barsine, Alexander's Persian mistress.
  • Territory
    326 BCE

    Territory

    Alexander and his troops cross the Hindu Kush into northern India. They defeat King Porus, leader of a kingdom east of Hydaspes River, after figuring out how to attack Porus' war elephants.
  • Death of Alexander
    323 BCE

    Death of Alexander

    Dies of a fever in Babylon on his way back to Greece.