Alexander the Great takes power | World History | Khan Academy

Khan Academy
23 Nov 201611:13
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe video script delves into the early life and rise to power of Alexander the Great, one of history's most renowned conquerors. It begins with the historical context of a weakened Greece post-Peloponnesian War, ripe for conquest by Philip II of Macedonia. The narrative then shifts to Alexander's favorable start in life, his education under the tutelage of Aristotle, and his early military experiences alongside his father. However, the story takes a dramatic turn with the introduction of Philip's seventh wife, Cleopatra Eurydice, which sows the seeds of discord within the royal family. Following Philip's assassination, Alexander, with the aid of his mother Olympias, embarks on a ruthless campaign to secure his claim to the throne, involving the elimination of potential rivals and the brutal suppression of rebellions, most notably the destruction of Thebes. The summary concludes with Alexander poised to fulfill his father's ambitions by turning his attention to the conquest of Asia, setting the stage for his legendary military campaigns.

Takeaways
  • 🏰 Alexander the Great is one of the most renowned conquerors in history, known for his extensive conquests.
  • 👑 Alexander's father, Philip II of Macedonia, first consolidated the Greek city-states before Alexander's own conquests.
  • 🧝‍♂️ Alexander had a distinguished early life, including being tutored by Aristotle, one of the greatest minds of the time.
  • 🐎 Alexander famously tamed the horse Bucephalus, which he later rode during his conquests.
  • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family dynamics played a crucial role in Alexander's rise to power, especially the tension between him, his father, and his stepmother, Cleopatra.
  • ⚔️ After Philip II's assassination, Alexander and his mother Olympias engaged in a violent power consolidation, eliminating potential threats to his claim.
  • 🤴 The legitimacy of Alexander's claim to the throne was challenged due to his mixed Macedonian and Molossian heritage.
  • 🗡️ Alexander's military campaigns were marked by brutality, including the total destruction of Thebes and the enslavement of its people.
  • 🏺 The internal strife within the Macedonian royal family and the political landscape of Greece influenced Alexander's path to power.
  • 🌍 Alexander's conquests had a profound impact on the ancient world, spreading culture and unifying diverse peoples under his rule.
  • 🏛️ Thebes' destruction served as a powerful deterrent to other Greek city-states considering rebellion against Alexander.
Q & A

  • Who is considered one of the most famous conquerors in human history?

    -Alexander the Great is considered one of the most famous conquerors in human history.

  • What was the state of the Greeks after the Peloponnesian War?

    -After the Peloponnesian War, the Greeks were weak and ripe for being conquered.

  • Who conquered the Greeks after the Peloponnesian War?

    -The Greeks were conquered by Philip II, King of Macedonia.

  • Who was Alexander's mother and what was her background?

    -Alexander's mother was Olympias, the daughter of the king of Molossia, making her Molossian and not Macedonian.

  • Who was Alexander's tutor and how did he become Alexander's tutor?

    -Aristotle was Alexander's tutor. Philip II convinced Aristotle to tutor Alexander by agreeing to rebuild Aristotle's destroyed village of Stagira and free the enslaved people.

  • How did Alexander demonstrate his military capabilities early in his life?

    -Alexander demonstrated his military capabilities by leading troops alongside his father, Philip II, as he conquered Greece.

  • What event led to tension between Alexander and his father, Philip II?

    -The tension began when Philip II married his seventh and last wife, Cleopatra, a Macedonian, which threatened Alexander's position as the heir to the throne.

  • How did Olympias react to Philip II's marriage to Cleopatra?

    -Olympias was pushed aside as the favored wife and eventually went into voluntary exile, with Alexander following her.

  • What happened after the assassination of Philip II?

    -After Philip II's assassination, Alexander and Olympias consolidated power by eliminating potential threats to the throne, including killing the children of Cleopatra Eurydice and other rivals.

  • How did Alexander respond to the rebellions in Greece after his father's death?

    -Alexander responded by swiftly marching his soldiers to suppress the rebellions, particularly in Thebes, which he completely destroyed and enslaved its people to instill fear in the other city-states.

  • What was Alexander's next goal after consolidating power in Macedonia?

    -Alexander's next goal was to follow his father's plan and attempt to conquer Asia.

Outlines
00:00
🏰 Alexander the Great's Early Life and Ascension

The first paragraph introduces Alexander the Great as one of history's most renowned conquerors. It outlines his rise to power following the Peloponnesian War, which left the Greeks vulnerable. Alexander's father, Philip II of Macedonia, capitalized on this opportunity to conquer Greece. Alexander's birth and early life are highlighted, including his education under the tutelage of Aristotle and his close relationship with his father. The paragraph also touches on the political implications of Alexander's mother, Olympias, being a Molossian rather than a Macedonian, which would later affect his claim to the throne. Additionally, it mentions Alexander's ability to tame the horse Bucephalus and his military prowess, which earned him his father's favor.

05:03
👑 Tensions and Power Struggles within the Macedonian Royal Family

The second paragraph delves into the internal conflicts within the Macedonian royal family. It describes how Philip II's marriage to his seventh wife, Cleopatra (later renamed Eurydice), a full-blooded Macedonian, created a potential threat to Alexander's claim to the throne. This situation escalated during a wedding celebration where Attalus, Cleopatra's uncle, publicly wished for a legitimate heir, implying that Alexander was not. This led to a heated confrontation between Alexander and his father, Philip, and further strained their relationship. The paragraph also discusses Olympias' reaction to being supplanted by Cleopatra, her subsequent exile, and the eventual assassination of Philip II. Following Philip's death, Alexander and Olympias engaged in a brutal purge of potential threats to Alexander's rule, including the murder of young children and rivals to the throne.

10:05
🏺 Alexander's Consolidation of Power and Military Campaigns

The third paragraph focuses on Alexander's efforts to secure his rule over the Macedonian Empire both internally and through military campaigns. It details his swift response to rebellions in the north and west of Macedon, particularly against the Illyrians. Alexander's strategic siege at Peliam and his rapid march to quell a rebellion in Thebes are highlighted. When Thebes refused to surrender, Alexander destroyed the city and enslaved its population, which served as a stark warning to other Greek city-states. The paragraph concludes with Alexander preparing to embark on his father's planned conquest of Asia, marking the beginning of his legendary military campaigns.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great, also known as Alexander III of Macedon, was one of the most famous conquerors in human history. He is known for his military prowess and the vast empire he built, stretching from Greece to India. In the video, his early life, education under Aristotle, and eventual rise to power after his father's death are discussed, highlighting his significance in consolidating the Macedonian Empire and launching his conquests.
💡Philip II of Macedon
Philip II was the father of Alexander the Great and the King of Macedon. He is noted for his military conquests and for laying the groundwork for the empire that Alexander later expanded. The script mentions Philip's strategic marriage to Olympias and his rule from Pella, as well as his conquest of Greece and the Peloponnesian War's aftermath, which set the stage for Alexander's rise to power.
💡Olympias
Olympias was the mother of Alexander the Great and the wife of Philip II. She was a significant figure in Alexander's life and played a crucial role in his ascension to the throne, as depicted in the video. Olympias was of Molossian, not Macedonian, descent, which had implications for Alexander's claim to the Macedonian throne. Her actions, including going into voluntary exile and later aiding in the consolidation of Alexander's power, are highlighted in the narrative.
💡Aristotle
Aristotle was a renowned philosopher and scientist who became the tutor of Alexander the Great. His role in Alexander's education is emphasized in the video, suggesting that Aristotle's teachings had a profound influence on the young prince. The script describes how Philip II convinced Aristotle to tutor Alexander by agreeing to rebuild Aristotle's destroyed village of Stagira and free its enslaved inhabitants.
💡Bucephalus
Bucephalus was a horse famously tamed by Alexander the Great, symbolizing his ability to master the untamable. In the video, the story of Alexander taming Bucephalus is used to illustrate his favored status with his father, Philip II, and his emerging reputation as a capable leader. Bucephalus would later become Alexander's trusted mount during his conquests.
💡Cleopatra Eurydice
Cleopatra Eurydice was the seventh and final wife of Philip II and a significant figure in the script due to the potential threat she posed to Alexander's claim to the throne. As a full-blooded Macedonian, any child she bore would have a stronger claim to the throne than Alexander, who was only half-Macedonian. The script describes the tension this caused, particularly at her wedding, which led to a famous confrontation between Alexander and his father.
💡Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War was a significant conflict in ancient Greece between the Peloponnesian League, led by Sparta, and the Delian League, led by Athens. The aftermath of this war is mentioned in the video as a period when the Greeks were weak and ripe for conquest by Philip II, setting the stage for the rise of the Macedonian Empire.
💡Macedonian Empire
The Macedonian Empire was an ancient kingdom that, under the rule of Philip II and later Alexander the Great, became one of the largest empires in the world at the time. The video discusses the consolidation of this empire under Alexander, following his father's death, and the military campaigns that expanded its borders.
💡Thebes
Thebes was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, known for its military power and cultural influence. In the video, Thebes is highlighted as a city that rebelled against Alexander's rule after the death of his father, Philip II. Alexander's response to this rebellion—completely destroying the city and enslaving its people—served as a stark warning to other city-states and solidified his power.
💡Illyrians
The Illyrians were a group of tribes living in the region that corresponds to modern-day Albania. In the video, they are mentioned as one of the groups that revolted against Alexander's rule after the death of Philip II. Alexander's swift response to this revolt, including the siege of the strategic pass at Pelium, demonstrated his military capabilities and his determination to maintain control over the empire.
💡Consolidation of Power
The consolidation of power refers to the process by which a ruler secures their authority and control over a state or empire. In the context of the video, Alexander the Great's consolidation of power involved both political and military actions, including the elimination of potential rivals, the suppression of rebellions, and the establishment of his legitimacy as the ruler of the Macedonian Empire.
Highlights

Alexander the Great is one of the most famous conquerors in human history.

His father, Philip II, was the King of Macedonia who began the empire that Alexander later consolidated.

The Greeks were weak after the Peloponnesian War, which made them ripe for conquest.

Alexander was born to Philip II and Olympias, the daughter of the king of Molossia.

Olympias' heritage and her association with the Cult of Dionysus were significant factors in later events.

Alexander was tutored by Aristotle, one of the greatest tutors in history, from the age of 13 to 16.

Aristotle's agreement to tutor Alexander was secured by Philip II's promise to rebuild Aristotle's destroyed hometown.

Alexander tamed the famous horse Bucephalus, which he later rode during his conquests.

Philip's seventh wife, Cleopatra Eurydice, posed a threat to Alexander's succession due to her pure Macedonian lineage.

Tensions between Alexander and his father escalated at a wedding, leading to a physical altercation.

Following Philip's assassination, Alexander and Olympias engaged in a violent power consolidation, eliminating potential threats.

Alexander's military campaigns began with quelling rebellions in the North and West of Macedon, particularly against the Illyrians.

Thebes was destroyed and its people enslaved as a show of force to subdue the rest of the Greek city-states.

Alexander's rise to power and his conquests were marked by brutality and should not be romanticized.

By 335 BCE, Alexander had secured his position as king and was ready to embark on his father's planned conquest of Asia.

Transcripts

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Alexander the GreatMacedonian EmpirePhilip IIAncient GreeceMilitary GeneralConsolidation of PowerHistorical ConflictCultural ExpansionAristotleBucephalusPersian EmpireTheban Rebellion