Return to
Three columns of march
Craterus =
Nearchus = by
sea up the
Alexander = coastal route through
Why divisions into three?
Not enough ships to carry everyone
Need to subdue still independent provinces
Land forces needed to get resupply for ships, especially water
Pothos
Emulating Cyrus and Semiramis
Could not leave until Monsoon winds changed in early autumn
Craterus
Subdued some recalcitrant tribes
Defeated two attempted Persian revolts
No major incidents
Arrived safely with elephants from
Nearchus
Cretan admiral with good naval experience
Rebellion in
Monsoons and storms delayed advance
Sparse water and food on coast = hardship
Seeing whales for the first time
Alexander
Moved along east coast well
Forced to move inland by coastal mountains
Makran and Gedrosian deserts
Catastrophe
Lack of water
Heat stroke
Sand dunes cause travel to be slowed
Flash-flood in a wadi
Sandstorm
Losing way
Overall loses of 50-60%
Alexander and the helmet of water
Search for a scapegoat
Fleet failed to make contact
Provincial governors failed to provide supplies
Problems in the Empire
Popular revolts
Rebellions of Persian satraps
Greek mismanagement
Seeing high office as a chance for personal aggrandizement
Raising mercenary armies
Treachery
Inefficiency
Embezzlement
Several Persian and Greek Satraps were executed
Harpalus
Grand treasurer
Massive embezzlement
Fled when Alexander returned
All mercenaries were disbanded
Created private armies
Expense of maintaining
Created widespread brigandage
Replacing officials with lackeys
Instead of the noble and powerful
At
Orsines the satrap
Hephaestion
Closest friend of Alexander
Companion
Various independent military commands
Lover?
Bagoas
Eunuch slave
Lover?
Insults to Bagoas
Smear campaign
Looting of the Tomb of Cyrus
Orsines arrested and executed
Increasing Degeneration of Alexander
Unlimited Wealth
Absolute power
Megalomania
Paranoia
Alcoholism