History 391R-2, Alexander the Great

Key Words, Test Two

 

Alexander and the Jews

      Darius’ peace proposals

      Siege of Gaza

      Batis

      Josephus

      Simeon the Just

 

Alexander in Egypt

      Triumph in Memphis

      Crowned as Pharaoh

      Alexandria

      Oracle at Siwah Oasis

 

Alexander the God

      Descent from gods

      Influence of Olympias

      Apotheosis

      Proskynesis

      Hellenistic divine kingship

 

Logistics

      Climate and terrain

      Animal resources

      Problem of subsistence agriculture

      Philip’s logistical reforms

      Intelligence and planning

      Pay vs. plunder

 

March to Gaugamela

      Crossing rivers: Fords, pontoon bridges, ferry

      Darius’ policy

      Scythed chariots

      Terrain of Gaugamela

      Alexander’s strategic surprise

      Darius’ wife

 

Battle of Gaugamela

      Historiographical problems of reconstructing ancient battles

      Reconnaissance

      Effect of chariots

      Persian cavalry victory (plundering baggage)

      Alexander’s charge and battle for Darius

      Reasons for Persian defeat


 

At Babylon

      Plunder

      Reinstallation of Satraps

      Zoroastrian reaction to Alexander

      Babylonian reaction to Alexander

      Revolt of Sparta

 

Kingship

      Traditional Greek kingship

      Plato’s philosopher king

      Near Eastern Kingship

      Alexander’s absolutism

      Hellenistic kingship

 

Persepolis

      Susian Gates

      Religious significance of Persepolis

      Alexander in apocalyptic literature

      The Rape of Persepolis

      Zoroastrian rejection of Alexander as Great King (Nuh-Ruz)

 

Collapse of Persia

      Military defeat

      Loss of treasure

      Disloyalty of Satraps

      Darius’ failures

 

Scythians and Nomads

      Central Asian nomadism

      Mounted Archery

      Military strengths and weaknesses of nomads

 

To Bactria

      Rough geography: mountains and deserts

      Role of new garrison cities

      Attrition

      Bessus

 

Alexander the Tyrant

      Cleitus the Black

      Callisthenes

      Proskynesis and Persian court ritual

      Massacres

      Paranoia

      Megalomania


 

Soghdia

      Spitamenes

      Difficulties of the Soghdian campaign

      Soghdian Rock

      Oxyartes

      Roxanne

      Recruitment of Iranian troops and reorganization of the army

 

Indian Military System

      Kshatriyas and Vedic war code

      Sixteen Kingdoms

      Elephants

      Kautilya

      Four Branches: Infantry, Cavalry, Elephants, Chariots

      Chandragupta

 

March to India

      Limits of Greek geographical knowledge

      Taxila

      Dionysus and India

      Siege of Aornus

 

Battle of Hydaspes

      Porus

      Monsoons

      Diversions

      Secret Crossing the Hydaspes

      Cavalry battle

      Elephant battle

 

Indian Mutiny

      March to the end of the world

      Causes of the Mutiny

      Reconciliation

      Siege in Malli (Alexander’s wound)

      Indian wise men

      Impact on India

 

Return to Babylon

      Gedrosian desert

      Nearchus’ expedition

      Mismanagement of the Empire

      Alexander’s purge

      Harpalus


Alexander’s last days

      Orientalization or “Brotherhood of Mankind”?

      Proclamation of Deification

      Mutiny of the army at Ophis

      Hephaesiton

      Antipater

      Alexander’s plans

      Death of Alexander

 

Successors

      Antigonus

      Seleucus

      Ptolemy

      Demetrius

      Rise of non-Greek kingdoms

 

Alexander as a military genius

      Security

      Mobility

      Concentration of Force

      Surprise

      Psychological warfare

            Terror

            propaganda

 

Impact of Alexander

      Social and Personal costs

      Political legacy

      Hellenism

      Economic impact

      Religious impact

      Alexander as military myth

      Pseudo-Callisthenes