Level 4 - 1 Alexander the Great Rjurik Davidson and Aaron Jolly Series Editor Rob Waring Contents A Boy Born to Rule the World ................................ 4 Alexander’s Early Life ............................................ 5 Life in the Army ...................................................... 7 The Battle of Issus ................................................... 9 On to Egypt .............................................................. 10 On to Persia ............................................................. 11 The Man, The Legend .............................................. 13 One of the World’s Greatest Leaders ..................... 16 Level 4 - 1 ........................................... Alexander the Great Comprehension Questions 18 Rjurik Davidson and Aaron Jolly Glossary ...................................................................... 19 © 2017 Seed Learning, Inc. ................................................. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, World History Timeline 21 stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Series Editor: Rob Waring Acquisitions Editor: Liana Robinson Copy Editor: Casey Malarcher Cover/Interior Design: Andy Roh ISBN: 978-1-9464-5230-6 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 21 20 19 18 17 A Boy Born to Rule the World Alexander’s Early Life Can you imagine ruling the entire Alexander’s parents were King Philip II and world? How would you do it? Alexander Queen Olympia. They ruled a country called the Great was a king who wanted to do Alexander created many Macedonia. Philip had seven wives and many just that—rule the whole world! statues of himself. children. Philip believed that Alexander was the child of one of the Greek gods. Alexander as Alexander was born in 356 BC in Greece, nearly 2,500 years a young man ago. By the time he died, his armies controlled a massive King Philip hired the philosopher Aristotle area stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the border of to teach his son. For years, Aristotle taught Alexander India. philosophy, poetry, drama, science, and politics. Some rulers are called “great” by their people. These During his studies, Alexander learned the story of Achilles, rulers are loved. Alexander was one of a famous fighter. Achilles was strong and the greatest kings and most talented courageous. Alexander admired Achilles commanders in history. Yet he is called and wanted to be like him. The ruins of the ancient city of Pella, Greece, where “great” for a different reason. Alexander was born Alexander’s kingdom stretched Achilles at war all the way from Greece to India. Aristotle and his student Alexander the Great 4 5 Life in the Army Alexander was a talented general. The army left behind by his father was strong and very well-trained. King Philip had increased the Alexander’s soldiers during the Battle of Thebes number of soldiers who rode horses. Most statues of Alexander show him riding a horse. He also created a group of soldiers who King Philip was killed by one of his own soldiers in 336 BC. were engineers. They built things such as bridges and Alexander became king after his father’s death. towers for his army to use. Alexander convinced the other Greek cities to see him as Alexander learned from his father. He was a brave leader, their leader. He killed anyone else who wanted to be king. and he made the army even stronger. From the start, Alexander was bold. In Thebes, there was more resistance. The people rebelled Alexander’s army had many soldiers riding horses. and rose up against Alexander. In response, Alexander burned the city to the ground. He killed all the men and captured the women and children. After that, many people were scared of Alexander, and no one wanted to challenge his power. Timoclea of Thebes begs Alexander for her life. 6 7 Comprehension Questions Glossary 1. How far did Alexander’s 6. Where was the Battle of Issus? accurate exact; free from mistakes empire stretch? (a) In Turkey (a) From Greece to Africa (b) In Persia conquer to defeat people in a war or to take control of a country (b) From the Mediterranean (c) In Egypt Sea to Egypt (d) In Greece convince to make someone believe something (c) From Egypt to France (d) From the Mediterranean 7. Alexander claimed to be… Sea to the border of India (a) the king of the world. empire a group of countries ruled by one person or government (b) the best horse rider. 2. Which hero did Alexander (c) stronger than anyone. intense extreme or very strong hope to be like? (d) the son of a god. (a) Philip Macedonia an ancient kingdom that is now divided into modern (b) Aristotle 8. After the Battle of the (c) Achilles Hydaspes River, Alexander’s… Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Greece (d) Zeus (a) wife got sick. (b) soldiers wanted to go home. malaria a serious disease that is passed to humans through 3. What did Alexander do to the (c) wife had a baby girl. city of Thebes when it rebelled? mosquito bites (d) friends got killed. (a) He burned it to the ground. Persia an area of land in western Asia, which is now modern- (b) He killed all its animals. 9. What happened to Greek culture (c) He ignored it. after Alexander’s victories? day Iran (d) He killed all the women. (a) It died out. (b) It spread through Europe. poison to hurt or kill someone with a dangerous substance 4. How did Alexander’s father (c) It spread through western improve the army? Asia. pregnant having a baby growing inside your body (a) He did not make them fight. (d) It spread through Africa. (b) He trained them all to ride horses. 10. How did Alexander die? rebel to refuse to follow rules (c) He employed more engineers (a) From heavy drinking and got more soldiers. (b) From old age resistance the attempt to prevent something by action or (d) He encouraged them with (c) From stomach pains argument kind words. (d) We can’t be sure. 5. Who was the king of Persia? rise up to fight against a ruler or government (a) Roxana (b) Darius (c) Philip (d) Napoleon 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. (d) (c) (b) (d) (a) (b) (c) (a) (c) (d) Key 18 19 World History Timeline Image Credit/Pages ©Shutterstock: 1, 4, 5, 10, 13, 14 middle, 14 bottom, 16 bottom ©iStock: front cover, 6 top, 7, 17 bottom ©Alamy: back cover, 6 bottom, 8 top, 9 ©123rf.com: 14 top, 16 top ©GettyImages: 15 top This chart shows a rough overview of world history. Wikimedia: 12 Some of the dates have been simplifi ed. Wikipedia: 11 bottom, 17 top World History Timeline World History Timeline 3000 BC 2900 BC 2800 BC 2700 BC 2600 BC 2500 BC 2400 BC 2300 BC 2200 BC 2100 BC 2000 BC Pyramids of Giza (built c. 2550-2490 BC) Gudea of Lagash Mediterranean Sea Jerusalem Damietta Gaza Rosetta Dead Sea (c. 2144-2124 BC) Rafah Alexandria Buto Sais Tanis Pelusium Naukratis Busiris Narmer, Egyptian King N Wadi Natrun NW NE Bubastis W E Nile Delta SW SE Merimda Great Bitter S Lake Heliopolis Sahure, Egyptian King 01(km) 00 Cairo 06(mi) 0 Giza Memphis Saqqara Helwan Sinai (c. 3000 BC) Dahshur Timna Faiyum Lower Lake MoerisMeydum (c. 2487-2475 BC) Lahun Egypt Herakleopolis Serabit al-Khadim Gulf of Suez Nile river Bahariya Oasis Gulf of Aqaba Beni Hasan Hermopolis Amarna Asyut Badari Eastern Desert Qau Western Desert Akhmim Red Sea Thinis Abydos Nile river Dendera Quseir Kharga Oasis Naqada Koptos Wadi Hammamat Thebes (Luxor and Karnak) Dakhla Oasis Tod Upper Hierakonpolis Egypt Edfu Kom Ombo Aswan First Cataract Bernike Dunqul Oasis Sargon the Great, Nabta Playa Wadi Allaqi Abu Simbel Akkadian King Buhen Second Cataract Kush Wadi Gabgaba (c. 2340-2284 BC) Nubian Desert Third Cataract Kerma Nile river Kawa Fourth Cataract Indus Valley Napata Gebel Barkal Fifth Cataract Civilization Meroe Cuneiform (c. 3000 BC-100 AD) Old Egyptian Kingdom (c. 2686 BC) Ur III Dynasty (c. 2112-2004 BC) 2900 BC 2800 BC 2700 BC 2600 BC 2500 BC 2400 BC 2300 BC 2200 BC 2100 BC 2000 BC Xia Dynasty Gutian Dynasty Elam (Iran) 5000 BC Mesopotamia (Sumerians) Akkadian Empire Ur III Dynasty Assyria (Early Period) 3100 BC Early Dynastic Period of Egypt Old Egyptian Kingdom Middle Egyptian Kingdom 3650 BC Minoan Civilization (Crete) Minoan Civilization (Crete) 1st Intermediate Period Indus Valley Civilization (India) 3000 BC Early Bronze Age 2900 BC 2800 BC 2700 BC 2600 BC 2500 BC 2400 BC 2300 BC 2200 BC 2100 BC 2000 BC.