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Greco Roman History
--- Alexander the Great (332-323 BC) --- |
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In Macedonia, a young man called Alexander
,He was a 20-year-old young man , he had taken up the fight against the
crumbling Persian Empire after the death of his father, Philip II of
Macedonia. In 332 B.C., the victorious Macedonian troops marched into
Egypt Now all the way to Egypt was open for him. So he marched his army to
Pelusium were the Persian satrap surrendered.
He then arrived at Memphis and was cordially welcomed. Actually the
Egyptians regarded him as a savior from the cruelty of the Persians. |
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It's where he was crowned as a Pharaoh in
Memphis. Moreover, the Egyptians considered him a divine being or God's
son.
Alexander the Great headed north and in a place near Rhakotis he planned
for the future city that bore his name: Alexandria.
Alexandria, the first to hold Alexander's name, was never built in
Alexander's life. Later it would become the new capital of Egypt and the
cultural threshold of the Mediterranean nations.
For many centuries after its founding, Alexandria shed light over the
humanity, as a cradle of science, trade, culture, philosophy, medicine and
policy.
Alexander then headed to Siwa Oasis where he was greeted by Amun priests
and given the title of son of Amun. Afterwards, he left to Memphis and
there he managed to form the administration that was to rule Egypt. He
carried out restoration plans to the buildings that were devastated by the
Persians. And it was from there that he planned for his Asian conquest.
Leaving rulers in Egypt, Alexander left to his successful campaigns to
form a great empire.
Unfortunately he died of fever in Babylon. He was at the age of 38 when he
died.
Alexander's death was a surprise that resulted into a complicated
situation. This is because Alexander didn't set administrative rules, as
he was busy enough with his military campaigns. And of course he didn't
leave a legitimate heir.
It was Perdiccas, a senior general of Alexander, who was the de facto
regent. A group of generals, known as the diadochi (the followers)
contended each other over the post motivated by their personal motives.
Perdiccas, as a result, called for a meeting among those diadochi. The
result was the division of Alexander's empire among his generals.
Despite the compromise, wars erupted between them in a race to annex more
lands to their kingdoms.
Ptolemy I, the then-satrap of Egypt took over Egypt declaring it as his
monarchy.
Ptolemy secured his rule eventually after he annexed Palestine and lower
Syria to his kingdom. Thus the new empire of the Ptolemy's started. |
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