CLSS - 310. Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic Age

3 credit(s)
Alexander succeeded to the throne of Macedonia (Greece) at the age of twenty. He quickly led his united Greek forces eastward and within twelve years his empire stretched from Greece in the west to India in the east. Today, Alexander the Great is recognized by military experts as having been one of the most gifted military strategists in history. First, close attention will be paid to Alexander the Great’s military career but we shall also examine Alexander the man; his character, motives, and philosophical goals. Second, his early death in 323 BCE marked the birth of the Hellenistic Age, an age that profoundly influenced the history of the western world through its contact with the Roman empire. We shall devote approximately half the course to the study of the achievements of the Hellenistic Age, especially the Hellenistic Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt, whose last ruler was Cleopatra VII. A variety of resources will be used including primary and secondary sources, together with slide presentations.

Attribute: (ATTR: ARTS, CAH, CFD)