Alexander the Great's name is associated with battles, the Gordian Knot, and the end of the free, self-governing city states in Greece. After Alexander the Great's death, new dynastic empires arose. Here are some terms to know in connection with Alexander the Great and his legacy.
Achaemenid Kings
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The Achaemenid dynasty in Persia ran from about 560-330 B.C., when Alexander the Great defeated Darius III of Persia.
Bactria
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Bactria was a large, agriculturally prosperous area, located in modern Afghanistan, where Alexander fought. Among the Diadochi, Seleucus took control of Bactria. Invasions from beyond the Oxus River put an end to the Greek presence by 130 B.C.
Chaeronea
Chaeronea (338 B.C.) was a decisive victory for Philip and defeat for the independent Greek poleis. The Greek forces that Philip defeated were led by Athens and Thebes. The Theban Band was annihilated.
Chaeronea was also the location of a battle between Sulla and Mithridates.
Companion Cavalry
In Alexander the Great's Macedonian army, the Companion Cavalry was a unit of 8 squadrons (225 horsemen each). They were also known by the Greek term "hetairoi". The term originally referred to an elite group that served as bodyguards and companions of the Macedonian king, but with Alexander, it came to refer to the entire Macedonian cavalry. The infantry counterpart was the Pezetairoi.Diadochi
The Diadochi were the rival successors of Alexander the Great who split up his empire after much fighting and several assassinations.Gordian Knot
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The prophecy about the Gordian knot was that the person who untied it would rule all of Asia. Alexander the Great is said to have undone the knot by slashing through it with a sword.
Granicus
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Alexander the Great won the Battle of the Granicus in May/June 334 B.C. The battle was fought along the Granicus River against the Persians.
Hellenistic Greece
There are a few similar sounding terms that are easily confused. Hellenistic Greece refers to the periodin the history of ancient Greece from the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. to Octavian's victory at Actium in 31 B.C.Issus
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Alexander the Great fought the Battle at Issus soon after the Battle at the Granicus. Like his father Philip, the glory-seeking Alexander aimed to conquer the Persian Empire. Although greatly outnumbered, Alexander was a better tactician; although wounded, he won.
The famous Alexander mosaic is believed to depict the Battle of Issus.
Persepolis
Alexander looted the Persian capital city of Persepolis in 331 B.C. When he set fire to the great palace, he baked clay sealings, thereby preserving them. This was an act of revenge on behalf of the Greeks against the Persians.
Ptolemies
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One of the Diadochi, Ptolemy (Soter) ruled in Egypt after Alexander the Great died. The Ptolemies were responsible for building up Alexandria as a great center of learning.
