Empire334 BCE – 323 BCEEurope, Middle East, South Asia

Alexander the Great's Conquests

Alexander III of Macedon conquered the Achaemenid Persian Empire, Egypt, and Central Asia, advancing as far as the Punjab in modern-day Pakistan and northwest India, creating one of the ancient world's largest empires before his death at age 32.

Key Figures

Alexander the Great Philip II of Macedon Darius III Ptolemy I Hephaestion

Preceding Causes

Philip II's military reforms (the sarissa phalanx and companion cavalry), Greek desire for retribution against Persia dating to the Greco-Persian Wars, and Alexander's personal ambition for conquest and glory.

Empire550 BCE

Achaemenid Persian Empire

The first Persian Empire was the largest empire the world had seen to that point, stretching from the Balkans to the Indus Valley, ruled by Cyrus, Darius, and Xerxes.

Historical Consequences

Spread Greek language and culture (Hellenism) across a vast area from Egypt to Central Asia, created Hellenistic kingdoms that lasted centuries (Ptolemaic Egypt, Seleucid Empire), and founded over 20 cities including Alexandria in Egypt.

Empire322 BCE

Maurya Empire

The first empire to unite most of the Indian subcontinent, founded by Chandragupta Maurya with the counsel of Chanakya (Kautilya), and reaching its greatest extent and moral influence under Emperor Ashoka, who embraced Buddhism after the devastating Kalinga War.

Cause-Effect Graph

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