Alexander the Great and the Macedonian Empire

Alexander the Great - one of the most renowned figures in antiquity - has inspired everything from medieval romances to blockbuster movies, and military leaders from Julius Caesar to Napoleon to the U.S. general Norman Schwarzkopf. But who was this great king of Macedon? And why is he so legendary? Go beyond the myth and learn about the man who changed the face of the ancient world and laid the foundation for the great traditions of the Roman Empire - all in fewer than 12 years. These 36 spellbinding lectures take you deep inside the world of Alexander to witness the astonishing feats of military genius that made his name renowned for millennia after his death. Through this detailed portrait, you'll go beyond the legends and the myths to truly understand what made Alexander great. Along the way, several Alexanders emerge: the military general, Macedonian king, Persian emperor, Egyptian pharaoh, and leader of the Hellenic League. You learn about the many aspects of this extraordinary individual - his passions, extraordinary talents, and the training that helped mold his character. You'll learn how battles were fought and won in the ancient world and examine Alexander's great martial achievements within this larger military history. You'll also head onto the battlefield to analyze some of Alexander's greatest triumphs, including the Battle of the Granicus River and the Battle of the Hydaspes River. Alexander's empire did not survive beyond his lifetime, but his legacy has cast a long shadow on the history of the West. Join Professor Harl for this journey into the world of Alexander and see how the Western world - and, indeed, our world - still bear the marks of this legendary conqueror.

All Lectures:
1. Alexander the Great - Conqueror or Tyrant?
2. Greece in the Age of Hegemonies
3. Achaemenid Persia
4. The World of Early Macedon
5. Philip II and the Macedonian Way of War
6. The Third Sacred War
7. The Macedonian Conquest of Greece
8. The League of Corinth
9. Alexander, Heir Apparent
10. Securing the Inheritance, 336 - 335 B.C.
11. The Invasion of Asia
12. The Battle of the Granicus
13. The Turning Point - Issus and Tyre
14. Alexander, Pharaoh of Egypt
15. Heroes, Oracles, and the Gods
16. The Campaign of Gaugamela
17. The Conquest of Iran
18. Alexander on the Rim of the World
19. Governing and Taxing the Empire
20. Alexander and the Macedonian Opposition
21. The Invasion of India
22. The Battle of the Hydaspes
23. Mutiny and Withdrawal
24. The Gedrosian Desert and Voyage of Nearchus
25. Deification and Succession
26. Alexander and the Macedonians - Opis
27. Alexander and the Greeks - The Lamian War
28. The Diadochoi, 323 - 316 B.C.
29. The Partition of the Empire, 316 - 301 B.C.
30. The Hellenistic Concert of Powers
31. Macedonian Courts in the Near East
32. The Hellenization of the Near East
33. The Monetization of the Near East
34. Hellenization and the Gods
35. The Limits of Hellenization
36. Alexander the Great and the Shadow of Rome