Macedon

Macedon was an ancient kingdom north of mainland Greece. Under Philip II and Alexander the Great, it became the dominant power in Greece and built an empire across parts of Asia and Africa.

Argead dynasty: The royal house that ruled Macedon from its early history until Alexander IV’s death. Its kings, including Philip II and Alexander, directed Macedon’s rise.
Macedonian phalanx: An infantry formation that used closely ordered ranks armed with long pikes called sarissas. Its reach and discipline gave Macedonian infantry a distinctive battlefield role.
Alexander the Great: The Macedonian king who conquered the Persian Empire and carried his campaigns to northwestern India. He inherited Philip’s kingdom and turned Macedonian power into a vast empire.
Wars of the Diadochi: The conflicts among Alexander’s successors over the division of his empire after his death. The wars broke Alexander’s empire into competing kingdoms, including Macedon.
Athens: An ancient Greek city-state known for democracy, naval power, and cultural influence. Athens resisted Macedonian dominance and led the opposing coalition at Chaeronea.
Macedonian kings: The monarchs who ruled the ancient kingdom of Macedon. The kingdom’s changing power depended on its rulers and their alliances.
Sarissa: A long pike used by infantry in the Macedonian phalanx. The sarissa’s length let Macedonian ranks threaten opponents before ordinary spears could reach.
Olympias: The Epirote queen of Macedon and mother of Alexander the Great. Her royal position and rivalry with Antipater shaped Macedonian politics after Alexander’s death.
Hellenistic period: The era from Alexander’s conquests to the Roman expansion in the eastern Mediterranean, marked by widespread Greek cultural influence. Macedonian conquest opened the era’s political and cultural networks.
Thebes: An ancient Greek city-state in Boeotia that rivaled Athens and Sparta for power. Thebes fought beside Athens against Philip II at Chaeronea.

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