Answer Close-Reading Questions
Have students write their responses, or use the Close-Reading Questions to guide a discussion.
• Who was Alexander the Great? What did he accomplish? (Central Ideas)
Alexander the Great was a young leader who lived from 356 B.C. to 323 B.C. He helped his father, King Philip II of Macedonia, win a battle that sealed his father’s control over most of Greece. Alexander then became king after his father was killed in 336 B.C., and he accomplished his father’s goal of conquering Persia. He kept going until he reached present-day India and commanded a huge empire of about 2 million square miles.
• How did Alexander try to spread Greek knowledge and culture? (Key Details)
Alexander traveled with experts who taught people Greek history and art as well as math and science. Early on, he often destroyed cities, including temples, art, and other signs of local tradition. Alexander also expanded trade by setting up a currency system.
• What led to the fall of Alexander’s empire? (Cause and Effect)
Going so far east left Alexander’s army exhausted. After he and the army turned back toward Europe, he became sick and died, at age 32. The empire was divided into regions that his four top generals each controlled, but over time, those kingdoms split apart.