Download By the Spear: Philip II, Alexander the Great, and the Rise and Fall of the Macedonian Empire AudioBook Free
Alexander the fantastic, arguably the most fascinating number from antiquity, waged war as a Homeric hero and lived as you, conquering native individuals and territories over a superhuman range. From the time he invaded Asia in 334 to his death in 323, he broadened the Macedonian empire from Greece in the west to Asia Minor, the Levant, Egypt, Central Asia and "India" (Pakistan and Kashmir) in the east. Although many other kings and generals forged empires, Alexander produced the one which was without parallel, even if it was short-lived. And yet, Alexander cannot have achieved what he do without the accomplishments of his dad, Philip II (r. 359-336). It had been Philip who truly modified the span of Macedonian history, changing a vulnerable, disunited, and financially backward kingdom into a armed forces powerhouse. A warrior king par superiority, Philip left Alexander with the best army in the Greek world, a centralized monarchy, monetary prosperity, and a plan to invade Asia. For the very first time, By the Spear offers an exhilarating armed forces narrative of the reigns of these two larger-than-life figures in one size. Ian Worthington gives full breadth to the professions of dad and son, demonstrating how Philip was the architect of the Macedonian empire, which come to its zenith under Alexander, only to disintegrate upon his death. By the Spear also explores the impact of Greek culture in the East, as Macedonian armies became avatars of interpersonal and social change in lands considerably removed from the original sphere of Greek effect. In addition, the book discusses the issues Alexander faced in working with a diverse subject matter populace and the strategies he required from what might be called land building, which shed light on contemporary occurrences in culturally dissimilar regions of the world. The result is a gripping and unrivaled profile of the role these kings performed in developing a great empire and the enduring legacy they left behind.
