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===Greek or Not?===
[[File: Macedonian_Tomb.jpg|300px|thumbnail|left|An Entrance to a Macedonian Tomb]]
In order to understand the origins of ancient Macedon and the Macedonian people, it is important to understand how they were related to the Greeks of Athens, Sparta, and the other traditional Greek city-states. The Kingdom of Macedon, sometimes known as Macedonia, was located in what is today the northern part of the nation-state of Greece, but in ancient times its place in the Hellenic world was often dubious. Like the Greeks of the city-states, the Macedonians were descended from Indo-European tribes that migrated to Balkans in the late Bronze Age, particularly the Myceneans and the Dorians. Most modern scholars believe the ancient Macedonian language was a dialect of Greek, <ref> Hammond, N. G. L. “Macedonians” “Macedonians.” In <i>The Oxford Classical Dictionary.</i> Third Edition. Edited by Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996), pgs. 905-6</ref>, which is certainly a critical element of ancient culture’s identities, but it was not the only factor. More importantly than language, though, the Macedonians shared many cultural affinities and attributes with the Greeks of the city-states.
The Macedonians enjoyed banquets/<i>symposia</i> just like the other Greeks, <ref> King, Carol J. <i>Ancient Macedonia.</i> (London: Routledge, 2018), p. 12</ref> but more importantly their burial methods reflected those of the Bronze Age Myceneans, who were essentially the ancestors of the classical Greeks. The Macedonians interred their deceased nobles in large tumulus style tombs that employed vaulted roofs to help them survive the tests of time. <ref> Saatsoglou-Paliadeli, Chryssoula. “In the Shadow of History: The Emergence of Archaeology.” <i>Annual of the British School at Athens</i> 94 (1999) pgs. 363, 357</ref> he tomb style is also a reflection in the religious similarities between the Macedonians and the city-state Greeks: the Macedonians for the most part worshipped the same gods as the Greeks and followed the same rituals, with some local variations. <ref> Hammond, p. 905</ref> Later, the similarities between the Macedonians and the Greeks of the city-states became even more numerous, but early in classical Greek history there were also some notable differences.
“I happen to know, and will demonstrate in a subsequent chapter of this history, that these descendants of Peridiccas are, as they themselves claim, of Greek nationality. This was, moreover, recognized by the managers of the Olympic games, on the occasion when Alexander wished to compete and his Greek competitors tried to exclude him on the ground that foreigners were not allowed to take part. Alexander, however, proved his Argive descent, and so was accepted as a Greek and allowed to enter for the foot-race. He came in equal first.” <ref> Herodotus. <i> The Histories.</i> Translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt. (London: Penguin Books, 2003), Book V, 22 </ref>
By the time Philip II (reigned 359-336 BC) ruled Macedon, the Macedonians regularly took part in the Olympics and many of the affairs of the city-states. Alexander the Great was a regular competitor, winning horse riding competitions in 356, 352, and 348. <ref> King, p. 76</ref>
===The Early Macedonian State===
