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How did Phillip II of Macedon change Ancient Greek history

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[[File: Philip II of Macedon.jpg|thumbnail|left|220px250px|A modern statue of Phillip II]] Alexander the Great is one of the most famous men in history. However, it is generally recognized that Alexander’s achievements would have been impossible without his father, Philip II of Macedon, who reigned from 359 to 336 B.C. He is not as well-known as his son , but he laid the foundations for the great Empire of Alexander. Phillip was a great soldier and statesman , and he transformed Macedonia and turned it into a well-run state. He also established a professional army that employed innovative military tactics. Phillip also established an Empire in the Northern Balkans , and most importantly , he subjugated the Greek City-States.  Phillip conquered Greece , and it was to remain under the influence of Macedonia, for almost two hundred years, until the Roman conquest. Phillip II changed the history of Ancient Greece and allowed the rise of his son Alexander the Great.  ==Were Ancient Macedonians Greeks?==Macedonia was a small kingdom to the north of Greece. Unlike the rest of Greece, it was rather backward, and it did not have any major urban centers. The country’s economy was based on pastoral farming, and many Macedonians were semi-nomadic pastoralists. The Macedonian nobility and population measured their wealth in the number of horses and livestock they owned. The kingdom was regularly shaken by civil wars between the kings and the nobles. Macedonia kings were rarely in full control of the kingdom, and often the powerful local lords acted as semi-independent rulers. Macedonia was very vulnerable to invasions. It was regularly invaded by its neighbors, including the Celts, Scythian, and Thracians.  The kingdom was never a significant player in Greece's politics and was conquered by Darius during the Second Persian Invasion. Many of Phillip II's critics claimed that the Macedonians were not really Greeks and implied that they were non-Greeks or ‘barbarians.’ <ref> Demosthenes. Philippics. 1 8</ref> The vast majority of scholars today believe that the Macedonians were Greeks. They had originated from North-East Greece and had expanded into the Modern Republic of Macedonia. Evidence of their ‘Greekness’ is that they worshiped the same Pantheon of Gods as those worshiped in Sparta and Athens<ref>. Worthington, Ian. Philip II of Macedonia (Yale: Yale University Press, 2000), p. 13</ref> ==Who was Phillip II?==[[File: Facade of Philip II tomb Vergina Greece.jpg |thumbnail|250px|left|The tomb of Phillip II]] Phillipe was the son of Macedonia's King Amyntas III and his wife, Queen Eurydice. He was born in 383 BCE, and his elder brother became king after his father’s death.<ref> Lewis, D.M., <i>The Cambridge Ancient History Volume 6: The Fourth Century BC</i> (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press,1994), p 37</ref> He was sent Thebes as a hostage, which was briefly the supreme power in Greece, this was to secure the good behavior of his brother, the king. Later another brother who had become king was able to secure his release. King Peridiccas, Phillip’s brother, was killed in an invasion of his kingdom by a powerful Illyrian army. Phillip was appointed regent of his brother’s eldest son, crowned king of Macedonia upon coming of age. Phillip, although not the king, was the most powerful man in the kingdom.
Phillip proved to be an excellent military leader and diplomat.<ref>Lewis, p. 39</ref> He first set about re-organizing the Macedonian military. Phillip soon turned the army into a formidable fighting force, and he used it at first to defend the kingdom, and then he used it to expand the territory of the kingdom.
===Background===Macedonia was a small kingdom had been forced to concede territory to its neighbors in the recent past, and Phillip used the north of Greecearmy to retake these territories. Unlike He and the rest of Greece, it was rather backward new army overcame several new territories and greatly improved the kingdom's strategic position. This expansion made it did not have any major urban centersless vulnerable to invaders. The country’s economy Phillip was based on pastoral farming married several times, and he had at least seven wives, and he formed marriage alliances with many Macedonians were semi-nomadic pastoralistsof his neighbors. The Macedonian nobility and population measured their wealth in the number <ref>Plutarch, <i>Life of horses and livestockAlexander</i> 1 7</ref> By 357 BCE, they owned. The kingdom Phillip was regularly shaken by civil wars between all-powerful, and he sidelined his nephew from the kings succession and the nobles. The kings had himself crowned as King of Macedonia were rarely . After securing his position in full control of the kingdom and often the powerful local lords acted as semi-independent rulers. Macedonia was very vulnerable , he turned his attention to invasionsthe south. It was regularly invaded by its neighbors, including He intervened in the Celts, Scythian, Third Sacred War and Thracianswas able to annex Thebes.
The kingdom was never From 357 BCE, he fought a significant player series of wars with the Athenianstor control Thrace and prosperous mines in the politics Amphipolis. Phillip struggled with Athens for control of much of Greece . Phillip II built up a series of alliances with his neighbors, and had been conquered he became even more influential after he managed to defeat a large Scythian army. Phillip controlled much of the Balkans by Darius during 340 BCE. Rich mines were discovered in Macedonia, and Phillip used his wealth to bribe his enemies and purchase allies. The king was able to overcome the Second Persian InvasionAthenians' resistance, and he was able to secure possession of the rich gold mines at Amphipolis. This allowed him to strengthen his kingdom and expand his army and create a navy. The first in Macedonian history. Many The Greek city-states became very fearful of Macedonian power, and they united in an alliance against Phillip II critics claimed that the Macedonians were not really Greeks and implied that they were non-Greeks or ‘barbarians’ .<ref> Demosthenes. PhilippicsPlutarch, <i>Life of Alexander</i>, 2. 1 8</ref>. The vast majority Under the leadership of scholars today believe that Thebes, the Macedonians were Greeks and they had originated from NorthGreek City-East Greece States met Phillip's army at Chaeronea in 338 BCE. Phillip’s new phalanx formation annihilated the Thebans and had expanded into the Modern Republic rest of Macedoniathe Greek army. Evidence <ref>Plutarch, <i>Life of their ‘Greekness’ is Pelopidas</i>. 18</ref> This was a great victory for Phillip II, and in its wake, he was master of nearly all of Greece. No one had dominated Greece to such an extent, and to formalize his control, he established the fact that they worshiped the same Pantheon League of Gods Corinth, with himself as those worshiped in Sparta and Athensto its ‘hegamon.’<ref>. Worthington, Ian. Philip II of Macedonia (Yale: Yale University Press, 2000)Lewis, p. 1345</ref> This was a political-military alliance that effectively subjugated all of Greece to the Macedonian king.
===Life of Phillip II===[[File: Facade lost none of Philip II tomb Vergina Greecehis vigor as he aged despite walking with a limp and blind in one eye.jpg |thumbnail|300px|left|The tomb He dreamed of Phillip II]]Phillipe was invading and conquering the son of Macedonia's King Amyntas III Persian Empire and had pressurized the Greek City-States to join his wife, Queen Eurydice. He was born in 383 BCE and his elder brother became king after his father’s deathproposed invasion army.<ref> Lewis, D.M.Plutarch, <i>The Cambridge Ancient History Volume 6: The Fourth Century BCLife of Alexander</i> (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press,1994), p 376</ref> He was sent as However, he did not live long enough to invade Persia. During a hostage to Thebesprocession, which Phillip II was briefly assassinated by a former friend and bodyguard. Some have claimed that the supreme power in Greece, this assassin of Phillip was to secure motivated by a personal grievance. There have long been suspicions that the good behavior wife of his brotherPhillip II, had been behind the king. Later another brother who had become king was able to secure his releaseassassination. King Peridiccas, Phillip’s brother She was killed in an invasion of his kingdom by a powerful Illyrian army. concerned that Phillip was appointed regent II would disinherit her son Alexander and that another of his brother’s eldest son, who Phillip’s sons would be crowned king of Macedonia upon made his coming of ageheir. PhillipII was only 46 when he was killed.<ref>Plutarch, although not the king<i>Life of Alexander</i>, was the most powerful man in the kingdom. 7</ref>
== How did Phillip proved to be an excellent military leader and diplomat.<ref>Lewis, p. 39</ref> He first set about reII reform the Macedon's Military?==[[File: 512px-organizing the Macedonian militaryFilip II Macedonia. jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|A bust of Phillip soon turned the army into a formidable fighting force and he used it at first to defend the kingdom and then he used it to expand the territory of the kingdom.II]]
Macedonia As a young man, Phillip was sent as a hostage to Thebes. It had been forced to concede territory to its neighbors the most powerful army in the recent past Greece, and Phillip used the Theban army to retake these territories. He and had defeated the new army was able to conquer several new territories and greatly improved once invincible Spartans at the strategic position Battle of the kingdom. This expansion made it less vulnerable to invadersLeuctra in 373 BCE. Phillip was married several times a shrewd young man, and he had at least seven wives spent his time in Thebes studying its army and he formed marriage alliances with many especially the tactics of his neighbors. <ref>Plutarch, <i>Life of Alexander</i> 1 7</ref> By 357 BCE Phillip was all powerful and he sidelined his nephew from the succession renowned Theban commanders Epaminondas and had himself crowned as King of MacedoniaPelopidas. After securing his position in Macedonia he turned his attention He also saw how a phalanx could be utilized to drive an enemy from the southbattlefield. He intervened in In particular, he studied the Third Sacred War and famous ‘Theban wedge,’ which was able to annex Thebesa mass attack over the open ground by a phalanx at pace.
From 357 BCEPhillip was also deeply impressed by the Theban elite force, he fought a series of wars with the Athenians for control of Thrace ‘Sacred Band,’ and especially rich mines in Amphipolislater modeled his own elite forces on this unit. Phillip struggled with Athens for control of much of GreeceUsing these experiences, he completely reorganized Macedonia’s army. Phillip II built up a series of alliances with his neighbors and When he became even more influential after regent of Macedonia, he managed to defeat a large Scythian increased the size of the armyand doubled its size. Phillip controlled much of He also greatly expanded the cavalry and trained the army in the Balkans by 340 BCElatest Theban tactics. Rich mines had been discovered in Macedonia He ensured that the Macedonians were well drilled and Phillip used his wealth to bribe his enemies disciplined. He also made sure that the army was regularly paid and to purchase alliesreceived other benefits. The king He transformed the army from one, that was able to overcome the resistance a militia of the Athenians and he was able citizen-soldiers to secure possession one composed of the rich gold mines at Amphipolisprofessional soldiers. This allowed him to strengthen his kingdom and expand He provided his army with uniforms, and create every soldier gave him an oath of allegiance. Phillip II also established a navy. The first in Macedonian history. The Greek city-states became very fearful corps of Macedonian power engineers, and they united in an alliance against Phillip II.<ref>Plutarch, <i>Life of Alexander</i>, 2were soon to prove adept at siege warfare. 8</ref>
The Greek City-States, under the leadership of Thebes, met the army of Phillip at Chaeronea in 338 BCE. Phillip’s new phalanx formation annihilated the Thebans and the rest of the Greek army. <ref>Plutarch, <i>Life of Pelopidas</i>. 18</ref> This was a great victory for Phillip II and in its wake, he was master of nearly all of Greece. No one had dominated Greece to such an extent and to formalize his control he established the League of Corinth, with himself as its ‘hegamon’ <ref>Lewis, p. 45</ref>. This was a politicaldh-military alliance that effectively subjugated all of Greece to the Macedonian king. Phillip II lost none of his vigor as he aged despite walking with a limp and being blind in one eye. He dreamed of invading and conquering the Persian Empire and had pressurized the Greek City-States to join his proposed invasion army.<ref>Plutarch, <i>Life of Alexander</i>, 6</ref> However, he did not live long enough to invade Persia. During a procession, Phillip II was assassinated by a former friend and bodyguard. Some have claimed that the assassin of Phillip was motivated by a personal grievance. There have long been suspicions that the wife of Phillip II, had been behind the assassination. She was concerned that Phillip II was going to disinherit her son Alexander and that another of Phillip’s sons would be made his heir. Phillip II was only 46 when he was killed.<ref>Plutarch, <i>Life of Alexander</i>, 7<ad/ref>
===Military Reforms===[[File: 512px-Filip II Macedonia.jpg|thumbnail|300px|left|A bust of Phillip II]]As a young man, Phillip was sent as a hostage to learned much from Thebes. At the time, it had the most powerful army in Greece and the Theban army had defeated the once invincible Spartans at the Battle of Leuctra in 373 BCE. Phillip was a shrewd young man and but he spent also introduced his time in Thebes studying its army and especially the own tactics of . He adapted the renowned Theban commanders Epaminondas phalanx, and Pelopidashe made it more flexible. He also saw how appointed a commander to every phalanx could be utilized to drive an enemy from the battlefield. In particular, he studied the famous ‘Theban wedge’ and this was established a mass attack over open ground by a phalanx at pacesystem for communications. Phillip was The Macedonian King also deeply impressed by adapted the Theban elite force the ‘Sacred Band’ and he was later to model equipment of his own elite forces on this unit. Using these experiences, he completely reorganized Macedonia’s army. When he became regent of Macedonia he increased the size of the army and indeed doubled its size. He also greatly expanded abandoned the cavalry traditional spear and trained the army introduced a very long spear, up to twenty feet in the latest Theban tacticslength. He ensured It meant that the Macedonians Macedonian phalanx could reach the enemy before they were well drilled and disciplinedwithin reach of their spears. He also made sure equipped every soldier with a short sword that the was ideal for close combat. The army that Phillip II developed was regularly paid and received other benefits and he transformed the to help him establish an empire. This army allowed him to turn Macedonia from one, that was a militia of citizensecond-soldiers to one composed of professional soldiersrate power into a major Greek power. He provided his It was this army with uniforms and every soldier gave him an oath that allowed Alexander to conquer most of allegiancethe known world<ref>Lewis. Phillip II also established a corps of engineers and they were soon to prove adept at siege warfarep 101</ref>.
==How did Phillip learned much from the Thebes but he II change Macedon? ==Phillip was also introduced his own tacticsa state builder. He adapted built the phalanx city of Pella, and he made it more flexiblehis capital. He appointed a commander to every phalanx It was the administrative and established a system for communicationscultural center of the kingdom. The Macedonian King also adapted Phillip used the equipment of vast revenues from Amphipolis's gold mines to expand his army. He abandoned the traditional spear and introduced develop a very long spearbureaucracy. To secure his kingdom, up to twenty feet in length. It meant that he held the Macedonian phalanx could reach the enemy before they were within reach son of their spearsneighboring rulers as his hostages. He also equipped every soldier with a short swordheld the sons of many of his nobles as hostages, which secured their loyalty and ensured that Phillip’s was ideal obeyed in all his realm. During his reign, the nobles generally accepted his rule, and law and order were established for close combatthe first time in the kingdom's history. The army that Phillip II developed was This stability and the expansion of the kingdom led to help him establish an empirerapid economic growth. It was this army that allowed him Later, when trying to turn Macedonia from quell a second-rate power into the major Greek powermutiny, Alexander reminded them how poor Macedonians had been before Phillip became king.<ref>Arian. It was this army that allowed <i>The campaigns of Alexander to conquer most of the known world<ref/i>Lewis8. p 1015</ref> Phillip also encouraged urbanization in his kingdom.
===State Building===Phillip was also a state builder. He built the city of Pella and he made it his capital. It was the administrative and cultural center of the kingdom. Phillip used the vast revenues from the gold mines at Amphipolis not only to expand his army but to develop a bureaucracy. To secure his kingdom he held the son of neighboring rulers as his hostages. He also held the sons of many of his nobles as hostages and this secured their loyalty and ensured that Phillip’s was obeyed in all his realm. During his reign, the nobles generally accepted his rule and law and order was established for the first time in the history of the kingdom. This stability and the expansion of the kingdom led to rapid economic growth. Later Alexander when trying to quell a mutiny reminded them how poor Macedonians had been before Phillip became king <ref>Arian. <i>The campaigns of Alexander</i> 8. 5</ref>. Phillip also encouraged urbanization in his kingdom. To secure his own position , he established the Royal Pages, an elite unit that secured Phillip’s throne. Phillip’s also introduced fiscal reforms and developed tax—gathering facilities that would be later used by Alexander the Great to finance his campaigns. Perhaps Phillip II’s greatest innovation in Macedonia was that he transformed the notion of kingship in the kingdom. He was an autocrat and was an absolute ruler in his realm. He greatly expanded the power of the Macedonian king. Phillip II greatly weakened the power of the nobles and created a well-run, centralized state.<ref> Worthington, p. 113</ref>
===How did Phillip II build an Empire-Builder=?==Phillip not only build a strong and stable state, but he also built an empire. He expanded Macedonian territory and influence greatly. He conquered Thrace, Molossia, and Thessaly. This greatly expanded the resources of Macedonia and allowed Phillip to pay for his professional army. His great victory over the Greeks allowed him , in the words of Demosthenes , his great enemy, ‘to settle the destiny of Hellas.’<ref> Demosthenes, <i>Philippics</i>, 3.10</ref>. Phillip was so powerful that he could impose his own terms on Greece, with the exception of except for the defiant Spartans. He forced the defeated city-states to enter into the League of Corinth. The League -bound the various city-states to Macedonia. They did not have an independent foreign policy , and they had to provide military support if requested by the Macedonian monarch.  Phillip II also imposed garrisons on key Greek cities. These garrisons ensured that the Greek city -states complied with the terms of the League of Corinth. Phillip created a system that ensured that Greece was subjugated to Macedonia and that it was not a threat to it. Phillip II was able to neutralize any threat from Greece for many decades. This allowed Alexander to concentrate on the Persia's invasion of Persia, without worrying about the obedience and loyalty of the Greek City-States. The Greece's conquest of Greece effectively ended the autonomy of many of the Greek states and they increasingly became cultural and economic backwaters. The Macedonian victory at the Battle of Chaeronea effectively ended the age of the Greek city-states ' age as independent powers and as the center of one of the most remarkable civilizations in western history.<ref>Lewis, p. 118</ref>
==Conclusion==
Phillip II was a remarkable ruler , and his achievements have been eclipsed by his son, Alexander the Greathas eclipsed his achievements. He created a strong Macedonian state that was stable and prosperous for many decades. He created a professional army that was arguably the best in the known world and conquered an empire. The army and the state that Phillip II created changed the history of Macedonia and Greece. His successes and policies also laid the foundation for the Greece's Macedonian domination of Greece that lasted almost two centuries. Phillip II 's conquest of Greece marked the end of the era of the Greek city-states era and the end of a great period of cultural achievement <ref>Lewis, p 119</ref>. He also laid the foundation for the Empire of Alexander the Great and the great Hellenistic monarchies. Phillip II changed the Greek World and paved the way for his more famous son to change World History. <div class="portal" style="width:8535%;"> 
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