Alexander the Great and the Iranians

Course Description

Course Description: As Alexander the Great conquered and imposed his authority over the Persian Empire, he and his Greek and Macedonian followers struggled to find a way to coexist with the Iranian aristocracy that had governed the empire on behalf of the Persian Great Kings for more than two hundred years. In this course, we will explore what the ancient sources tell us about Alexander’s relationships with this aristocracy; what they tell us about Alexander’s evolving sense of his own role in his new empire; and how modern historians craft narratives about the ancient past Level: This course is designed to offer anyone interested in ancient history a focused introduction to selected problems in the history of Alexander the Great. No previous background in the subject is necessary, nor is knowledge of ancient Greek Textbook: The instructor will provide electronic copies of key readings, but students should consider purchasing (1) Quintus Curtius Rufus, “The History of Alexander” (trans. John Yardley) and (2) Arrian, “The Landmark Arrian: The Campaigns of Alexander” (trans. Pamela Mensch). Martin Hammond’s translation of Arrian (“Alexander the Great: The Anabasis and the Indica”) lacks the detailed maps found in “The Landmark Arrian”, but may be preferable for students who prefer to purchase e-books

Details

• Semester: Summer 2024
• Day: Tuesday
• Time: 8:00 PM ET
• Duration: 60 minutes per session

Tuition

$250 per course

Availability

4 spots remaining out of 5

Cancellation Policy

Telepaideia tuition is non-refundable. However, if you need to cancel your enrollment or withdraw from your class, you may be eligible for a 50% credit to be used toward a future Telepaideia course. In order to be eligible for this credit, you must notify info@paideiainstitute.org of your withdrawal before the second class meeting has taken place.