Essay 1-Disband of Fleet and Coastal Policy.

• Introduction-Army-43,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry.
• When-Right after the Siege of Milotas. Eagle landed on beach (O+O)
• Why-Did it because it was expensive, Persian fleet outnumbered there’s and his fleet wasn’t much use as he had control of most of land. He also did not trust the loyalty of the Greek crews.
• Kept small fleet.

• Coastal Policy-Win by land rather than by sea-capture all coastal towns.
• Would make Persian fleet useless-nowhere to dock or replace men.
• Benefits-Greatly reduce Persian strength-as seen in Hallikarnassus.
• Risks-Chance of Persian docking, given sea to Persians, towns that revolt will take longer to get to, might not be able to take over coastal towns, gives Darius time to regroup. The biggest risk was that the Persians might re-take the ports and thus cut the line of communication for Alexander.

Essay 2-Burning of Persepolis                                                             

• Introduction-Drinking party in 330 BC.
• Thais (Athenian woman) makes flattering speech and encourages Alexander to burn the Temple-‘sweeter pleasure’-destruction of Acropolis by Xerses
• Alexander went and followed by men with torches.
• Men hoped it signalised Alexander was planning to return home.
• Once on fire and Alexander realised he orders the fire to be put out and begins to repent
• Arrian-Did it to punish Persians and went against Parmenio. Alexander didn’t take advice that it was not his property to burn and that Persians wouldn’t support him. Also says that A.G regretted it still when he visited the temple years later.
• Plutarch-Drunken mistake and says that he had the temple restored.

Essay 3-Orientalism and Assimilation

• Orientalism

1. Clothes-Plutarch-350 BC after Guagamela-Didn’t adopt the full Median costume such as trousers or a tiara. He made a “compromise” in his dress with a halfway point between Persian and Greek. He only wore the clothes around intimate friends or barbarians but then changed it to when riding or when giving an audience). Arrian calls it a matter of policy.
2. Obesience-Blowing a kiss to someone superior while in a form of prostration. The Greeks believed that you only did it to Gods whereas the Persians saw it as a social gesture.
3. Excesses of Persian Kings-wealth and drinking. The feasts got so extravagant and often that talent limits had to be put on them.
4. Persian Restoration-Restoration of Temple of Bel (Babylon) and Cyrus’s Tomb (executed Polymachus for it). He also made a sacrifice to Bel when he was there.
5. Bessos punishment-Punishment of Bessos in barbaric fashion. (Cut his nose and tips of ears off and dragged him around by chariot).
6. Customs-Distributing money like Persian kings to women in Persis.
7. Marriage-Marriage to Roxanne and later to Stateira (Darius’s daughter)

• Assimilation

1. 1.Appointment of Persians as local rulers-Taxiles, Porus, Abulities (Susa).
2. 2.Marriages of Persians and Greeks in Susa-92 marriages
3. 3.Enlisting Persians into army-30,000 young successors. (Epegoni)
4. 4.Persians were made companions.
5. 5.Orientals equipt with the Macedonian Spear.

• Opposition to this-
  1. Cleitus-insult of Macedonians. ‘It’s the dead ones who are happy because they never lived to see Macedonians being beaten with Median rods, or begging the Persians for an audience with our own king.
  2. Pages Plot-Callisthenes opposes prostration ‘I must go back to my place one kiss the poorer”.
  3. Soldiers-Soldiers resent and are jealous at Mutiny at Opis. All soldiers angry with it-Governor of Persia-Peucestas orientalism (used the dress and language. We also see jealousy at the Epegoni and the use of Persians as Companions.
  4. Arrian-disapproving of these practise referring to prostration as “servile behaviour”. He criticises the treatment of Bessos (treating subjects inferior). He also criticises Median dress.

• Reasons:

1. 1.Policy to seem less alien to Persians (Arrian).
2. 2.To reconcile Macedonian and Persians and take a step towards softening their hearts (Plutarch).
3. 3.Fond of oriental customs e.g. prostration.
4. 4.At Opis Banquet-prayer that they will live together in peace and harmony.