DSBcB44 Alexander the Great

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2019
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Bc. Jiří Kouřil, M.Sc., Ph.D. et Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Bc. Jiří Kouřil, M.Sc., Ph.D. et Ph.D.
Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Erlebachová
Supplier department: Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of the history of ancient Greece.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 11 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The subject is concentrated on the life, youth, reign and campaigns of Alexander the Great. The goal of the subject is to introduce the students to the history, reforms, politics, wars and personality of Alexander of Macedonia. After finalization of this subject, the students will be orientated in the Alexander´s personality and career on the background of historical events.
Learning outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- objectively look on the history and evolution of Alexander´s campaign,
- orientate in Alexander´s war strategy, infantry and cavalry, and systems of warfare,
- understand some ideals, which formed the Macedonian society and mentality of Alexander,
- understand some specialist terms,
- orientate in the primary sources and specialist literature dealing with this topic.
Syllabus
  • 1) Introdution to Macedonia Society and Philip the Macedon,
  • 2) The Childhood of Alexander, the Consolidation of Alexander´s rule, Alexander´s personality
  • 3) The Macedonian Warfare, the Generalship of Alexander
  • 4) The Balkan Campaign of Alexander, destruction of Thebes,
  • 5) War Begins, the Invasion of Asia,
  • 6) From the Battle of the Granicus River to the Battle of Issus,
  • 7) Tyre, Gaza and Egypt,
  • 8) The Battle of Gaugamela,
  • 9) Alexander in Babylon, Fighting in the Mountains, the Death of Darius,
  • 10) The Conquest of India,
  • 11) The Way Back and the Death of Alexander,
  • 12) The Heritage (Diadochi) and the Legends and Legacy of Alexander.
Literature
    required literature
  • ARRIANOS, Flavios. Alexander the Great : the Anabasis and the Indica. Edited by John A. Atkinson, Translated by Martin Hammond. Oxford: Oxford University Press. xlv, 372. ISBN 9780199587247. 2013. info
  • CURTIUS RUFUS, Quintus. Histories of Alexander the Great. Edited by J. E. Atkinson, Translated by John Yardley. 1st pub. Oxford: Oxford University. xiv, 274. ISBN 9780199557639. 2009. info
  • PLUTARCHOS. Životopisy slavných Řeků a Římanů. 2. Praha: Odeon - nakladatelství krásné literatury a umění. 808 s., [3. 1967. info
    recommended literature
  • Alexander the Great and the mystery of the elephant medallions. Edited by Frank Lee Holt. Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press. xv, 198 p. ISBN 0520238818. 2003. info
  • ASHLEY, James R. The Macedonian empire : the era of warfare under Philip II and Alexander the Great, 359-323 B.C. First published. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. x, 486. ISBN 9780786419180. 1998. info
  • CHUGG, Andrew. Alexander the Great in Afghanistan : a reconstruction of Cleitarchus. First edition. [Bristol]: [Andrew Michael Chugg]. iv, 206. ISBN 9780955679032. 2011. info
  • DROYSEN, Johann Gustav. History of Alexander the Great. Edited by G. W. Bowersock - A. Brian Bosworth, Translated by Flora Kimmich. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society. xxi, 605. ISBN 9781606180235. 2012. info
  • ENGELS, Donald W. Alexander the Great and the logistics of the Macedonian army. Berkeley: University of California Press. xiv, 194. ISBN 0520042727. 1978. info
  • ENGLISH, Stephen. The army of Alexander the Great. First published. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military. xii, 164. ISBN 9781844158393. 2009. info
  • ENGLISH, Stephen. The field campaigns of Alexander the Great. First published. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military. vii, 245. ISBN 9781848840669. 2011. info
  • HECKEL, Waldemar. The conquests of Alexander the Great. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. xxi, 218. ISBN 9780521842471. 2008. info
  • WATERFIELD, Robin. Dividing the spoils : the war for Alexander the Great's empire. 1st ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. xiv, 273. ISBN 9780199647002. 2012. info
  • WORTHINGTON, Ian. By the spear : Philip II, Alexander the Great, and the rise and fall of the Macedonian empire. New York: Oxford University Press. xxi, 388. ISBN 9780199929863. 2014. info
  • YENNE, Bill. Alexander the Great : lessons from history's undefeated general. First published. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. ix, 204. ISBN 9780230619159. 2010. info
    not specified
  • HABAJ, Michal. Alexander Veľký. Vydanie prvé. Trnava: Univerzita sv. Cyrila a Metoda v Trnave, Filozofická fakulta. 333 stran. ISBN 9788081057267. 2015. info
  • HABAJ, Michal. Itinerarium Alexandri : Alexander Veľký v prameňoch. Vyd. 1. Trnava: Univerzita sv. Cyrila a Metoda v Trnave, Filozofická fakulta. 216 s. ISBN 9788081055935. 2014. info
  • VAVŘÍNEK, Vladimír. Alexandr Veliký. Praha: Svoboda. 267 s. 1967. URL info
Teaching methods
Online, E-Learning
Assessment methods
Fulfillment of various tasks in the e-learning (all online). The students can choose which tasks they will complete; they must gain 100 points in total.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Note related to how often the course is taught: Online, formou e-learningu.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: E-learning.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2019, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2019/DSBcB44