Why did Alexander execute Attalus shortly after Philip II's death?

To purge a potential rival for the throne and secure his position

What was the primary ideological motive for invading the Persian Empire?

To exact revenge for the Persian invasion of Greece a century earlier

In what year did Alexander cross the Hellespont to begin his Asian campaign?

334 BC

Which hero's tomb did Alexander visit upon arriving at Troy?

Achilles

Who saved Alexander's life during the Battle of the Granicus?

Cleitus the Black

How did Alexander treat Greek mercenaries captured at the Granicus?

He massacred many and sent survivors to work in the Macedonian mines as traitors

Why did Alexander decide to disband his fleet at Halicarnassus?

He could not match the Persians at sea and it was a financial liability

What was the symbolic significance of the Gordian knot?

Prophecy stated whoever untied it would become the 'Lord of Asia'

How did Alexander 'untie' the Gordian knot?

He cut it with his sword

At which battle did Alexander first face Darius III in person?

The Battle of Issus

What was the result for Darius III at the Battle of Issus?

He fled the battlefield, leaving his family and wealth to be captured

How long did the Siege of Tyre last?

Seven months

What engineering feat allowed Alexander to reach the island city of Tyre?

The construction of a kilometer-long mole or causeway through the sea

Why was capturing Tyre strategically vital for Alexander?

To deny the Persian fleet its last major harbor base in the region

What were the Agrianes in the Macedonian army?

An elite unit of javelin throwers used for speed and flanking

What was the name of the 18-foot pikes used by the Macedonian phalanx?

The sarissa

What were the Hypaspists?

An elite infantry force of 'shield-bearers' used for sieges and close combat

What archaeological find depicts Alexander as a cavalryman at the Battle of Issus?

The Alexander Sarcophagus

What is the name of the formation where the phalanx holds the center while cavalry strikes?

Hammer and anvil (implied by combined arms tactics)

Which Roman site contains a famous mosaic depicting Alexander and Darius?

The House of the Faun in Pompeii