History Department Forum Index History Department
CSW'S History Department
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 




Chapter 7 and 8 Questions

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    History Department Forum Index -> Alexander the Great Mod 7
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
EmmaEWard



Joined: 11 May 2010
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Wed May 19, 2010 5:48 am    Post subject: Chapter 7 and 8 Questions Reply with quote

1. Why does Alexander win at the Granicus?
2. Why is Parmenion getting such a raw deal, historically?
3. Do you believe the battle was fought in the afternoon or at dawn? Why?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
EmmaEWard



Joined: 11 May 2010
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Wed May 19, 2010 6:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

1. Why does Alexander win at the Granicus?
Alexander wins at Granicus for a number of reasons. First, the Persian army is much smaller than his, perhaps “35,000 to his 50.000” (pg 119). They were also heavily armored, rather than outfitted with mobility in mind, which comes into play when Alexander uses his chosen plan of attack. The plan is to camp for the night on the Macedonian side of the river, as the outnumbered Persians would “not dare to bivouac nearby” (pg 121), and the Macedonians could rise at dawn and take advantage of the Persian’s practice to not march before sunrise. When the Persian cavalry races to Alexander’s battle line, they are beaten and flee, at which point the Macedonians flood the enemy camp and massacre a lot of people, winning decisively. Alexander uses the Persian battle habits, as well as – though not explicitly mentioned – the fact that their heavy armor makes them less likely to be equipped and/or in the right place when they are surprised with a fight – to tailor his battle plan.
2. Why is Parmenion getting such a raw deal, historically?
Parmenion’s raw deal is that he has the reputation of having recommended a battle plan (to encamp and attack at dawn) that Alexander then rejected, after which Alexander followed his own plan (attack in the afternoon) to great victory. However, that is probably not how it actually happened; in reality Alexander probably used the encamping-attacking-at-dawn plan, to great success. However, Parmenion got the short end of the stick in the sense that he is frequently portrayed as the incorrect advisor, so as to “set off his master’s daring and intelligence” (pg 121). This rumor may have been to Alexander’s liking, potentially because it came about after Alexander had already executed Parmenion for his son’s conspiracy.
3. Do you believe the battle was fought in the afternoon or at dawn? Why?
I believe that the battle was fought at dawn, partially because the well-informed Robin Lane Fox believes that, but also because it seems a more strategic and Alexander-y plan. Alexander, as is proven by his complex battle formations and variety of types of soldiers, usually prefers the more though-out plans, rather than the “rush ahead in the water blindly with very little strategy” sort of idea.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Free Forum






PostPosted:      Post subject: ForumsLand.com

Back to top
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    History Department Forum Index -> Alexander the Great Mod 7 All times are GMT + 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Forum hosted by ForumsLand.com - 100% free forum. Powered by phpBB 2.