The Legacy of Alexander : Politics, Warfare, and Propaganda Under the Successors

## Abstract This book presents a study dedicated to the thirty years after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. It deals with the emergence of the successor monarchies and examines the factors which brought success and failure. Some of the central themes are the struggle for pre-eminence after Alexander's death, the fate of the Macedonian army of conquest, and the foundation of Seleucus' monarchy. The book also examines the statesman and historian Hieronymus of Cardia, concentrating on his treatment of widow burning in India and nomadism in Arabia. Another highlight is the first full analysis of the epic struggle between Antigonus and Eumenes (318-316), one of the most important and decisive campaigns of the ancient world. "This set of thematic studies is dedicated to the thirty years after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, and forms the prelude to a general history of the period of the Successors (Diadochi). It begins with an investigation of the Babylon Settlement that sheds new light on the power groups which emerged after Alexander's death, and then examines the main social issue of the period - the dismemberment of what had been the Macedonian national army. A substantial central chapter presents the first detailed study ever attempted of the epic struggle between Antigonus the One-Eyed and Eumenes of Cardia (318-316), one of the most important and decisive campaigns of the ancient world. This is continued by a close analysis of Seleucus' rise to power in Babylonia, the foundation of arguably the greatest dynasty of the post-Alexander period, in which Babylonian documentary evidence is combined with the Greek literary tradition. There is a strong emphasis on source analysis, with a long essay dedicated to the most important literary figure of the period, the statesman and historian, Hieronymus of Cardia, focusing on his treatment of the ethnographic phenomena of widow-burning in ancient India and nomadism among the Nabataean Arabs. Finally, there is an investigation of the new monarchies which emerged during the period; it highlights the factors which brought success and failure in the new age, and compares and contrasts the very different experiences of Lysimachus and Demetrius the Besieger. The book as a whole reflects the colour and turbulence of this critical period of transition, and reveals something of the nature and character of the extraordinary men and women who created the Hellenistic world."--Jacket This major study by a leading expert is dedicated to the thirty years after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. It deals with the emergence of the Successor monarchies and examines the factors which brought success and failure. Some of the central themes are the struggle for pre-eminence after Alexander's death, the fate of the Macedonian army of conquest, and the foundation of Seleucus' monarchy. Bosworth also examines the statesman and historian Hieronymus of Cardia, concentrating on his treatment of widow burning in India and nomadism in Arabia. Another highlight is the first full analysis of the epic struggle between Antigonus and Eumenes (318-316), one of the most important and decisive campaigns of the ancient world. Title Page ......Page 4 Preface......Page 6 Contents ......Page 10 Abbreviations......Page 11 1. Introduction......Page 16 2. The Politics of the Babylon Settlement......Page 44 3. Macedonian Numbers at the Death of Alexander the Great......Page 79 4. The Campaign in Iran: Turbulent Satraps and Frozen Elephants......Page 113 5. Hieronymus' Ethnography: Indian Widows and Nabataean Nomads......Page 184 6. The Rise of Seleucus......Page 225 7. Hellenistic Monarchy: Success and Legitimation......Page 261 Appendix: Chronology of events between 323 and 311 BC......Page 294 Bibliography......Page 300 Index......Page 312 Machine generated contents note: 1. Introduction 1 2. The Politics of the Babylon Settlement 29 3. Macedonian Numbers at the Death of Alexander the Great 64 4. The Campaign in Iran: Turbulent Satraps and Frozen Elephants 98 5. Hieronymus' Ethnography: Indian Widows and Nabataean Nomads 169 6. The Rise of Seleucus 210 7. Hellenistic Monarchy: Success andLegitimation 246 Appendix: Chronology of events between 323 and 311 BC 279. This study by examines the colourful and turbulent period after the death of Alexander the Great and the extraordinary people who created the Successor monarchies. It explains how and why Alexander's empire was split up, and investigates the fate of the Macedonian army of conquest. This major study by a leading expert is dedicated to the thirty years after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. It deals with the emergence of the Successor monarchies and examines the factors that brought success and failure. A. B. Bosworth. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [285]-296) And Index.