This is the History of the World Podcast with me Chris Hasler

And you're listening to volume three, the classical world

episode three

the pathian empire Episode 3, the Pathion Empire. So, At the end of last week's episode we told the desperate story of how Darius the third

lost control of his Akeminid Persian Empire. The Macedonians took chunks of the empire away from Darius, forcing

Darius to personally take command of his army.

However, even with Darius commanding his military,

the Macedonians under the rule of Alexander III continued to score unlike the victories which

disintegrated the Akeminid Empire and undermined Darius's rule. Things became so bad that the rise was effectively assassinated

by one of his own sat-traps before the entire empire was lost completely.

Persia now belonged to Alexander and the Macedonians.

Some of the most successful military commanders understand that in order to keep conquered

territory you must respect the people you have conquered and often embraced their culture and spiritual feelings.

By doing this you are much more likely to be accepted as a leader who may improve the lifestyles of your new subjects and avoid costly

revolutions from within. The King of Macedon and Conqueror of Akemene Persia, Alexander III, who is popularly known in history as

Alexander the Great, showed respect to the Persian culture.

Alexander married several Persian princesses, including the daughter of Darius III,

the man who Alexander recognized as the true last king of the Persians,

despite his usurpation by Bessus.

Alexander's new territories were vast, and this radical change, after over 200 years of

a Kimanid rule, was going to take some strong and organised leadership to be able to keep the new

empire together and under Alexander's rule. There would be many local kings looking to take advantage of the situation

...