Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/151

CHAPTER VIII ALEXANDER THE GREAT AND THE HELLENISTIC AGE I. MACEDONIA AND ALEXANDER THE GREAT 152. Philip of Macedonia and his New Army. A new power was developing to the north of the Greek cities, which was to play a great part in Greek affairs. This was Macedonia. Its first king of importance was Philip, the father of Alexander the Great. He came into control of Macedonia in 360 B.C. He had a Greek education and aspired to make himself master of the old and famous Greek cities to the south. His first step was to create a new and powerful army organized as a permanent institu- tion. It was made up of infantry which fought in " phalanxes," or compact bodies of warriors trained to work together, and cavalry, which also moved about in masses and supported the phalanxes. This formed the very powerful Macedonian war machine by means of which Philip and his far more celebrated son were able to gain their astonishing victories. 153. Philip gains the Leadership of the Greeks (338B.C.). Philip steadily extended the territory of his kingdom eastward and northward until it reached the Danube and the Hellespont. His progress soon brought him into conflict with the Greek states, which controlled cities in this northern region. Two parties then arose at Athens. One of them was quite willing to accept Philip's proffered friendship and to recognize in him the savior of the Greek world. The leader of this party was Isocrates (150), now an aged man. The opposing party denounced Philip as a barbarous tyrant who was endeavoring to enslave the free Greek cities. The leader of this anti-Macedonian party was the great orator Demosthenes. His Philippics, as his public