Illyrians

The Illyrian population first developed into tribal societies that were characterized by a certain flexibility between the political and social makeup of the group. Illyrians also possessed the ability to create a livelihood from various economic and ecological conditions (Galaty, 2002:110; Stallo, 2007:25). Many of these tribes became dependent upon transhumant pastoralism, meaning they would graze their herds along coastal plains in the winter and move to the mountains for the summer (Galaty, 2002:113; Halstead, 1987:79; Hammond, 1992: 29; Stallo, 2007:28). The exceptional pasturage was a result of the regions warmer temperatures and wetter weather. Conditions were beneficial for the Illyrian herds of mules, horses, cattle, sheep, and…

Greek Colonization Settlements or trading outposts were the two types of colonies traditionally founded by the city-states of the Ancient Greeks (Stein, 2005:12). Trade was the primary reason for the Greek colonial expansion into Illyria. Illyrian exports included wool, slaves, bitumen, metal ores, hides, stock, mercenaries, timber, and cereal grains. Imports from the Greeks consisted of ornaments for clothing, wine, olive oil, weapons, armour, vessels, and utensils (Hammond, 1992; Wilkes,…

Initially the Illyrian reputation of barbarians meant that many Greeks were unwilling to put their lives in jeopardy. Nevertheless, the need for raw goods and financial success overruled Greek fears allowing them to colonize the Illyrian coast along the Adriatic Sea at the port cities of Epidamnus and Apollonia (Ceka, 2005; Galaty, 2002; Hammond, 1992; Harding, 1992; Stallo, 2007; Stipčević, 1977; Wilkes, 1992). Many of these colonizing groups were often small in number. For instance,…

There were many great military leaders in the ancient world, but none left a legacy like Macedonia’s Philip II, known simply as Philip of Macedon. Philip was the son of King Amyntas III born around 380 BC. After his father’s death, Philip became the leader in 359 BC (Biography.com). Being equally as famous for fathering Alexander III, affectionately known as Alexander the Great, Philip was a cunning strategist and commander conquering much of Greece. His diplomatic skills coupled with his…

1992:110). According to historians there are conflicting dates in regards to colonization at Apollonia, either 600 BCE or 588 BCE. Part of this confusion might come from the colony which was originally named after its founder Gylax and called Gylakia in 600 BCE. Then in 588 BCE the colony was renamed Apollonia as a way of linking it to Apollo the Greek god (Amore, 2005:45; Ceka, 2005:66; Stallo, 2007:21; Wilson, 2006:47-48). To maintain consistency, I will use the date of 600 BCE (Amore,…

that Philip did was to reform the Macedonian army into a stronger, skilled force. Diodorus mentions that in the battle against the Illyrians that killed Perdiccas, the Macedonians had also lost over four thousand men, lowering the…

Success of the Macedonian Empire Previous ruler Philip II, third son of Macedonian king Amyntas III, was last in line for the throne when his father died. His eldest brother, Alexander II died shortly after taking the throne so his other brother, Perdiccas III became king. During this time Philip was held hostage by the Greeks, where he watched and learned from the fighting tactics of the Greeks for almost three years before returning home to assist his brother in bringing back Macedonia to its…

identified themselves with their place of birth as opposed to being “Greeks.” However, after the Persian Wars (490-469), Greekness started to spread. Colonies as well as colonists began to identify themselves with their motherland (Gosden, 2004:65; Tsetskhladze, 2006:lx). The Greeks would encounter, and later colonize, the Illyrians on the coast of the Adriatic Sea at the port city of Epidamnus, and Apollonia (Figure 1; Galaty, 2002; Hammond, 1992; Harding, 1992; Stipčević, 1977; Wilkes,…

antiquity, by ruling over many nations and being the world’s wealthiest man” (Fields, 4). “Phillips assassination could have cut short the dream of the Macedonian conquests in Asia. But Alexander, now twenty years old, had no intention of letting that bold ambition die” (Behnke, 26). So, Alexander marched south and secured Thessaly. Later when he was at the assembly of the Greek League in Corinth, he was appointed the strategos autocrator (supreme commander) of all Greeks for the expected…

general, and conqueror it is important to keep in mind that the conquest of Alexander wd have been impossible had it not been for the achievements of Pii. While Alex successfully led the invasion of the Persian Empire and the overthrowing of the Archaemenid Dypnasty, it was Philip who created the state, alliances, and military tactics that made Alexander’s conquests possible. Prior to the accession of Pii, the Kingdom of Macedonia had been an insignificant weak backwater kingdom on the…