Ancient_Macedonia_.28500_to_146_BCE.29 Macedonia_(region)

expansion of macedon kingdom

in classical times, region of macedonia comprised parts of @ time known macedonia, illyria , thrace. among others, in lands located kingdoms of paeonia, dardania, macedonia , pelagonia, historical tribes agrianes, , colonies of southern greek city states. prior macedonian ascendancy, parts of southern macedonia populated bryges, while western, (i. e., upper) macedonia, inhabited macedonian , illyrian tribes. whilst numerous wars later recorded between illyrian , macedonian kingdoms, bryges might have co-existed peacefully macedonians. in time of classical greece, paionia, exact boundaries obscure, included whole axius river valley , surrounding areas, in northern part of greek region of macedonia, of republic of macedonia, , small part of western bulgaria. 500 bce, ancient kingdom of macedon centered somewhere between southern slopes of lower olympus , lowest reach of haliakmon river. since 512/511 bce, , through persian wars, kingdom of macedonia subject persians, after battle of plataia regained independence. under philip ii , alexander great, kingdom of macedonia forcefully expanded, placing whole of region of macedonia under rule.

alexander s conquests produced lasting extension of hellenistic culture , thought across ancient near east, empire broke on death. generals divided empire between them, founding own states , dynasties. kingdom of macedon taken cassander, ruled until death in 297 bc. @ time, macedonian control on thracoillyrian states of region waned, although kingdom of macedonia remained potent regional power. period saw several celtic invasions macedonia. however, celts each time repelled cassander, , later antigonus, leaving little overall influence on region.