When Alexander the Great died in 323 BCE, he left behind an empire devoid of leadership. Without a named successor or heir, the old commanders simply divided the kingdom among themselves. For the next three decades, they fought a lengthy series of wars - the Wars of the Diadochi or Wars of the Successors - in a futile attempt to restore the tattered kingdom. Although the Hellenistic Age saw Greek language, art and philosophy flourish throughout Asia, there were few advances in military tactics. Instead, it was a time of “kingdoms and their armies.” The successors inherited an army borne out of the reforms of Philip II of Macedon. He was an innovator; the first Greek to master siege warfare, and with his son Alexander, they made Macedon the foremost power in both Greece and Asia. Together, Alexander and his father would create an army unlike anything the ancient world had ever seen.
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Definition
Timeline
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334 BCESardis surrenders to Alexander the Great.
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323 BCEDeath of Alexander the Great.
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323 BCE - 282 BCERule of Ptolemy I Soter.
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322 BCEDemetrius I flees Phrygia with his father Antigonus I.
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322 BCE - 275 BCEThe Wars of the Diadochi, also known as the Wars of Alexander's Successors.
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321 BCE - 315 BCESeleucos rules the satrapy of Babylon.
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319 BCEDeath of Antipater, regent of Macedon.
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c. 317 BCEDemetrius I commands his father's cavalry units at the battles of Paraetacene and Gabiene in Persia.
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316 BCESatrap of Persis Peucestas is defeated at the Gabiene Battle, alongside of Eumenes. Evagros is appointed in Persis by Antigonus I Monopthalmus.
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c. 316 BCEThessalonica is founded by Cassander.
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314 BCEAntigonus I establishes the League of Islanders which includes Delos.
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312 BCEDemetrius I of Macedon loses the Battle of Giza against Ptolemy I and Seleucus I Nicator.
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312 BCEEvagros is killed in battle by Seleucos I. Persis comes under Seleucid rule.
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312 BCESeleucos conquers Babylon and founds the Seleucid dynasty.
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309 BCELysimachus founds the city of Lysimachia to secure the Dardanelles.
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309 BCE - 308 BCEAgathocles of Syracuse successfuly campaigns in North Africa defeating Carthaginian armies and taking Utica and Hippacra.
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306 BCEDemetrius I of Macedon defeats Ptolemy's fleet at Salamis, off the coast of Cyprus.
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305 BCEEmperor Chandragupta signs a treaty with Seleucos I, establishing borders and giving the Punjab to Chandragupta in return for 500 war elephants.
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305 BCE - 297 BCECassander is self-proclaimed king of Macedon.
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301 BCEThe Battle of Ipsus in central Phrygia where Lysimachus and Seleucos I defeat Antigonus I and Demetrius I of Macedon.
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295 BCEDemetrius I campaigns in central Greece, removes the tyrant Lachares from Athens and defeats Sparta.
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c. 295 BCESeleucos I makes an alliance with local Persis dynast, Ardaxsir, becoming the first frataraka of Persis.
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294 BCE - c. 288 BCEDemetrius I rules as king of Macedon.
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292 BCELysimachus is captured by Dromichaites, the king of Getae and forced to surrender Trans-Danubian territories.
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288 BCEWhen his army deserts him Demetrius I flees Macedon.
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288 BCEPyrrhus of Epirus becomes ruler of Macedon.
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285 BCEDemetrius I surrenders to Seleucus I and lives as a prsioner for three years until his death.
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284 BCELysimachus drives Pyrrhus out of Macedon.
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281 BCELysimachus is defeated by Seleucus I Nicator at Corupedium.
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280 BCE - 275 BCEKing Pyrrhus of Epirus wages the Pyrrhic War against the Romans in Italy, defence of Tarentum being the pretext.
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273 BCEPyrrhus of Epirus attacks Macedon and Sparta.
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272 BCEDeath of Pyrrhus of Epirus in a street battle in Argos.
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241 BCE - 197 BCEReign of Attalus I at Pergamon.
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222 BCEThe Achaean League and Antigonos III of Macedon defeat Sparta at Sellasia.