BBC - In the footsteps of Alexander (Samarkand) 18

In the footsteps of Alexander the Great

In this award winning adventure Micheal Wood embarks on a 2000 mile journey in the foot steps of Alexander's triumphal march from Greece to India. Travelling with Lebanese traders, Iranian pilgrims and Afghan guerillas, by jeep, train, boat, camel and on foot, he interweaves the momentous events of the past with present day reality and brings us new insights into a man whose myth and acheivements still resonate down the centuries.

"We saw things I can scarcely believe. We took shelter for the night with an Afghan warlord who had delivered pizzas in the United States, and were hauled off to jail more than once. It was one of the great experiences of my life" - Michael Wood

lexander then set off in pursuit of Darius again, first into Media, and then Parthia.[94] The Persian king was no longer in control of his destiny, having been taken prisoner by Bessus, his Bactrian satrap and kinsman.[95] As Alexander approached, Bessus had his men fatally stab the Great King and then declared himself Darius' successor as Artaxerxes V, before retreating into Central Asia to launch a guerrilla campaign against Alexander.[96] Darius' remains were buried by Alexander next to his Achaemenid predecessors in a full regal funeral.[97] Alexander claimed that, while dying, Darius had named him as his successor to the Achaemenid throne.[98] The Achaemenid Empire is normally considered to have fallen with the death of Darius.[99]

Silver coin of Alexander, British Museum

Alexander, now considering himself the legitimate successor to Darius, viewed Bessus as a usurper to the Achaemenid throne, and set out to defeat him. This campaign, initially against Bessus, turned into a grand tour of central Asia, with Alexander founding a series of new cities, all called Alexandria, including modern Kandahar in Afghanistan, and Alexandria Eschate ("The Furthest") in modern Tajikistan. The campaign took Alexander through Media, Parthia, Aria (West Afghanistan), Drangiana, Arachosia (South and Central Afghanistan), Bactria (North and Central Afghanistan), and Scythia.[100]

Bessus was betrayed in 329 BC by Spitamenes, who held an undefined position in the satrapy of Sogdiana. Spitamenes handed over Bessus to Ptolemy, one of Alexander's trusted companions, and Bessus was executed.[101] However, when, at some point later, Alexander was on the Jaxartes dealing with an incursion by a horse nomad army, Spitamenes raised Sogdiana in revolt. Alexander personally defeated the Scythians at the Battle of Jaxartes and immediately launched a campaign against Spitamenes and defeated him in the Battle of Gabai; after the defeat, Spitamenes was killed by his own men, who then sued for peace.[102]
Problems and plots

During this time, Alexander took the Persian title "King of Kings" (Shahanshah) and adopted some elements of Persian dress and customs at his court, notably the custom of proskynesis, either a symbolic kissing of the hand, or prostration on the ground, that Persians paid to their social superiors.[103][104] The Greeks regarded the gesture as the province of deities and believed that Alexander meant to deify himself by requiring it. This cost him much in the sympathies of many of his countrymen.[104] A plot against his life was revealed, and one of his officers, Philotas, was executed for failing to bring the plot to his attention. The death of the son necessitated the death of the father, and thus Parmenion, who had been charged with guarding the treasury at Ecbatana, was assassinated by command of Alexander, so he might not make attempts at vengeance. Most infamously, Alexander personally slew the man who had saved his life at Granicus, Cleitus the Black, during a drunken argument at Maracanda.[105] Later, in the Central Asian campaign, a second plot against his life was revealed, this one instigated by his own royal pages. His official historian, Callisthenes of Olynthus (who had fallen out of favor with the king by leading the opposition to his attempt to introduce proskynesis), was implicated in the plot; however, there has never been consensus among historians regarding his involvement in the conspiracy.

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[DomAleixo]

The only thing I couldn´t find in this part is the name of the city where these Greeks lived...

Emerson

[alexandros1821]

Turns out it was a village just outside what the Greeks called Marakanda, today it is no other than Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

[dubai3000]

Central asia was greek before alexander? weird?

[alexandros1821]

No, he doesnt not make such a claim.

what happened was during the Persian empire many Greeks worked for the Persians, many of whom were forced labourers from Asia Minor (which was then part of the Persian empire)

Many of these Greeks were shipped off into central asia to change the demograghics hence why there was a Greek character which was present there when Alexander finally crossed those areas.

[m3gas1]

Thanks a ton, dont even know which one is my favorite !

[revend]

wonderfull !

[KaityMcLynn]

BAHAHA! There's no figs and olives in Khujand! I used to live there, and you couldn't find those things to save your life!!

[HDNighster1]

@camomilleable11 have you heard of Nellie Kim? Korean-Tajik gymnist? How is Dushanbe? Is Kushan in Tajikistan? I would love to visit Ferghana valley. How is the oil, gas pipeline business in central Asia?

[HDNighster1]

@camomilleable11 Dashakur

[Graham6762]

What an amazing documentary

[LaserBeam002]

The lady at 1:14 is damn cute. So sweet and gentle looking. I would loved to see her full figure. To bad they only show her face.

[camomilleable11]

yeah i was born in Samarkand, most our Tajiks are light skin, green/blue eyes and could be blonde or dark hair, are they half of Greek?

[camomilleable11]

I'm Tajik (Persian/Dari-Darius) spoken and i do have a green eyes, light skin and blonde hair, am i half of Greek?

[camomilleable11]

Yeah Samarkand produce a wine which is #1 in Uzbekistan. Samarkand has a 100% raisins for winery.

[camomilleable11]

Greek? He is wrong, they're Tajik and these people speaks in an tajik language(Persian/Dari)