The Ancients The Fall of Persia | Alexander the Great
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Feb 19, 2026 
Dr Adrian Goldsworthy, historian and author of works on Philip and Alexander, provides expert analysis. He unpacks the sieges of Tyre and Gaza. He traces Alexander’s reception in Egypt and the founding of Alexandria. He breaks down the tactics at Gaugamela and the fall of Persepolis. He follows the chase after Darius into Bactria and the strains of the long eastern campaign.
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Coastal Strategy Crippled Persian Navy
- Alexander's coastal campaign aimed to neutralize Persian naval power by capturing maritime bases rather than fighting at sea.
- Securing Phoenician cities like Tyre shifted naval balance and enabled Alexander's onward advance.
The Mole That Made Tyre Reachable
- Alexander's men built a mole to reach island Tyre and adapted with ship-mounted towers and catapults.
- After eight months of engineering and naval contests, they stormed Tyre and exacted brutal vengeance on its defenders.
Gaza's Mining Siege And Vengeful Display
- Gaza fell after two months of siege and mining, marking the first recorded use of mining against walls in Alexander's campaign.
- Alexander personally mistreated the captured Persian commander’s corpse in a display echoing Homeric vengeance.