Question

Read the excerpt from Alexander the Great’s speech at Opis.


For years you had been frightened to death by the Thessalians, but he [Philip] gave you mastery over them; your access to Greece had been through a narrow and difficult corridor, but his crushing humiliation of the Phocians made it wide and easy; the Athenians and Thebans had always been watching for their chance to spring an attack on Macedonia, but Philip crushed them so low (and by now I myself was working with him in this campaign) that instead of our paying tribute-money to the Athenians and taking prescription from the Thebans there was now a reversal of roles, and they were looking to us to give them protection.

How does Alexander develop the idea that Philip was a great military leader?

by implying that Philip’s enemies were difficult to defeat
by listing examples of Philip’s victories over other armies
by describing how much money Philip made from his victories
by showing that Philip fought armies from many different places

Answer 1

by listing examples of Philip’s victories over other armies

He cites specific successes (over the Thessalians, Phocians, Athenians, Thebans) to show Philip’s military dominance.