Partly, although the specification covers everything from Thebes to Alexander's death, and includes everything in between - Cleitus, etc.spitamenes wrote:Marcus,
I believe the reason behind books 2,3 and 7 might be because 2 includes the battle of Issus, 3 includes the battle of Gaugamela, and 3... well, I would guess Alexanders death. Wouldn't it be best though to save Arrian foraftera basic introduction if they are to start with chapter 2? Or is that probably the plan? Because chapter 2 just jumps right into places and people whom the students haven't been introduced to yet.
What I assume it means is that the exam board won't be asking source-based questions on anything covered in the other books, so although the students are required to know what happened, they aren't required to know the source material for it. Which makes sense.
What the AQA specification says they need to know includes:
the major events of Alexander’s career and their significance (including Alexander’s accession to the Macedonian throne, appointment as Hegemon and strategos autokrator of the League of Corinth, campaigns on Lower Danube and against Illyrians, destruction of Thebes and arrangements for Greece, arrival in Asia Minor, battle of River Granicus, settlement of Asia Minor, stay at Gordium, battle of Issus, submission of Phoenician cities, sieges of Tyre and Gaza, occupation of Egypt, foundation of Alexandria, expedition to oracle of Ammon, battle of Gaugamela, occupation of Babylon, Susa and Persepolis, campaigns of 330 to 327 BC, ‘conspiracy’ of Philotas, murder of Cleitus, conspiracy of the Pages, battle of the River Hydaspes, mutiny at the River Hyphasis, march through the Gedrosian Desert, voyage of Nearchus, journey to Pasargadae and Susa, mass marriages, Exiles decree, mutiny at Opis, death of Hephaestion, return to Babylon and death)
Alexander’s aims (including personal, political, military, economic, exploratory and cultural considerations)
Alexander’s achievements as monarch, military commander (including his strengths and weaknesses in strategy, tactics, military organisation, leadership in battle, his relationship with his officers and men and treatment of opponents) and administrator (including arrangements for administering his various conquests, adoption of Persian practices and dress, foundation of cities)
Alexander’s attitude towards the gods (including his own divine parentage and divinity) and mythological and historical precedents (including Achilles, Perseus, Herakles, Dionysus, Philip II and Cyrus the Great)
Alexander’s relationship with the mainland Greeks
the aims, methods, sources and judgements of Arrian and Plutarch and problems in their use as evidence.
ATB