Alexander the Great

 

Alexander defeated Darius III of Persia, capturing Susa and Babylon

 

 

After his death a power struggle resulted in a four way division

 

 

  • Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt
  • Seleucid Empire in the east
  • Pergamon Kingdom of Asia Minor
  • Macedon

 

 

 

Octavian (who became Caesar Augustus of the Christmas story) defeated Mark Anthony and Cleopatra VII, Queen of Ptolemaic Egypt in the Battle of Actium.

 

 

Herod the Great backed the wrong horse, but was granted Palestine due to his allegiance to the Roman Empire way of life