Xenocrates had succeeded Speusippus in 338 BCE…

Alexander advances into Thrace in spring 335 and, after forcing the Shipka Pass, drives the Triballi to the junction of the Lyginus with the Danube.

Their king Syrmus takes refuge in Peuce (Peukë, an island in the Danube), where Alexander is unable to follow him, and instead crosses the Danube to disperse the Getae.

The punishment inflicted by Alexander upon the Getae, however, induces the Triballi to sue for peace.

Alexander returns to Macedonia by way of Delphi, where the Pythian priestess acclaims him “invincible”.

Turning west, Alexander defeats and shatters a coalition of Illyrians, led by their chieftain Cleitus, who have invaded Macedonia.

Alexander receives delegations of Celts living near the Adriatic in 335 BCE, one of the dates associated with the Celts in their movement into the Balkans.

Theban democrats, on hearing a rumor of Alexander's death in battle against the Illyrian coalition raiding Macedon from the west, meanwhile, revolt against Macedonian rule.

Other Greek states favor Thebes, and the Athenians, urged on by Demosthenes, vote help.

This leads a very-much-alive Alexander to march the two hundred and fofty miles from Pelion (near modern Korçë, Albania) in Illyria to Thebes in fourteen days, and attack the Thebans upon their refusal to surrender.

Forcing an entry to the city, he savagely destroys it, razing Thebes to the ground, sparing only temples and Pindar's house, killing six thousand and selling all survivors into slavery.

After conquering Thebes, Alexander is said to have demanded the surrender of Chares, among others, but Chares escapes to the Troad.

The other Greek states, cowed by Alexander's brutality, offer him allegiance.

Alexander leaves Macedonian garrisons in the Cadmeia as well as …

…in Corinth and …

…Chalcis.

The admiration of Alexander for Demades causes the conqueror to treat Athens leniently in 335 after its rebellion.

Demosthenes, whose oratory epitomizes the height of Greek prose style, continues to pursue his anti-Macedonian policy.

Alexander's string of victories has emboldened the Macedonian king to demand that Athens surrender Demosthenes and seven other orators who had opposed his father and himself.

Only a special embassy to Alexander succeeds in having that order rescinded.

Aristotle had interpreted atmospheric phenomena in his Meteorologica, written about 340.

Around 335, Aristotle defends poetry against Plato's criticisms in his fundamental text of literary criticism, the Poetics, in which he describes all arts as imitations (mimesis) of human actions, distinguishing between tragedy—an imitation of noble events—and comedy, which portrays a lower order of actions.

Following a discussion of the methods and effects of imitation, Aristotle offers a classic definition of tragic form, alluding to the effect of tragedy as “purgation".

He also rejects the notion that poetry should be judged by the morality of what it portrays.

Aristotle pays no attention to the producer, only the product.

Rejecting Plato’s idealism, Aristotle champions the empirical examination of natural and social phenomena.

Good, according to his doctrine, consists of individuals attaining the state suited to their natures.

Aristotle draws from earlier Greek thinkers to propound a theory of the four elements: fire, earth, air and water.

Egypt revolts from Persian rule in 338 BCE following the assassination of Ataxerxes.

His successor, Darius III, invades Egypt in 334 BCE to reconquer the rebellious province.