The exact origins of the ancient Macedonians are as yet unclear. Their ethnicity is still the subject of debate, and their original language is not precisely known. It does seem that they moved from the Balkans into northwestern Greece, where they were viewed as a people different from the native Greeks. By 650 BCE, one particular group of Macedonians under the Argead family established themselves on a plain just west of the site of latter-day Thessaloniki. They eventually exerted hegemony over other Macedonian groups. At the close of the fifth century BCE, parts of Macedonian society, including the royal house, became Hellenized – that is, they adopted Greek language and culture. The new Macedonian capital was established at Pella, which became a showcase of Greek architecture, art, poetry, and philosophy. This did not, however, change their status in the eyes of the Greeks themselves, who continued to view the Macedonians as "barbarians."    

Much of Macedonian society was composed of farmers and mountain people. They were tough fighters, but they were not well disciplined or equipped. All that changed with the reign of Philip II, who from 359 to 350 BCE reshaped the Macedonian army, transforming it from a home defence force to a cohesive and fiercely loyal body which could be employed for conquest. In a very real way, this force became Philip's personal army. Such loyalty was reinforced by the awarding of booty and land to veteran soldiers. Under Philip, the army became a place where ordinary Macedonian men could achieve a measure of social status; it also provided an outlet for burgeoning nationalistic sentiment.      

Much of the success of Philip's son, Alexander the Great, was due to the merger of Alexander's own personal and military talents with the quality of the superb force developed by Philip. Before Philip II's death, the Macedonian army successfully conquered the Greek city-states, thereby giving Alexander a strong base from which to launch his epic strike against the Persian Empire and his subsequent march to northwest India.

Alexander the Great

The independence of the Macedonians was terminated by the Romans in 167 BCE, after a prolonged struggle. But the conquering Macedonians had already left a deep mark on the Mediterranean world and southwestern Asia. Wherever the armies of Alexander marched, Greek culture was spread. The Macedonians, who had themselves become Hellenized, now became the propagators of Hellenistic culture. Even the might of Rome, which had managed to subdue the Macedonians, was not immune, and soon the military conquerors became culturally conquered through their admiration for Greek arts, letters, and philosophy. In ancient times, the conquests of the Macedonians brought large portions of the Old World into direct contact with each other, allowing for the exchange of numerous ideas, beliefs, and commodities, all under a cultural "umbrella" of Hellenism.