Macedonian history is marked by the rise of the ancient kingdom of Macedon, which became powerful under the rule of Philip II in the 4th century BCE. His son, Alexander the Great, expanded the empire, spreading Greek culture across a vast territory that included parts of Asia and Africa. After Alexander's death, the region experienced fragmentation and was eventually absorbed into the Roman Empire. In later centuries, Macedonia became part of the Byzantine Empire and faced various invasions, including those by the Ottoman Empire, which ruled the area for several centuries until the Balkan Wars in the early 20th century.