The Spread of The Spread of Hellenistic CultureHellenistic Culture

Chapter 5 Section 5 Chapter 5 Section 5

Page 132Page 132

First, A Review…First, A Review… Philip and Alexander were kings of which country?Philip and Alexander were kings of which country? MacedoniaMacedonia Why did Philip want to take Persia?Why did Philip want to take Persia? It had wealthy provinces and to avenge the It had wealthy provinces and to avenge the

attacks on Greece years beforeattacks on Greece years before What did Alexander do with Darius’s offer of the What did Alexander do with Darius’s offer of the

Western half of the Persian empire?Western half of the Persian empire? Rejected itRejected it How far had Alexander’s army marched in 11 How far had Alexander’s army marched in 11

years?years? 11,000 miles11,000 miles Where was Alexander’s tomb located for Where was Alexander’s tomb located for

centuries?centuries? AlexandriaAlexandria

Hellenistic Culture in AlexandriaHellenistic Culture in Alexandria After Alexander the Great’s death, a After Alexander the Great’s death, a

new culture emerges-Greek Hellenicnew culture emerges-Greek Hellenic Blended Greek, Egyptian, Persian Blended Greek, Egyptian, Persian

and Indian influences togetherand Indian influences together Language was Koine (koy-nay) in Language was Koine (koy-nay) in

Hellenistic cities like Alexandria Hellenistic cities like Alexandria

Alexandria, EgyptAlexandria, Egypt

Alexandria the Alexandria the center of center of commerce and commerce and Hellenistic Hellenistic civilizationcivilization

Location- great Location- great place, located on place, located on edge of Nile deltaedge of Nile delta

Population over Population over 500,000500,000

Modern view of Alexandria Modern view of Alexandria

Trade and Cultural Diversity Trade and Cultural Diversity

Very beautiful, majestic palaces that Very beautiful, majestic palaces that look over harborlook over harbor

Ships from all around Mediterranean Ships from all around Mediterranean docked in its spacious harbordocked in its spacious harbor

Thriving commerce enabled Thriving commerce enabled Alexandria to grow and prosperAlexandria to grow and prosper

People of all cultures and trade People of all cultures and trade mingled in crowded marketplacesmingled in crowded marketplaces

Alexandria’s Greatest AttractionsAlexandria’s Greatest Attractions A tomb containing Alexander’s glass A tomb containing Alexander’s glass

coffin was stored in Alexandriacoffin was stored in Alexandria An enormous stone lighthouse called An enormous stone lighthouse called

the Pharos soared over the harborthe Pharos soared over the harbor The lighthouse contained a bronze The lighthouse contained a bronze

mirror that reflected the light from a mirror that reflected the light from a blazing fireblazing fire

Famous museum and library Famous museum and library dedicated to the Muses, the Greek dedicated to the Muses, the Greek goddesses of art and sciencesgoddesses of art and sciences

Great Library in Alexandria, EgyptGreat Library in Alexandria, Egypt

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nahttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3707641.stmture/3707641.stm

Science and TechnologyScience and Technology

Scholars in Alexandria provided most Scholars in Alexandria provided most of the scientific knowledge availableof the scientific knowledge available

Museum contained small observatory Museum contained small observatory where astronomers could study the where astronomers could study the planets and starsplanets and stars

Astronomer Aristarchus concluded Astronomer Aristarchus concluded that the sun was 300 times larger that the sun was 300 times larger than the earth and that other planets than the earth and that other planets revolve around the sunrevolve around the sun

Incorrect InformationIncorrect Information Unfortunately, other astronomers Unfortunately, other astronomers

refused to support Artistarchus’ refused to support Artistarchus’ theoriestheories

By 2nd century A.D. , another By 2nd century A.D. , another astronomer Ptolemy incorrectly astronomer Ptolemy incorrectly placed the earth at the center of the placed the earth at the center of the solar system, and is believed to be solar system, and is believed to be true for next 1400 yearstrue for next 1400 years

Earth’s SizeEarth’s Size

A scholar named Eratosthenes A scholar named Eratosthenes closely calculated the earth’s true closely calculated the earth’s true size using geometry size using geometry

He concluded the earth’s He concluded the earth’s circumference at 24,662 milescircumference at 24,662 miles

Today we compute the earth’s Today we compute the earth’s circumference to be 24,860 milescircumference to be 24,860 miles

His estimate was within 1% of our His estimate was within 1% of our modern calculationsmodern calculations

Mathematics and PhysicsMathematics and Physics

Euclid, a mathematician opened a school Euclid, a mathematician opened a school of geometry in Alexandria and wrote the of geometry in Alexandria and wrote the book, book, ElementsElements

Book was used in universities into the Book was used in universities into the 1900’s1900’s

Archimedes, gifted in geometry and Archimedes, gifted in geometry and physics, studied at Alexandriaphysics, studied at Alexandria

Accurately estimated the value of piAccurately estimated the value of pi Shared knowledge that helped build Shared knowledge that helped build

different machines different machines

Philosophy and ArtPhilosophy and Art Teachings of Plato and Aristotle very Teachings of Plato and Aristotle very

influential in Hellenistic philosophyinfluential in Hellenistic philosophy 2 major philosophies develop during 2 major philosophies develop during

this period- Stoicism and this period- Stoicism and Epicureanism Epicureanism

Stoicism Stoicism

Greek philosopher Zeno founded Greek philosopher Zeno founded stoicismstoicism

Philosophy based on ethicsPhilosophy based on ethics Proposed people should live life in Proposed people should live life in

harmony with natural lawharmony with natural law Preached that things like human desires, Preached that things like human desires,

power and wealth were dangerous power and wealth were dangerous distractions that should be controlleddistractions that should be controlled

Encourage those to focus on things they Encourage those to focus on things they could controlcould control

EpicureanismEpicureanism

Greek philosopher Epicurus founded Greek philosopher Epicurus founded EpicureanismEpicureanism

Taught the universe was composed of Taught the universe was composed of atoms and ruled by gods who had no atoms and ruled by gods who had no interest in humansinterest in humans

Believed the main goal of humans Believed the main goal of humans was achieve harmony of body and was achieve harmony of body and mindmind

Today, the word Today, the word epicureanepicurean means one means one devoted to pursuing human pleasures devoted to pursuing human pleasures

Realism in SculptureRealism in Sculpture

Like science, sculpture flourished during Like science, sculpture flourished during Hellenistic period, sculptures and statues Hellenistic period, sculptures and statues were displayedwere displayed

Largest known statue was the Colossus of Largest known statue was the Colossus of Rhodes- bronze statue stood more than Rhodes- bronze statue stood more than 100 feet high100 feet high

Legend said it straddled the harbor, but Legend said it straddled the harbor, but experts don’t think that is trueexperts don’t think that is true

Was destroyed by an earthquake, and Was destroyed by an earthquake, and bronze was sold for scrap bronze was sold for scrap

Hellenistic SculptorsHellenistic Sculptors

Hellenistic sculptors moved away Hellenistic sculptors moved away from the harmonic balance and from the harmonic balance and began to create more realistic worksbegan to create more realistic works

Instead of a serene face and perfect Instead of a serene face and perfect body, they began to create more body, they began to create more natural worksnatural works

Explored new subjects like ordinary Explored new subjects like ordinary people, and a wrinkled old peasant people, and a wrinkled old peasant womanwoman

DeclineDecline

By 150 B.C., Hellenistic world was on By 150 B.C., Hellenistic world was on a declinea decline

A new city Rome was growing and A new city Rome was growing and gaining strengthgaining strength

Through Rome, Greek-style drama, Through Rome, Greek-style drama, architecture, sculpture, religion and architecture, sculpture, religion and philosophy were preserved and philosophy were preserved and became the core of Western became the core of Western CivilizationCivilization

Just for Fun…Just for Fun…

Wife Swap- Athens/ SpartaWife Swap- Athens/ Sparta

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLyW5UYPYYs&feature=relatedyW5UYPYYs&feature=related