The Spread of Hellenistic Culture

objective

Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of ancient Greece in terms of its impact on Western Civilization by: Explaining the

conquest of Alexander the Great and the formation and spread of Hellenistic culture by Alexander the Great

Essential Question How did the empire of

Alexander the Great establish a basis for the spread of Hellenistic culture?

Hellenistic Culture in Alexandria

Hellenistic Blend of Egyptian, Persian,

Indian, and Greek culture Emerged after Alexander’s

death Examples

Koine: dialect spoken in Alexandria

Alexandria Center of Hellenistic

commerce Strategic site on Nile delta in

Africa Thriving harbor International community with

mixture of customs and traditions

Beautiful city Pharos lighthouse Library at Alexandria

Science and Technology

Alexandria became center of learning and scholarship

Astronomy Aristarchus

Estimated sun was 300X larger than earth

Proposed Earth and other planets revolved around the sun

Ptolemy Incorrectly placed earth at

center of solar system Eratosthenes

Closely calculated Earth’s true size

Used geometry to compute earth’s circumference

Was within 1%

Mathematics and Physics Euclid

Opened school of geometry in Alexandria

Wrote The Elements Basis for Geometry

Archimedes Calculated Pi Explained law of the lever Invented compound pulley Invented Archimedes Screw

Used for catapult machines Basis for later inventions

like force pumps and steam engines

Aristarchus

Eratosthenes

Archimedes

Philosophy and Art

Influence Followed belief of

universal that followed rational principles

Plato and Aristotle

Stoicism Developed by Zeno Believed divine power

controlled the universe People should live virtuous

life in harmony with natural law

Control vices like power, wealth

Encouraged an ethical life Promoted social unity Appealed to all races,

cultures

Realism in Sculpture Flourishing of

sculpture Honored gods, heroes,

and ordinary people Colossus of Rhodes

Bronze statue 100 ft tall One of the seven

wonders Toppled by earthquake in

225 B.C.E. More realistic than

Ancient Greece, more ordinary

Influence would follow to Rome

Hellenistic Sculpture

HeroHeroVillianVillian

Fact List: Alexander the Great

Outline

Thesis:

Introduction State thesis Include introduction to categories

1st body paragraph Follow thesis and stick with order facts

2nd body paragraph facts

3rd body paragraph facts

Conclusion Summarize your thesis and main

points Do not restate thesis word for word

HINTS!

Do not use “I” or “you” “You will see that Alexander is a

Villain.” “I am going to tell you about

Alexander the Great.”

Do not write like you are texting “U will c that Alexander is a

villain.”

Do not write like you are talking to me “So you see that Alexander is like

a hero.”

objective

Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of ancient Greece in terms of its impact on Western Civilization by: Explaining the

conquest of Alexander the Great and the formation and spread of Hellenistic culture by Alexander the Great

Essential Question How did the empire of

Alexander the Great establish a basis for the spread of Hellenistic culture?