Alexander and Hellenistic GreeceAlexander and Hellenistic Greece

Key Terms to RememberKey Terms to Remember

•• CynicsCynics•• EpicureansEpicureans•• Gordian KnotGordian Knot•• HellenisticHellenistic•• ImperiumImperium•• SkepticsSkeptics•• StoicsStoics

Hellenistic Greece: OverviewHellenistic Greece: Overview•• The Rise of MacedoniaThe Rise of Macedonia

–– Macedonia: Not a Greek Macedonia: Not a Greek polispolis, but King Philip greatly , but King Philip greatly admires Greek cultureadmires Greek culture

–– Philip steps into chaotic situation to conquer GreecePhilip steps into chaotic situation to conquer Greece–– Plans to launch an invasion of PersiaPlans to launch an invasion of Persia

•• Alexander Conquers the WorldAlexander Conquers the World–– Alexander seeks to spread Greek culture, Alexander seeks to spread Greek culture, imperiumimperium

throughout Persian Empirethroughout Persian Empire–– Greeks sweep through Persia and Egypt, invade India Greeks sweep through Persia and Egypt, invade India

before turning back aroundbefore turning back around•• The Hellenistic EmpireThe Hellenistic Empire

–– Mixture of Greek and Middle Eastern culturesMixture of Greek and Middle Eastern cultures–– Assimilation of nonAssimilation of non--Greeks into Greek EmpireGreeks into Greek Empire

•• The End of the AdventureThe End of the Adventure–– Death of AlexanderDeath of Alexander–– Inheritances; division of Empire; legaciesInheritances; division of Empire; legacies

The Greek Situation, ca. 340 BCEThe Greek Situation, ca. 340 BCE

Alexander of MacedonAlexander of Macedon

•• Studied with AristotleStudied with Aristotle•• Greatly admired Greatly admired

Greek cultureGreek culture•• Ascended throne of Ascended throne of

Macedon/Greece after Macedon/Greece after fatherfather’’s assassinations assassination

•• Like father: wants to Like father: wants to conquer Persiaconquer Persia

•• Unlike father: wants Unlike father: wants moremore

Greek coin with likeness of Alexander I; Greek coin with likeness of Alexander I; the odd horns would later cause him to the odd horns would later cause him to be called a demon in the Qube called a demon in the Qu’’ranran

A Good StartA Good Start……

The Battle of the Granicus, 334 BCEThe Battle of the Granicus, 334 BCE

Pella: Macedonian Pella: Macedonian Greek capital cityGreek capital city

MovinMovin’’ onon……

•• 330 B.C.E.: Takes Persepolis, defeats Persians330 B.C.E.: Takes Persepolis, defeats Persians•• 329 B.C.E.: Invades Hindu Kush, land of Indians329 B.C.E.: Invades Hindu Kush, land of Indians•• 327 B.C.E.: Conquers Bactria, marries Roxane327 B.C.E.: Conquers Bactria, marries Roxane•• 326 B.C.E.: Forward march halted by troop mutiny326 B.C.E.: Forward march halted by troop mutiny

Alexander the Great’s EmpireAlexander the Great’s Empire

Building Greek Cities in the EastBuilding Greek Cities in the East

Trade in the Hellenistic WorldTrade in the Hellenistic World

Marrying Greek and Eastern Marrying Greek and Eastern culturescultures…… literallyliterally

•• Alexander set Alexander set precedent for precedent for intermarrying with intermarrying with conquered peoples conquered peoples with 327 B.C.E. with 327 B.C.E. marriage to Roxane marriage to Roxane (at left)(at left)

•• February 324 B.C.E.: February 324 B.C.E.: Mass wedding of 91 Mass wedding of 91 Greek officers, 9,000 Greek officers, 9,000 soldiers to local soldiers to local womenwomen

Alexandria, Egypt• Center of all Hellenistic culture.

– Thriving commerce

– Mixture of eastern/western cultures melded

Hellenistic Culture in Alexandria• Hellenism

– A new Hellenistic culture emerged over time• Added Egyptian, Persian, and Indian influences

• Alexandria was the Hellenistic capital– International trade flourished there

– Magnificent monuments dominated the city• Museum of Alexandria

• Alexandrian Library

Hellenistic Systems of ThoughtHellenistic Systems of Thought

NameName SkepticsSkeptics EpicureansEpicureans StoicsStoics

Can Can humans humans know know truth?truth?

No.No. No.No. No.No.

What to What to do?do?

Accept it, donAccept it, don’’t t try to change try to change things. things.

Enjoy Enjoy yourselfyourself——drink, drink, sex, food, sex, food, entertainment.entertainment.

Accept it, but Accept it, but never stop never stop trying to achieve trying to achieve harmony.harmony.

Hellenistic Philosophy

Skeptics or Cynics (Diogenes)– ignore social conventions & avoid luxuries– citizens of the world– live a humble, simple life

Stoicism (Zeno)– Live virtuously in harmony– Human desires, power, $$$ = dangerous!

Epicureanism (Epicurus)– Main goal of humans is to achieve harmony of body/mind– You don’t have to give up worldly pleasures—enjoy them

in moderation!– Eat, drink & be merry!

Hellenistic Science & Tech

• Astronomy: Aristarchus v. Ptolemy– Aristarchus = earth is 300x larger than Earth &

heliocentric theory

– Ptolemy = geocentric theory

– Eratosthenes = circumference of earth is between 28-29,000 mi. Actual circumference is 24,860!

Ptolemaic View of the UniversePtolemaic View of the Universe

Hellenistic Mathematics

• Geometry: Euclid– The Elements

• Physics: Archimedes– 3.14…..... Importance?

– Law of the lever

– Compound pulley

Hellenistic Art• Qualities: Emotion & motion

vs.

Hellenistic Art

vs.

The Death of AlexanderThe Death of Alexander

•• Alexander died in 323 B.C.E., just as he was getting ready to Alexander died in 323 B.C.E., just as he was getting ready to invade Arabia and then Carthage.invade Arabia and then Carthage.

•• Causes are unclear Causes are unclear –– poison? Malaria? Alcoholism?poison? Malaria? Alcoholism?•• Probably at least indirectly result of campaigning for thirteen Probably at least indirectly result of campaigning for thirteen

straight years.straight years.

The CarvingThe Carving--up of Alexanderup of Alexander’’s Empires Empire

AntigonusAntigonus

SeleucusSeleucusPtolemyPtolemy

IndiaIndia

Legacies of Hellenistic Empire; Legacies of Hellenistic Empire; SummarySummary

•• AlexanderAlexander’’s empire the next inheritor of s empire the next inheritor of ancient Middle Eastern empiresancient Middle Eastern empires

•• But fuses Greek and Eastern influences to But fuses Greek and Eastern influences to create a unique culturecreate a unique culture

•• Dream of conquering Dream of conquering ““known worldknown world”” taken taken up by Romansup by Romans

•• Divided Hellenistic successor kingdoms not Divided Hellenistic successor kingdoms not strong enough to resist Roman advancestrong enough to resist Roman advance

The “Known” World – 3c B.C.E.The “Known” World – 3c B.C.E.