Alexander Alexander and the and the

Hellenistic Hellenistic AgeAge

Focus QuestionFocus Question  How did Alexander How did Alexander the Great expand the Great expand

his empire and his empire and spread Greek spread Greek

culture throughout culture throughout the realm?the realm?

In 338 B.C., Athens fell to the Macedonian army. Athens and In 338 B.C., Athens fell to the Macedonian army. Athens and the other Greek city-states lost their independence. Yet the the other Greek city-states lost their independence. Yet the disaster ushered in a new age in which Greek culture spread disaster ushered in a new age in which Greek culture spread from the Mediterranean to the borders of India. The architect of from the Mediterranean to the borders of India. The architect of this new era was the man who would eventually become known this new era was the man who would eventually become known to history as to history as Alexander the Great.Alexander the Great.

The Empire of Alexander the Great The Empire of Alexander the Great

To the Greeks, the To the Greeks, the rugged, mountainous rugged, mountainous kingdom of Macedonia kingdom of Macedonia was a backward, half-was a backward, half-civilized land. The rulers civilized land. The rulers of this frontier land, in of this frontier land, in fact, were of Greek origin fact, were of Greek origin and kept ties to their and kept ties to their Greek neighbors. As a Greek neighbors. As a youth, youth, Philip IIPhilip II had lived had lived in Thebes and had come in Thebes and had come to admire Greek culture. to admire Greek culture. Later, he hired Aristotle Later, he hired Aristotle as a tutor to his young as a tutor to his young son Alexander. son Alexander.

Philip II Conquers Greece Philip II Conquers Greece

When Philip II gained the When Philip II gained the throne in 359 B.C., he throne in 359 B.C., he dreamed of conquering dreamed of conquering the prosperous city-states the prosperous city-states to the south. He built a to the south. He built a superb and powerful superb and powerful army. Through threats, army. Through threats, bribery, and diplomacy, bribery, and diplomacy, he formed alliances with he formed alliances with many Greek city-states. many Greek city-states. Others he conquered Others he conquered

In 338 B.C., when Athens and Thebes joined forces In 338 B.C., when Athens and Thebes joined forces against him, Philip II defeated them at the battle of against him, Philip II defeated them at the battle of Chaeronea (kehr uh Chaeronea (kehr uh neenee uh). He then brought all of uh). He then brought all of Greece under his control. Greece under his control.

Philip had a still grander dream—to conquer the Persian Philip had a still grander dream—to conquer the Persian empire. Before he could achieve that plan, though, he was empire. Before he could achieve that plan, though, he was assassinated at his daughter’s wedding.. Philip’s queen, assassinated at his daughter’s wedding.. Philip’s queen, Olympias, then outmaneuvered his other wives and children Olympias, then outmaneuvered his other wives and children to put her own son, Alexander, on the throne to put her own son, Alexander, on the throne

Alexander Takes Persia Alexander Takes Persia Alexander was only 20 years old. Yet he was already an experienced soldier Alexander was only 20 years old. Yet he was already an experienced soldier who shared his father’s ambitions. With Greece subdued, he began who shared his father’s ambitions. With Greece subdued, he began organizing the forces needed to conquer Persia. By 334 B.C., he had organizing the forces needed to conquer Persia. By 334 B.C., he had enough ships to cross the Dardanelles, the strait separating Europe from enough ships to cross the Dardanelles, the strait separating Europe from Asia Minor Asia Minor

Persia was no longer the great power it had once been. The Persia was no longer the great power it had once been. The emperor Darius III was weak, and the provinces were often in emperor Darius III was weak, and the provinces were often in rebellion against him. Still, the Persian empire stretched more rebellion against him. Still, the Persian empire stretched more than 2,000 miles from Egypt to India. than 2,000 miles from Egypt to India.

Alexander won his first victory against the Persians at the Granicus River. Alexander won his first victory against the Persians at the Granicus River. He then moved from victory to victory, marching through Asia Minor into He then moved from victory to victory, marching through Asia Minor into Palestine and south to Egypt before turning east again to take Babylon in Palestine and south to Egypt before turning east again to take Babylon in 331 B.C. Other cities followed. But before Alexander could capture Darius, 331 B.C. Other cities followed. But before Alexander could capture Darius, the Persian emperor was murdered.the Persian emperor was murdered.

Advance Into India Advance Into India

With much of the Persian empire under his control, the restless Alexander headed With much of the Persian empire under his control, the restless Alexander headed farther east. He crossed the Hindu Kush into northern India. There, in 326 B.C., farther east. He crossed the Hindu Kush into northern India. There, in 326 B.C., his troops for the first time faced soldiers mounted on war elephants. Although his troops for the first time faced soldiers mounted on war elephants. Although Alexander never lost a battle, his soldiers were tired of the long campaign and Alexander never lost a battle, his soldiers were tired of the long campaign and refused to go farther east. Reluctantly, Alexander agreed to turn back. After a refused to go farther east. Reluctantly, Alexander agreed to turn back. After a long and difficult march, they reached Babylon, where Alexander began planning long and difficult march, they reached Babylon, where Alexander began planning a new campaign.a new campaign.

Alexander’s Early Death Alexander’s Early Death

Before he could set out again, the thirty-two-year-old fell victim Before he could set out again, the thirty-two-year-old fell victim to a sudden fever. As Alexander lay dying, his commanders to a sudden fever. As Alexander lay dying, his commanders asked to whom he left his immense empire. “To the strongest,” asked to whom he left his immense empire. “To the strongest,” he is said to have whispered he is said to have whispered

In fact, no one leader proved strong enough to succeed Alexander. Instead, In fact, no one leader proved strong enough to succeed Alexander. Instead, after years of disorder, three generals divided up the empire. Macedonia after years of disorder, three generals divided up the empire. Macedonia and Greece went to one general, Egypt to another, and most of Persia to a and Greece went to one general, Egypt to another, and most of Persia to a third. For the next 300 years, their descendants competed for power over third. For the next 300 years, their descendants competed for power over the lands Alexander had conquered.the lands Alexander had conquered.

Why was Alexander the Great able to Why was Alexander the Great able to conquer the Persian empire?conquer the Persian empire?

The Legacy of Alexander The Legacy of Alexander

Although Alexander’s empire soon crumbled following his premature death, Although Alexander’s empire soon crumbled following his premature death, he had unleashed changes that would ripple across the Mediterranean he had unleashed changes that would ripple across the Mediterranean world and the Middle East for centuries. His most lasting achievement was world and the Middle East for centuries. His most lasting achievement was the spread of Greek culture. the spread of Greek culture.

Across his far-Across his far-flung empire, flung empire, Alexander founded Alexander founded many new cities, many new cities, most of them most of them named after him. named after him. The generals who The generals who succeeded him succeeded him founded still more. founded still more. Greek soldiers, Greek soldiers, traders, and traders, and artisans settled artisans settled these new cities these new cities

From Egypt to the From Egypt to the borders of India, they built borders of India, they built Greek temples, filled Greek temples, filled them with Greek statues, them with Greek statues, and held athletic contests and held athletic contests as they had in Greece. as they had in Greece. Local people Local people assimilatedassimilated, or , or absorbed, Greek ideas. In absorbed, Greek ideas. In turn, Greek settlers turn, Greek settlers adopted local customs. adopted local customs.

Alexander had encouraged a blending of eastern and western cultures when he had Alexander had encouraged a blending of eastern and western cultures when he had married a Persian woman and urged his soldiers to follow his example. He had also married a Persian woman and urged his soldiers to follow his example. He had also adopted many Persian customs, including Persian dress. Gradually, after his death, a adopted many Persian customs, including Persian dress. Gradually, after his death, a vital new culture emerged that blended Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and Indian vital new culture emerged that blended Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and Indian influences. This Hellenistic civilization would flourish for several centuries influences. This Hellenistic civilization would flourish for several centuries

Alexandria: The Cultural CapitalAlexandria: The Cultural Capital At the very heart of the Hellenistic world stood At the very heart of the Hellenistic world stood the city of the city of AlexandriaAlexandria, Egypt. Located on the , Egypt. Located on the sea lanes between Europe and Asia, its sea lanes between Europe and Asia, its markets boasted a wide range of goods, from markets boasted a wide range of goods, from Greek marble to Arabian spices to East African Greek marble to Arabian spices to East African ivory ivory

A Greek architect had A Greek architect had drawn up plans for drawn up plans for the city, which would the city, which would become home to become home to almost a million almost a million people. Among the people. Among the city’s marvelous city’s marvelous sights was the sights was the Pharos, an enormous Pharos, an enormous lighthouse that soared lighthouse that soared 440 feet into the air. 440 feet into the air.

Alexander and his successors encouraged the work of scholars. The rulers Alexander and his successors encouraged the work of scholars. The rulers of Alexandria built the great Museum as a center of learning. The Museum of Alexandria built the great Museum as a center of learning. The Museum boasted laboratories, lecture halls, and a zoo. Its library had thousands of boasted laboratories, lecture halls, and a zoo. Its library had thousands of scrolls representing the scrolls representing the accumulatedaccumulated knowledge of the ancient world. knowledge of the ancient world. Unfortunately, the library was later destroyed in a fire.Unfortunately, the library was later destroyed in a fire.

New Roles for New Roles for Women Women

Paintings, statues, and legal Paintings, statues, and legal codes show that women were codes show that women were no longer restricted to their no longer restricted to their homes during the Hellenistic homes during the Hellenistic period. More women learned period. More women learned to read and write. Some to read and write. Some became philosophers or poets. became philosophers or poets. Royal women held Royal women held considerable power, working considerable power, working alongside husbands and sons alongside husbands and sons who were the actual rulers. In who were the actual rulers. In Egypt, the able and clever Egypt, the able and clever queen Cleopatra VII came to queen Cleopatra VII came to rule in her own right.rule in her own right.

How did Alexander How did Alexander encourage the encourage the blending of blending of cultures?cultures?

Hellenistic Hellenistic Arts and Arts and

Sciences Sciences

The cities of the Hellenistic The cities of the Hellenistic world employed armies of world employed armies of architects and artists. architects and artists. Temples, palaces, and other Temples, palaces, and other public buildings were much public buildings were much larger and grander than the larger and grander than the buildings of classical Greece. buildings of classical Greece. The The elaborateelaborate new style new style reflected the desire of reflected the desire of Hellenistic rulers to glorify Hellenistic rulers to glorify themselves as godlike.themselves as godlike.

New New Philosophies Philosophies Political turmoil during the Political turmoil during the Hellenistic age Hellenistic age contributed to the rise of contributed to the rise of new schools of new schools of philosophy. The most philosophy. The most influential was Stoicism. influential was Stoicism. Its founder, Zeno, urged Its founder, Zeno, urged people to avoid desires people to avoid desires and disappointments by and disappointments by accepting calmly accepting calmly whatever life brought. whatever life brought. Stoics preached high Stoics preached high moral standards, such as moral standards, such as the idea of protecting the the idea of protecting the rights of fellow humans rights of fellow humans

Say to yourself in the early morning: I shall Say to yourself in the early morning: I shall meet today ungrateful, violent, meet today ungrateful, violent, treacherous, envious, uncharitable men. treacherous, envious, uncharitable men. All of these things have come upon them All of these things have come upon them through ignorance of real good and ill... I through ignorance of real good and ill... I can neither be harmed by any of them, for can neither be harmed by any of them, for no man will involve me in wrong, nor can I no man will involve me in wrong, nor can I be angry with my kinsman or hate him; for be angry with my kinsman or hate him; for we have come into the world to work we have come into the world to work together... together...

They taught that all They taught that all people, including people, including women and slaves, women and slaves, though unequal in though unequal in society, were society, were morally equal morally equal because all had because all had the power of the power of reason. Stoicism reason. Stoicism later influenced later influenced many Roman and many Roman and Christian thinkers.Christian thinkers.

Advances in Math and Astronomy Advances in Math and Astronomy During the Hellenistic age, scholars built on earlier Greek, Babylonian, and Egyptian During the Hellenistic age, scholars built on earlier Greek, Babylonian, and Egyptian knowledge. In mathematics, knowledge. In mathematics, PythagorasPythagoras (pih (pih thagthag uh rus) derived a formula to uh rus) derived a formula to calculate the relationship between the sides of a right triangle. Euclid (calculate the relationship between the sides of a right triangle. Euclid (yooyoo klid) wrote klid) wrote The Elements,The Elements, a textbook that became the basis for modern geometry a textbook that became the basis for modern geometry

Using mathematics Using mathematics and careful and careful observation, the observation, the astronomer astronomer Aristarchus (a ris Aristarchus (a ris tahrtahr kus) argued kus) argued that the Earth that the Earth rotated on its axis rotated on its axis and orbited the sun. and orbited the sun. This theory of a This theory of a heliocentricheliocentric, or sun-, or sun-centered, solar centered, solar system was not system was not accepted by most accepted by most scientists until scientists until almost 2,000 years almost 2,000 years later later

Another Hellenistic Another Hellenistic astronomer, Eratosthenes, (eh astronomer, Eratosthenes, (eh ruh ruh tahstahs thuh neez), showed thuh neez), showed that the Earth was round and that the Earth was round and accurately calculated its accurately calculated its circumference. circumference.

The most famous Hellenistic scientist, The most famous Hellenistic scientist, ArchimedesArchimedes (ahr (ahr kuh kuh meemee deez), applied principles of physics to make deez), applied principles of physics to make practical inventions. He mastered the use of the lever practical inventions. He mastered the use of the lever and pulley and boasted, “Give me a lever long enough and pulley and boasted, “Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand on, and I will move the world.”and a place to stand on, and I will move the world.”

to demonstrate to demonstrate the power of his the power of his invention, invention, Archimedes Archimedes used it to draw used it to draw a ship over the a ship over the land before a land before a crowd of awed crowd of awed spectators.spectators.

Improving Medical Practice Improving Medical Practice About 400 B.C., the Greek physician About 400 B.C., the Greek physician HippocratesHippocrates (hih (hih pahpah kruh teez) kruh teez) studied the causes of illnesses and looked for cures. The Hippocratic oath studied the causes of illnesses and looked for cures. The Hippocratic oath attributed to him set ethical standards for doctors. Greek physicians swore attributed to him set ethical standards for doctors. Greek physicians swore to “help the sick according to my ability and judgment but never with a view to “help the sick according to my ability and judgment but never with a view to injury and wrong.” Doctors today still take a similar oath. to injury and wrong.” Doctors today still take a similar oath.

Watch Watch Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great on the on the Witness Witness History Discovery SchoolHistory Discovery School

In what fields did In what fields did Hellenistic Hellenistic civilization make civilization make advancements?advancements?

Looking Ahead Looking Ahead

With its conquest of Asia Minor in With its conquest of Asia Minor in 133 B.C., Rome replaced Greece 133 B.C., Rome replaced Greece as the dominant power in the as the dominant power in the Mediterranean world. However, Mediterranean world. However, the Greek legacy remains. Greek the Greek legacy remains. Greek works in the arts and sciences set works in the arts and sciences set a standard for later people of a standard for later people of Europe. Greek ideas about law, Europe. Greek ideas about law, freedom, justice, and government freedom, justice, and government continue to influence political continue to influence political thinking to the present day thinking to the present day

These achievements were especially remarkable because they were These achievements were especially remarkable because they were produced by a scattering of tiny city-states whose rivalries left them too produced by a scattering of tiny city-states whose rivalries left them too weak to defend themselves from conquest. Later, you will learn how the weak to defend themselves from conquest. Later, you will learn how the Greek legacy influenced the civilizations of Rome and of Western Europe. Greek legacy influenced the civilizations of Rome and of Western Europe.