Chapter 4 The Hellenistic World

Macedonia and the Conquests of Alexander Philip II (359 – 336 B.C.E.) and the Conquest of Greece Philip’s reforms Athenian reaction to Philip Battle of Chaeronea (338 B.C.E.) Corinthian League

Alexander the Great (336 – 323 B.C.E.) The Legacy: Was Alexander Great? Military leader The Hellenistic Age Cultural legacy Cities Settlers Alexander’s Conquests Granicus River (334 B.C.E.) Issus (333 B.C.E.) Syria, Palestine and Egypt (332 B.C.E.) Gaugamela (331 B.C.E.) Persepolis (330 B.C.E.) India (327 B.C.E.) Hydaspes River (326 B.C.E.) Death of Alexander (323 B.C.E.)

The World of the Hellenistic Kingdoms Disintegration of the Empire Hellenistic Monarchies Macedonia – Antigonids Syria – Seleucids Pergamum – Attalids Egypt – Ptolemies The Threat from the Celts Political and Military Institutions Common political system Greco-Macedonian ruling class

Hellenistic Cities Settlement of Greeks Greek Culture Political Institutions Modeled after the Polis Exclusion of Local Population Spread of Hellenistic Culture in Near East

Economic Trends in the Hellenistic World The Importance of Agriculture Shift of Manufacturing Centers to the East Commercial Expansion Trade routes Variety of products

Hellenistic Society New Opportunities for Women The Role of Slavery Upper-class women Spartan and Athenian women Queens The Role of Slavery Sources of slaves Contributed to the Hellenizing process Slaves absorbed Greek ways The Transformation of Education The evolution of the gymnasium The diffusion of Greek culture

Culture in the Hellenistic World New Directions in Literature Theocritus (c. 315 – 250 B.C.E.) Menander (c. 342-291 B.C.E.) New Comedy Polybius (c. 203-c. 120 B.C.E.) History Hellenistic Art Patrons, architects, and sculptors

A Golden Age of Science and Medicine Astronomy Aristarchus (c. 310-230 B.C.E.) Eratosthenes (c. 275-194 B.C.E.) Geometry Euclid (c. 300 B.C.E.) Archimedes of Syracuse (287-212 B.C.E.) Medicine

Philosophy: New Schools of Thought Epicureanism Epicurus (341 – 270 B.C.E.) Doctrine of “pleasure” Stoicism Zeno (335 – 263 B.C.E.) Public Service – Politics The Focus on Human Happiness

Religion in the Hellenistic World The Decline of Civic Cults Mystery Religions Cult of Isis The Jews in the Hellenistic World Judaea Judah Maccabaeus (164 B.C.E.) Jews outside Judaea

Discussion Questions Why was King Philip successful in conquering the Greeks? Why was Alexander so successful in building his empire? What impact, if any, did Hellenistic culture have outside of Europe? How did slaves fare in the Hellenistic world? Why? What were the main goals of Greek philosophy in the third and second century B.C.E.? How did these goals differ from philosophy during the classical period? What do mystery cults tell us about Greek tolerance toward other cultures?