The Spread of Greek Culture Section 4

Get Ready to Read Section Overview The Spread of Greek Culture This section describes the spread of Hellenistic culture in the wake of Alexander’s empire and the achievements of many great philosophers, writers, and scientists.

Get Ready to Read (cont.) The Spread of Greek Culture Get Ready to Read (cont.) Focusing on the Main Ideas Hellenistic cities became centers of learning and culture. Epicurus and Zeno showed the world different ways to look at happiness. Hellenistic scientists made major discoveries in math and astronomy.

Get Ready to Read (cont.) Reading Strategy The Spread of Greek Culture Get Ready to Read (cont.) Reading Strategy Summarizing Information Create a diagram like the one on page 182 of your textbook, to show the major Greek contributions to Western civilization.

Greek Culture Spreads The Spread of Greek Culture Philosophers, poets, scientists, and writers moved to the new Greek cities in southwest Asia, particularly Alexandria, during the Hellenistic Era . Hellenistic kings wanted to make their cities like those in Greece, so they hired Greek architects and sculptors. The writers of the Hellenistic Era produced a large body of literature. (page 183)

Greek Culture Spreads (cont.) The Spread of Greek Culture Greek Culture Spreads (cont.) Appolonius wrote the epic poem Argonautica, recounting the legend of Jason and his band of heroes. Theocritus wrote short poems about beauty and nature. Athenians still created plays, but the plays of the Hellenistic Era were about love and relationships. (page 183)

The Spread of Greek Culture Why were the cities of southwest Asia lands of opportunity for artisans, scientists, philosophers, and writers? The rulers of these cities wanted them to be like the cultural centers of Greece. To achieve that goal, the rulers needed the services of artisans, scientists, philosophers, and writers.

Philosophy The Spread of Greek Culture Epicurus, the founder of Epicureanism, taught that happiness was the goal of life. Stoicism was developed by a Phoenician named Zeno. This philosophy believes that happiness comes from reason, not emotions. (page 184)

The Spread of Greek Culture How does our definition of epicurean today differ from the Hellenistic Era definition? Today the word means love of physical pleasure. In the Hellenistic Era, the word meant pleasure from spending time with friends and not worrying.

Greek Science and Math The Spread of Greek Culture Astronomers study the stars, planets, and other heavenly bodies. Aristarchus was an astronomer who claimed that the sun was at the center of the universe and that Earth revolved around the sun. Eratosthenes was an astronomer who believed that the earth was round and measured Earth’s circumference. (pages 185–186)

Greek Science and Math (cont.) The Spread of Greek Culture Greek Science and Math (cont.) Euclid, one of the most famous Greek mathematicians, described plane geometry. Plane geometry is the study of points, lines, angles, and surfaces. Archimedes was the most famous scientist of the Hellenistic Era. (pages 185–186)

Greek Science and Math (cont.) The Spread of Greek Culture Greek Science and Math (cont.) He worked on solid geometry—the study of spheres and cylinders. He also determined the value of pi, a number used to measure the area of circles. Archimedes invented the catapult, among other weapons. (pages 185–186)

The Spread of Greek Culture Discuss how the world might be different if the Hellenistic era had never occurred.