Classical and Hellenistic Greece

The Rise of Macedon (355 - 336 BCE)

Macedon Before ca. 350 BCE “A backward, semi-barbaric land” People related to Greeks Not a very powerful country

Philip II

Philip II Ruled 359 - 336 BCE Shrewd, ambitious, unscrupulous politician Got control of gold mines of Amphipolis: bribe Greek politicians build roads build up army

Philip II Powerful army, but also skilled diplomat tricks his way into control of some Greek city-states attacks & conquers others Demosthenes (384 - 322 BCE) warns Athens, but…

Philip II Battle at Chaeronea is the final defeat Ruled Greeks leniently Corinthian League (338 BCE)

Philip II

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great Secures Greece Moves on Persian Empire in 334 BCE Captures Asia Minor Battles in northern Syria Takes Egypt & Mesopotamia Occupies, then destroys Persepolis

Alexander the Great

Alexander’s Death 323 BCE, dies of fever at age 33 Various generals take their own piece of the empire: Antigonus I ~ “Antigonid Dynasty” Seleucus I ~ “Seleucid Dynasty” Ptolemy I ~ “Ptolemies”

Hellenistic Civilization & Culture

Hellenistic Civilization Things on a much larger scale Fusion / influence of many more cultures Greek influence dominates

Building Greek Cities in the East

Hellenistic Culture The Arts Medicine Philosophy Math & Science

Alexandria, Egypt Royal Library of Alexandria (and Musaeum)

Hellenistic Art “Aphrodite of Melos” (Venus de Milo) ca. 130 - 100 BCE “Old Market Woman” 2nd Century BCE

Advances: Hellenistic Medicine heart as a pump with valves use pulse as diagnostic tool distinguish between veins & arteries nervous system - motion & sensation; brain - intelligence

Hellenistic Medicine

Hellenistic Philosophy Cynics  Diogenes reject social conventions & avoid luxuries kosmopolites ~ citizens of the world fulfill natural needs in simplest, most direct way

Hellenistic Philosophy Skeptics  Pyrrho pointed out weaknesses in arguments/beliefs of other schools can’t observe/experience things like the ultimate purpose of the universe or life, justice, divinity, the soul, etc. so no need to believe in or worry about them nothing can be known

Hellenistic Philosophy Epicurians  Epicurus goal of life is human happiness avoid pain, trouble, responsibility primacy of sense perception practical atheism

Hellenistic Philosophy Stoics  Zeno guiding principle of the world is divine reason happiness comes from living virtuously; virtue is a will in harmony with nature strength & self-control to avoid destructive emotions (passions)

Scientists / Mathematicians: Hellenistic Science Scientists / Mathematicians: Euclid  Archimedes  Aristarchus  Hipparchus, Ptolemy  Eratosthenes 

Pythagoras' theorem: The sum of the areas of the two squares on the legs (a and b) of a right triangle equals the area of the square on the hypotenuse (c). Thales' theorem: if AC is a diameter, then the angle at B is a right angle. The sum of angles A, B, and C is equal to 180 degrees. The bridge of asses theorem states that A=B and C=D.

next up… Rome