Hellenistic Greece
Rise of Macedonia End of Peloponnesian War Sparta victorious – in control of Greece Unable to administer their territory Thebes takes control of Greece ( 371BC ) Philip of Macedonia ( ) Defeats Thebes to take control of Greece Planned to lead a united Greece against Persia
Philip of Macedonia ( ) Defeats Thebes to take control of Greece Planned to lead a united Greece against Persia
ALEXANDER the GREAT ( BC ) Succeeded Philip after he was murdered Influences Philip – his father Olympias – his mother Aristotle – his teacher
Building an Empire Consolidated his power in Greece Went into Asia Minor and Syria Conquered Egypt Built Alexandria Declared a pharaoh Pursued King Darius III of Persia To capture him To conquer Persia Pushed into Asia – Afghanistan (Bactria) and into northern India 334 – marched back to Babylon after having covered 10,000 miles 323 – celebrated his victories, got sick, and died
Consequences of Alexander’s Empire Organization – divided into 4 pieces Spread of Greek culture Language, religion, arts, etc. Koine Greek – universal language
Growth of expanded trade Government – loose federation of cities
Cities – new ones built, older ones refurbished Greek influence Alexandria, Egypt Library Pharos – lighthouse Economy – expanded market for Greek products Non-Greek goods introduced into Greece Wealth still concentrated in hands of few – will affect philosophies that develop during the time
Hellenistic Philosophy Social critics Dealing with a world grown larger; feelings of alienation To alleviate feelings of spiritual uneasiness Cynics – people should imitate naturalness of animals; follow your own nature Diogenes ( BC) – “The Dog” Begged for a living & lived in a barrel Trouble-maker (carrying a lamp in the daytime, claiming to be looking for an honest man)
Epicurians – people made of atoms, not made by gods; we should be free from superstition Epicurus ( BC) Earthly happiness is goal of life Pleasure over pain (in moderation) Withdraw from public life Live justly & prudently Open to men and women
Stoics – Zeno ( BC) World as one society – global community responsibility and duty Emotions should be disciplined Human law shouldn’t conflict w/ natural law Principle of order – Divine Reason highest good could be achieved through reason
Skeptics – Carneades ( BC) No one true path to happiness all ideas as valid assumptions; no absolutes Certain knowledge is impossible Question everything; truth cannot be known
Women in Hellenistic Greece Basic position in society changed little Artistic impression changed
Religion Openness that came with empire Spread of Greek religion to other areas Temples to Greek gods built all over Hellenistic world Spread of non-Greek religion to Greece Non-Greek gods added to Greek pantheon Egypt = Zeus + Re Syria = Atargatis (fertility) + Aphrodite
Arts – rejected earlier ideas of restraint and balance Sculpture - naturalism Greeks and non-Greeks as subjects
Lack of moderation in sculpture