The Decline of the City-State & the rise of the Hellenistic Age The Peloponnesian Wars (431—404 BCE) Alexander the Great (r BCE )

The creation of the Delian League, 478 BCE

The corruption of the Delian League

The Final Blow to Athens… The Spartan admiral, Lysander captured the Athenian fleet in the Dardanelles …cutting of its food supplies Athens was required to tear down its walls and agreed to be ruled by a government appointed by Sparta

Effects of the Peloponnesian Wars, BCE Despite the restoration of democratic government, Athens never returned to its former power… Constant warfare among other states continued… In 371, Sparta lost its first war to Thebes The loss of manpower on both sides weakened all of Greece

Philip II of Macedon r BCE An ambitious and resourceful ruler of Macedonia who built up his army and planned to conquer the Greeks and the Persians.

“The Philippics” A series of fiery speeches by Demosthenes In 338 BC, Philip defeated Athens and its allies and created “The League of Corinth”

Alexander the Great, r BC Inherited an empire Destruction of Thebes

Aristotle tutoring Alexander (J. L. Ferris, 1895)

Alexander III… The Legend: He wanted to conquer the known world… His goal may have been to have a stable empire with no threats to his vast holdings… Some say he had a vision to unite the human race in a Pan-Hellenic culture - one empire where people could live in peace, understanding and harmony… Another interpretation sees him as a paranoiac- tyrant.

Alexander’s final campaign… Alexander’s expansionism ended in the mountainous regions of Bactria (present-day Afghanistan) where his army experienced its hardest fighting and never succeeded in getting more than a tenuous hold on the territory. Alexander’s last battle, Hydaspes, 326 BC, on the banks of the Indus River, was an empty victory- his famous horse Bucephalus was killed and his men, thousands of miles and eight years from home, refused to go on.

Alexander died in 323 BC Returning to Babylon, Alexander began to consolidate his empire: > integrated Greek and Persian armies; > arranged a mass marriage of his Greek officers with Persian noblewomen; >punished soldiers who did not respect Persian culture; Adopted Persian dress for himself Encouraged the ritual of proskynesis

Alexander’s Legacy… He pushed the world in a new direction- a fusion of disparate people & an intermingling of cultures The Hellenistic Age begins with his death in 323 BC and ends with the death of Cleopatra in 30 BC.

Alexander’s vast empire merged many peoples into a new, cosmopolitan culture known as “Hellenistic Civilization.” Map of Alex empire goes here

The empire was divided among 4 generals Seleucus; Ptolemy; Lysimachus and Cassander

Cosmopolitanism… Hellenistic society is characterized by a mingling of Greek, Egyptian & Persian cultures In the lands he conquered, Alexander introduced Greek language, literature and art; established over 70 cities: Alexandria A world community joined by commerce, trade and travel replaced the Polis as the center of life New philosophies- Stoicism and Epicureanism emerged to help the common man cope with their new status in a world community instead of the local polis.

Zeno ( BC) Stoicism: Urged individuals to live according to reason and be indifferent to pleasure and pain Avoid desires and disappointments; calmly accept whatever life brings your way… The commonality of Man: all people are morally equal, including women and slaves, because all have the power to reason… Advocated high moral standards including protecting the rights of fellow human beings

Epicurus, ( BC) -Epicureanism: Strive for individual happiness in the big, confusing world by avoiding pain and anxiety… Criticized attempts to gain wealth, power or fame because it increases anxiety… Enjoy the simple pleasures of life- talking with friends, enjoying good food or just “lying on soft grass near a running stream.” Later followers stressed the “pleasure” rather than the simplicity!

Hellenistic Science and Math Euclid (about 300 BC): Geometry Archimedes ( BC): Mathematician and Scientist – discovered principles of the lever, the pulley and specific gravity. Aristarchus ( BC): Astronomy-concluded the earth revolved around the sun Architecture: emphasized size and grandeur Sculpture: showed realism and individuality

The alter to Zeus at Pergamon, Asia Minor Architecture: emphasized size and grandeur

Sculpture: showed realism and emotion

Any Questions?