1. Hellenistic Synthesis
B.C.E

2. Demise – Empire and Alexander
Dies, Babylon 323 B.C.E – 32/33 years old
“Let the job go to the strongest”
Wife and 13 sons murdered
Generals fight for power
3 major kingdoms emerge
Ptolemy
Seleucid
Antigonid

4. Alexander – the great?
Read Green’s discussion and answer the following questions:
What seems to be the basis for Green’s interpretation of Alexander’s exploits?
Would you consider Alexander a hero or a villain?
How might America’s involvement in foreign affairs today impact the scholarly interpretation of Alexander the Great?

5. What is the Hellenistic Age?
N Africa and W Asia “Hellenized”
Cosmopolitan Age
Large kingdoms
Heterogeneous populations
Long distance trade
Powerful bureaucracies
Vast disparities in wealth

6. Prediction:
Why do you think disparities might increase between the rich and the poor after Alexander’s death?

7. Seleucids
Seleucus seizes control of Babylon and most of Alexander’s empire
Soon lost Afghanistan, Indus Valley and Iran
Core = Syria, Mesopotamia and Anatolia
Open to attack from all sides
Continue Satrapy style and Greek cities

8. Ptolemies Ptolemy – “King” by 321 B.C.E Ruled from Alexandria
Hugely centralized government, homogenous – continued Egyptian style
Encouraged Greek migration but did NOT force Hellenistic culture on people
Social stratification between Greeks and Egyptians

9. Antigonid Macedonian homeland and N Greece
Homogenous, relatively secure
Strong influence over S Greece
Greeks formed confederations
Sparta continued to proclaim independence
Athens “neutral”
Became a “shrine” to Greek past – Universities & libraries

10. What was the most important factor determining the success of the Hellenistic Empires?

11. The spread of Hellenism Case Study Alexandria
Mausoleum of Alexander, Harbor and Lighthouse of Alexandria
Library, Museum, “House of the Muses”
Greek polis, public baths, gymnasiums
Ethnic quarters
Greek culture connected to power, wealth and prestige
“Being Greek” connected to language and life not physical
Ideas from across the empire came together as people migrated

12. To what extent was Alexander the Great responsible for the spread of Greek culture? Should be receive credit or the empires that came after him? Explain.