1. Chapter 9 Hellenistic Civilization

2. Alexander and the Creation of a World Empire
Background facts
Alexander conquered most of known world
Invaded Persian heartland, got as far as India
Troops eventually mutinied, he led them back
Mixed culture
Alexander founded new cities, recruited Greeks to come there
Encouraged intermarriage with locals
Result was blended Greek/Asiatic culture
Typically large kingdom with bureaucracy governed by king and subject-inhabitants

3. Greeks and Easterners in Hellenistic Kingdoms
Three successor states, each ruled by former Greek general
Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt
Seleucid Kingdom of Persia
Antigonid Empire

4. Society and Economy True urban civilization City life
Many slaves, lifelong slavery more common
Many different social and ethnic groups
Feelings of alienation, being uprooted
Greeks were governing class
Hellenistic economy
Large scale long-distance enterprises
Manufacturing and commerce were common

5. -Social Relations - Women’s Status Gradually Rose
Played active role in business affairs
Held important positions in politics
Married women’s rights improved
More opportunities for education

6. Religion Different from Greek, Chinese, Indian religions
Form modeled on Greek beliefs
Content more from Eastern contributions
Why did religion change?
Traditional Greek worship was civic ceremony, held no appeal to non-Greeks
Greek immigrants turned more to native cults
Cults offered some promise of eternal life, earthly prosperity, emotional support

7. Religion Mystery religions Philosophy: three Hellenistic varieties
Demanded faith rather than reason
Deities were universal gods
Philosophy: three Hellenistic varieties
Mystery religions especially appealing to less educated, poor
Upper class more inclined to turn to philosophy – seemed more realistic

8. Hellenistic Philosophy
Cynicism and Diogenes
Opposite of what we call materialism
Call for return to simplicity, no more divisions
Epicureanism and Epicurus
Life should be pleasure (absence of pain)
Reject values, prejudices of others – discover what is important to you
Led to political indifference, withdrawal
Stoicism and Zeno
Emphasized brotherhood of man
Good man should work in government to help less fortunate
Emphasized need to serve others, idea that all are equal

9. Science Pursuit of science Science came into its own in this period
Astronomy – heliocentrism vs. geocentrism
Some medical advances by Empiricists