1. "Hellenistic"
Greece:
B.C.E.

2. Alexander the Great 356-323 B.C.E.

3. What was so “great” about Alexander ?

4. The Peloponnesian War
As Athens grew in wealth and power during the Classical Age, other city states viewed it with suspicion and hostility.
Eventually war broke out between Athens and Sparta (and their allies)
This Peloponnesian war lasted two decades. Athens was eventually crushed by its enemies.
The long period of fighting left all of the Greek city-states very weak.

6. Alexander the Great conquered all of Persia, up to India.
This Marked the beginning of the Hellenistic Age - period of Greek influence throughout Asia and the Med.

7. Macedonian Phalanx

9. Hellenistic Age
The spread of Greek culture across Asia led to the Hellenistic Synthesis.
The blending of Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and Indian ideas.

10. Task Research one area of Hellenistic Culture. (See next Slide)
Create a two slide power point describing a cultural achievement.
Create a Web Diagram of Hellenistic culture using the information from your classmates presentations.

11. Hellenistic Culture Harbor of Alexandria (Trade)
Lighthouse and Museum of Alexandria
Library of Alexandria
Astronomy
Mathematics (Euclid)
Physics (Archimedes)
Philosophy (Stoicism)
Epicureanism
Realism in Sculpture (Colossus of Rhodes, Nike)
Spread of the Greek Polis around Asia (Pergamum)
Greek influence on Buddhist Art

12. Pergamum: A New “Hellenistic” City
Cosmopolitan Culture

13. Hellenistic Age
This period really marked the first international culture in Western, Middle Eastern, and North African history. The Greeks imported their culture: political theory, philosophy, art, and literature all over the known civilized world. This culture would greatly alter the culture and religion of the Mediterranean. But the flow of culture worked in the opposite direction as well; non-Greek ideas and non-Greeks flowed into Greece (and Italy). They took with them their religions, their philosophies, science, and culture; in this environment, eastern religions in particular began to take hold in the Greek city-states both in the east and in Greece.

14. Building Greek Cities in the East

15. New Greek Cities
Alexander started new cities as administrative centers and outposts of Greek culture. These cities, from Egyptian Alexandria in the south to the Asian Alexandrias in the east, adopted many Greek patterns and customs. After Alexander’s death, trade, a shared Greek culture, and a common language continued to link the cities together.

16. This process of the "hellenization" ("making Greek") of the world took place largely in the urban centers the Greeks began to zealously build. While the Greeks had for a long time believed that monarchy was a sign of barbarity, they had to come to terms with the reality of their new form of government. So they compromised. While they accepted the monarchy, the set about building somewhat independent poleis that had the structure of the polis without its political independence. The growth of these cities provoked massive migrations from the Greek mainland, as Greeks settled in these new, far-flung poleis to assume lucrative positions in the military and administration.

17. Alexander the Great’s Empire

18. Alexander the Great in Persia

19. Trade and Cultural Diversity
Among the many cities of the Hellenistic world, the Egyptian city of Alexandria became the foremost center of commerce and Hellenistic civilization. Alexandria occupied a strategic site on the western edge of the Nile delta. Trade ships from all around the Mediterranean docked in its
spacious harbor. Alexandria’s thriving commerce enabled it to grow and prosper. By the third century B.C., Alexandria had become an international community, with a rich mixture of customs and traditions from Egypt and from the Aegean.
Its diverse population exceeded half a million people.

20. Trade in the Hellenistic World

21. The “Known” World – 3c B.C.E.

23. Alexandria’s Attractions
Both residents and visitors admired Alexandria’s great beauty. Broad avenues lined with statues of Greek gods divided the city into blocks. Rulers built magnificent royal palaces overlooking the harbor. A much visited tomb contained Alexander’s elaborate glass coffin. Soaring more than feet over the harbor stood an enormous stone lighthouse called the Pharos.
This lighthouse contained a polished bronze mirror that, at night, reflected the light from a blazing fire.

24. Library at Alexandria (333 B.C.E.)

25. Library of Alexandria
Alexandria’s greatest attractions were its famous museum
and library. The museum was a temple dedicated to the Muses, the Greek goddesses of arts and sciences. It contained art galleries, a zoo, botanical gardens, and even a dining hall. The museum was an institute of advanced study. The Alexandrian Library stood nearby. Its collection of half a million papyrus
scrolls included many of the masterpieces of ancient literature. As the first true research library in the world, it helped promote the work of a gifted group of scholars. These scholars greatly respected the earlier works of classical literature and learning. They produced commentaries that explained these works.

26. The Breakup of Alexander’s Empire

27. Greek vs. Hellenistic Art

28. Greek Influence on Buddhist Art

29. What’s so great about Alexander?
Read the handout on “The Legacy Alexander”
Identify major achievements of Alexander using the reading, your RTN notes, and the video.
Rank the achievements in order of importance, 1-10.

30. Alexander the Great Web Activity
Go to the following link:
Identify key achievements of Alexander and add them to your chart.