1. Aim: What is Hellenistic Culture?

2. Hellenistic Culture in Egypt
Alexander sought to meld conquered culture with Greeks
Continue to develop after his death
New Culture Emerges: Hellenistic
Greek culture blended with Egyptian, Persian, and Indian influences
Egyptian city of Alexandria became center of commerce & Hellenistic Civilization
Trade ships from all around Mediterranean docked at this harbor 2

3. Hellenistic Science and Technology
Hellenistic scholars preserved Greek and Egyptian learning in Science
Astronomy
Alexandria’s museum contained small observatory where astronomers study sky
Mathematics
Eratosthenes & Aristarchus use geometry
Compiled by Euclid- Mathematician
Archimedes estimates the value of pi (π) 3

4. Hellenistic Philosophy
Became concerned with how people should live lives
Two Philosophies Developed
Stoicism & Epicureanism
Stoicism
Proposed people should lives in harmony with will of natural laws
promoted social unity & focus on what they could control
Epicureanism
Taught that gods who had no interest in humans ruled universe
Greatest good and highest pleasure came from virtuous conduct & absence of pain 4

5. Hellenistic Art Realism in sculpture Idealized natural works
Instead of serene face and perfect body, sculptures carved ordinary people
Ex: Old, Wrinkled, Peasant Women
Ex: Colossus of Rhodes
150 BCE- Hellenistic world decline
Rome growing and gaining strength 5