Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
The Decline of the City-State & the rise of the Hellenistic Age The Peloponnesian Wars (431—404 Alexander the Great (r 336-323 ) BCE 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, 431-404 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. 359-336 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 336-323 BC • Inherited an empire • Destruction of Thebes Aristotle tutoring Alexander (J. L. Ferris, 1895) Alexander III… The Legend: • 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… • He wanted to conquer the known world… • His goal may have been to have a stable empire with no threats to his vast holdings… • Another interpretation sees him as a paranoiactyrant. • Welcomed as a liberator from Persian tyranny • Hailed as Pharoah and given the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt • Egypt had always been the object of awe and source of inspiration to the Greeks Irony: “a barbarian chief of a backwater kingdom in the Balkan mountains had become the ruler of the oldest continuous civilization on earth.” Alexander in Egypt Alexander’s expansionism ended in the mountainous regions of Bactria (present-day Afghanistan) - 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’s final campaign… • Returning to Babylon, Alexander began to consolidate his empire: > integrated 30,000 Persian youth into his army > married a Persian princess > arranged for 80 of his officers and 10,000 soldiers to marry women from the Empire >punished soldiers who did not respect Persian culture > Adopted Persian dress for himself > Encouraged the ritual of proskynesis Alexander died in 323 BC 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 BCE and ends with the death of Cleopatra in 27 BCE. 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 (342-270 BC) Stoicism: • Urged individuals to live according to reason and be indifferent to pleasure and pain (happiness and sorrow) • 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, (341-270 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 (287-212 BC): Mathematician and Scientist – discovered principles of the lever, the pulley and specific gravity. • Aristarchus (310-230 BC): Astronomy-concluded the earth revolved around the sun • Architecture: emphasized size and grandeur • Sculpture: showed realism and individuality Architecture: emphasized size and grandeur The alter to Zeus at Pergamon, Asia Minor Sculpture: showed realism and emotion Any Questions?