Download Alexander the Great

ALEXANDER THE GREAT/HELLENISTIC CULTURE
Greek Golden Age characterized by:
1. Political Advancement
2. Mathematical, Medicinal, Scientific progress
3. Lack of Unity Amongst City-States
Greek lack of unity would last until 338 BCE, when peace would be restored throughout the region.
Macedon
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Rising kingdom in the Macedonian region north of Greece
Macedonian people were warlike (a la Sparta)
Macedonians lived in small villages which were led by a noble.
Macedonian kings could only rule with the support of the local nobles
339 BCE- Philip II of Macedon became king of Macedonia
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During his youth he was a hostage in Thebes (north of Athens)
While in Thebes, Philip began to admire Greek ways, organization of Thebes’ military
Personally recruited and organized the most disciplined army in Macedonian history
Implemented use of phalanx to bolster military
o Phalanx contained rows of soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder, carrying pikes or
spears. (Good weapon against cavalry chargers)
After becoming King, Philip II envisioned restoring order in Macedon. After doing so, he took control of
several Athenian Colonies in the north before attempting to control the heart of Greece.
Greek peoples had differing opinions of Philip.
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Some saw him as savior who could unify Greece
Others, such as Demosthenes (renowned Athenian orator) attacked Philip
o Drove Athenians to action against Macedonians
o No other city-states took up arms
Led by Philip, the Macedonians defeated Thebes and Athens at the Battle of Chaeronea.(Ker-uh-nee-uh)
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Victory at Chaeronea united Greece under Macedonian rule
Philip II organized Greek cities into a league and planned to invade Persia. However, he did not live long
enough to accomplish this.
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336 BCE Philip II was assassinated
Philip’s 20 year old son Alexander succeeded him. This marks the beginning of the reign of
Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great
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Received the best training and education possible (King’s son)
Military training through the Macedonian Army
Formal Education received from Aristotle
Alexander was even more militarily skilled than Philip II
Known for courage in battle; resulted in admiration of his troops
A series of rebellions broke out after Philip’s death. These were crushed by Alexander, who then set out
to conquer the world.
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331 BCE: Persia was destroyed by Alexander’s army
In the process, Syria, Egypt, Asia Minor, and Mesopotamia were all conquered by Alexander
Alexander aimed at conquering all the known world, which meant India to the east of Persia.
o Alexander led troops for 4 years to the east. Conquered as far as Indus River
o Troops refused to fight further; forced to return to Persia in 326 BCE
Alexander explored Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, and desert area. Discontent grew
Alexander fell ill in 323 BCE in Babylon; died 10 days later
Spread of Greek Culture
Alexander the Great never lost a battle, and spread Greek culture wherever his armies marched
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Many cities were founded by Alexander, which he named Alexandria
Groups of Greeks/Macedonians were settled in these cities
Under Alexander’s leadership, Greeks, Macedonians, and Persians worked together to govern empire.
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Alexander attempted to implement conquered people into Greek culture
Married two Persian women, required generals to marry Persian noblewomen
Created notion of Hellenistic culture, which combined ideas and values drawn from the
Mediterranean and Asia
o Hellenistic culture lasted from Alexander’s death til the Roman conquest of Greece in
146 BCE
301 BCE: Alexander’s empire divided into 3 kingdoms- Macedon, Egypt, and Syria
o 3 kingdoms often warred with each other
o Eventually taken over by Romans
HELLENISTIC CULTURAL ADVANCEMENTS
Learning/Commerce
Hellenistic world was comprised of a small upper class and a large lower class. The middle class thrived
during the Hellenistic age
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Trade linked the Hellenistic world with China, India, and Arabia. Major towns were created
along trade routes throughout the Hellenistic region
o Alexandria, Egypt was largest Hellenistic city and commercial center
Many cities along trade routes became learning centers as well
As more people became more prosperous via trade, education became more widespread
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Freer lifestyles were more prominent
Hellenistic women appeared more often in public and won new rights regarding property
Notion of “Greek” changed; now a Hellenized Egyptian or Syrian became “Greek”
Religion/Philosophy
In large-scale urban civilizations in Hellenistic kingdoms, Greek concept of “polis” declined. Hellenistic
kings in Egypt and Asia encouraged the practice of ruler-worship, which replaced the notion of “polis”
with that of monarchy.
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Authority figures were looked upon as guiding presences
Many also turned to mystery religions- cults that introduced worshippers to secret teachings or
mysteries dealing with secrets of life after death, immorality, etc.
Hellenistic philosophy concerned with ethics. 4 fields of philosophy during Hellenistic Greece
1. Cynicism- taught that people should live simply and naturally, without regard for pleasure,
wealth, or social status
a. Best-known Cynic was Diogenes (dy-ahj-uh-neez)
2. Skepticism- belief that because the universe is always changing, all knowledge is uncertain.
a. Pyrrho- founder of Skepticism
3. Stoicism- taught that divine reason governs the world. People should accept their fate without
complaint. (Influenced Roman and Christian thinking)
a. Zeno- established Stoicism
4. Epicureanism- aim of life is to seek pleasure and avoid pain; people need to limit desires.
a. Epicurus founded Epicureanism
Science
2 Features of Hellenistic Science: 1. Scientists learned a great deal about the world using simple
instruments. 2. Scientists showed little interest in turning discoveries into labor-saving machines (slavery
was widespread)
Euclid- contributed to development of geometry. His work, Elements, is basis for today’s geometry
books.
Archimedes- greatest scientist of the Hellenistic period.
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Calculated the value of pi, the ratio of the circumference to the diameter.
Invented the compound pulley, used math to explain levers, and invented the Archimedes
screw, which can draw water upward.
Alexandria, Egypt- home to the center of medical science during Hellenistic Era
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Greek and Egyptian traditions came together, learned from the Egyptian art of embalming to
examine and catalog parts of the body
Studied bodies of executed criminals
Determined the Brain is the center of the nervous system
Performed delicate surgeries
Hellenistic scientists made great advancements in the fields of astronomy and geography
Aristarchus- believed that the earth and other planets moved around the sun.
Hipparchus- used trigonometry to predict eclipses
Eratosthenes- calculated distance around the earth by finding the angle of the sun’s rays from different
points on the globe.