The Greek Empire

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The Greek Empire

• From Macedonians to the Hellenistic Era.

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The Macedonians

• Frontier state north of the Greek penninsula.
• 359-336 BCE King Philip II
• Strong military, big sights.
• 338 BCE Conquers all of Greece.
• 336 BCE Assassinated.

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Alexander

• 336 BCE Inherits the throne.
• 333 BCE Conquers Ionia and Anatolia.
• 330 BCE Conquers Persia.
• 327 BCE Conquers Indus?

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Hellenistic Culture

• An era when Greek cultural traditions expand
  their influence beyond Greece (Hellas) itself.
• Greek, Egyptian, Persian, and Indian.
• Integrate societies and economies.
• Cultural blending and diffusion.
• What are the benefits of empire?
• What are the detractions of empire?

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Politically

• 275 BCE After the death of Alexander, empire
  divided into three
• Antigonus Greece and Macedonia.
• Ptolemy Egypt
• Seleucus Anatolia to Indus.

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Antigonid Empire

• Clashes.
• Wealthy.
• Migration.

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Ptolemaic Egypt

• Wealthiest Agriculture, industry, and taxes.
• Alexandria and megalopolis.

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Seleucid Empire

• Former Persian Empire.
• The suburbs of the Greek empire.

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Economically

• Large empire allows for trade to expand.
• Caravans and Persia and Bactria (India).
• Seas and Mediterranean Empire.
• Rise of luxury products.

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Hellenistic Culture

• In Hellenistic cities, individuals
• Spoke Greek.
• Dressed according to Greek fashion.
• Greek art and sculpture.
• AND
• Observe their own customs and traditions.
• No more loyalty to the polis!!!!
• Cultural and religious loyalty!

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Alexandria The NYC of the Ancient World

• Egyptian city.
• Center of Hellenistic culture.
• Center of commerce.
• 500,000 international occupants.
• Breathtaking.
• Avenues, statues, library, lighthouse, museum.
• Alexander and the glass coffin.

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Culture

• Philosophy Zeno and Stoicism vs. Epicurus and
  Epicureanism. Skeptics?????
• History Seven Wonders of the World, Herodotus.
• What does it mean when a culture begins to look
  back?
• Art Realism.
• Religion Mysticism, Cult of Osiris.

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The Seven Wonders of the World

• How do the Seven Wonders of the World represent
  Hellenistic values?
• Multi-cultural.
• Wealth.
• Empire.
• Legacy.
• Larger than life.

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So, if Alexander was so great why did Greece
collapse?

• Collapse vs. decline
• 150 BCE Hellenistic culture begins to decline.
• Greek civilization lasts from 2000 BCE to 150
  BCE.
• Why is it hard to maintain an empire?