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What were the major philosophies of the Hellenistic period?
What were the major philosophies of the Hellenistic period? The two schools of thought that dominated Hellenistic philosophy were Stoicism, as introduced by Zeno of Citium, and the writings of Epikouros. Stoicism, which was also greatly enriched and modified by Zeno’s successors, notably Chrysippos (ca. 280–207 B.C.), divided philosophy ...
What was Hellenistic culture and how did it begin?
The Hellenistic culture started during the period where Phillip II and Alexander the Great ruled Macedonia, a nation located north of Ancient Greece. Phillip II, Alexander’s father had a dream to rule the entire world. He takes over the civilization of Ancient Greece.
What happened during the period known as the Hellenistic age?
The term Hellenistic literally to 'imitate Greeks', and the Hellenistic period refers to the time period beginning with the life and death of Alexander the Great and ending in 323 B.C.E. and ending with Rome's conquest of Egypt in 30 B.C.E. This era of Hellenization witnessed the cultural fusion of Greek culture and the ancient Near East.
What were accomplishments of the Hellenistic period?
- Universal exportation of the Greek language around the known world in the Mediterranean basin
- The introduction of the alphabet in western civilization. Most people dont realize the revolution of the written Greek alphabet. ...
- If it was not for the firestorm popu
What is the Hellenistic period known for?
The Hellenistic period saw the rise of New Comedy, Alexandrian poetry, translation efforts such as the Septuagint, and the philosophies of Stoicism, Epicureanism, and Pyrrhonism. In science, the works of the mathematician Euclid and the polymath Archimedes are exemplary.
What is the Hellenistic period in simple terms?
The Hellenistic period in Ancient Greece (323–146 BC) was the time period between the death of Alexander the Great when the generals of Alexander created their own empires and the Roman conquest of mainland Greece.
What did Hellenistic mean?
What do you mean when you say Hellenistic? Hellenization, or Hellenism, refers to the spread of Greek culture that had begun after the conquest of Alexander the Great in the fourth century, B.C.E. One must think of the development of the eastern Mediterranean, really, in two major phases.
Where was the Hellenistic period?
eastern MediterraneanHellenistic age, in the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, the period between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 bce and the conquest of Egypt by Rome in 30 bce.
What was the main focus of Hellenistic philosophy?
A common element of the philosophers in Hellenistic age was that the focus of Philosophy was shifting from general understanding of the universe to individual life and its perception as an “art of life”.
Why is Greece called Hellenistic?
The word Hellenistic comes from the root word Hellas, which was the ancient Greek word for Greece. The Hellenic Age was the time when Greek culture was pure and unaffected by other cultures.
What 4 cultures make up Hellenistic culture?
Greek (also called Hellenic) culture blended with Egyptian, Persian, and Indian influences, a blending which came to be known as Hellenistic culture.
What was the impact of hellenization?
The result of Hellenization was that elements of Greek origin combined in various forms and degrees with local elements, and these Greek influences spread from the Mediterranean basin as far east as modern-day India.
How did Hellenistic culture spread?
Hellenistic ideas spread through conquest, trade and commerce, and political ties. Hellenistic ideas were originally introduced by Alexander the Great's armies as they conquered parts of southwest and southcentral Asia. Ideas continued to spread for three centuries afterward through the trade networks of the region.
What created the Hellenistic Era?
Introduction. The three centuries of Greek history between the death of the Macedonian king Alexander the Great in 323 B.C.E. and the rise of Augustus in Rome in 31 B.C.E. are collectively known as the Hellenistic period (1).
What made Hellenistic culture unique?
Hellenistic culture was also unique in the degree to which it affected the other cultures to which it was introduced—many (though by no means all) of the inhabitants of the eastern Mediterranean and Mesopotamia learned Greek and began to express themselves in Greek genres like philosophy, history, and drama.
Why is Hellenistic art important?
Hellenistic sculpture is one of art history's most prized practices. Celebrated for its unprecedented naturalism, this movement introduced a skillful sculptural approach that artists would emulate for years to come.
What are some examples of Hellenistic culture?
The geometry invented by Euclid is one example of Hellenistic culture. Another is the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt. A third is the Laocoön sta...
What does Hellenistic mean?
Hellenistic refers to a period between 323 BC to 31 BC where Greek and foreign cultures mixed. The world can also be used to describe the culture o...
Why is it called the Hellenistic period?
The word "Hellenistic" is derived from the Greek word for "Greek," Hellene. The Hellenistic period was a time when Greek and foreign cultures mixed.
Who were the leaders of the world in 311?
In 311 the four leaders agreed to divide the world, leaving Ptolemy with Egypt and Cyprus, Antigonus with Asia, Lysimachus with Thrace, and Cassander with Macedonia and Greece, but only until Alexander IV came of age in 305. Seleucus was left out.
Who was the leader of the old brigade?
Antigonus was now the dominant figure of the old brigade. Cassander, Ptolemy, and Lysimachus formed a coalition against him. For four years (315–311) they fought indecisively. Antigonus showed himself energetic, resourceful, and imaginative, but he could not strike a decisive blow. The only major change came in the brilliant coup by which Seleucus succeeded in recovering Babylon. In 311 the four leaders agreed to divide the world, leaving Ptolemy with Egypt and Cyprus, Antigonus with Asia, Lysimachus with Thrace, and Cassander with Macedonia and Greece, but only until Alexander IV came of age in 305. Seleucus was left out.
What was the Hellenistic age?
Hellenistic age, in the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, the period between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 bce and the conquest of Egypt by Rome in 30 bce. For some purposes the period is extended for a further three and a half centuries, to the move by Constantine the Great of his capital to Constantinople (Byzantium) in 330 ce. From the breakup of Alexander’s empire there arose numerous realms, including the Macedonian, the Seleucid, and the Ptolemaic, that served as the framework for the spread of Greek (Hellenic) culture, the mixture of Greek with other populations, and the fusion of Greek and Eastern elements.
Who were the allies of Antigonus and Demetrius?
Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy formed an alliance against Antigonus and Demetrius, and at Ipsus in 301 the allies, with the help of a force of elephants brought from India by Seleucus, defeated and killed Antigonus. Demetrius escaped, retaining Tyre and Sidon and command of the sea.
Who took control of Mesopotamia and Syria?
Lysimachus took large portions of Anatolia; Seleucus assumed control over Mesopotamia and Syria, except for a part in the south occupied de facto by Ptolemy; and Cassander was content with Macedonia and parts of Greece.
Who was Alexander the Great's mother?
Olympias, Alexander the Great’s terrible mother, had eliminated Philip III. Cassander had her put to death, while keeping Rhoxane and Alexander IV under his protection—or guard. Antigonus was now the dominant figure of the old brigade. Cassander, Ptolemy, and Lysimachus formed a coalition against him.
Who was Antigonus Monophthalmos?
For almost 10 years he had been governing Phrygia and had shown himself a brave soldier and competent administrator. His firmness and tact were popular with the Greek cities.
What is a coin with the bust of Heracles?
A coin with the bust of Heracles from the Hellenistic Period. During this time, Greeks still practiced their traditional polytheistic religion, which was based on the belief of many gods and goddesses. However, new traditions emerged as the gods and goddesses of other regions influenced their beliefs and their society.
What religion was the Hellenistic period based on?
The religion of the Hellenistic period and its peoples was predominately polytheistic, meaning it was based on the belief in many gods and goddesses. The gods and goddesses of the Greeks, the Egyptians, and the Persians were all worshipped together.
What were the Hellenistic art schools?
Many different philosophical schools such as the Stoics, Epicureans and Skeptics emerged during this time. When it came to art, Hellenistic artists were extremely detail-oriented, and their artwork often focused on realism; however, sculpture tended to focus on gods and goddesses, as well as real and mythological heroes.
How did Alexander the Great start the process of cultural fusion?
So, how did Alexander the Great start this process of cultural fusion? First, his army was an international force comprised of people from highly diversified backgrounds. While on military campaigns, Alexander encouraged his men to take wives from foreign lands and he himself married several women from the east. When he conquered the Persian Empire, he took up many of their customs. For instance, he wore the traditional clothing of a Persian king and used Persians as administrators. Rather than suppressing the cultures in the areas he conquered, Alexander adopted their customs for his own use and taught conquered peoples his own traditions, as well. This sharing of Greek and native customs became a part of life for both the Greeks and non-Greeks alike in the areas Alexander conquered. In this way, he began an era of cultural synthesis that would continue long after his death.
What were the changes in science during the Hellenistic period?
The Hellenistic city of Alexandria became the center for philosophical thought and scholastic research , where everything from astronomy to engineering and philosophy to mathematics was studied.
What was the Hellenistic period?
The Hellenistic period was a time when Greek culture spread throughout and influenced Southwest Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean regions. In this lesson, you'll learn about the history of Hellenistic society and culture and learn what the term 'Hellenistic' actually means. Create an account.
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Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams.
What language did the Hellenistic people speak?
Almost everyone in the former Alexandrian empire spoke and read the same language: koine, or “the common tongue,” a kind of colloquial Greek.
What are some of the most famous works of Hellenistic art?
Famous works of Hellenistic Art include “Winged Victory of Samothrace,” “Laocoön and His Sons,” “Venus de Milo,” “Dying Gaul,” “Boy With Thorn” and “Boxer at Rest,” among others.
What is the alienation of Hellenistic art?
In Hellenistic art and literature, this alienation expressed itself in a rejection of the collective demos and an emphasis on the individual. For example, sculptures and paintings represented actual people rather than idealized “types.”
What was the end of the Hellenistic Age?
Hellenistic Art. The End of the Hellenistic Age. In 336 B.C., Alexander the Great became the leader of the Greek kingdom of Macedonia. By the time he died 13 years later, Alexander had built an empire that stretched from Greece all the way to India. That brief but thorough empire-building campaign changed the world: It spread Greek ideas ...
What was Koine's cultural force?
Koine was a unifying cultural force : No matter where a person came from, he could communicate with anyone in this cosmopolitan Hellenistic world. At the same time, many people felt alienated in this new political and cultural landscape.
What is the Hellenistic period?
Historians call this era the “Hellenistic period.” (The word “Hellenistic” comes from the word Hellazein, which means “to speak Greek or identify with the Greeks.”) It lasted from the death of Alexander in 323 B.C. until 31 B.C., when Roman troops conquered the last of the territories that the Macedonian king had once ruled.
What was the Greek city state at the end of the classical period?
At the end of the classical period, around 360 B.C., the Greek city-states were weak and disorganized from two centuries of warfare. (First the Athenians fought with the Persians; then the Spartans fought with the Athenians during the Peloponnesian War; then the Spartans and the Athenians fought with one another and with the Thebans and the Persians.) All this fighting made it easy for another, previously unexceptional city-state to rise to power: Macedonia, under the assertive rule of King Philip II.
What was the last era of Greek civilization?
Despite the flowering of cultural exchange and artistic innovation, the Hellenistic period is the last era of independent Greek civilization, reaching to the end of its dominance as a new power emerged in the west. Rome had already conquered the Greek cities and towns in southern Italy and Sicily, including Paestum and Syracuse, and was eager to add mainland Greece and the rest of the Hellenistic kingdoms to its expanding empire. In 146 B.C.E., the Romans sacked Corinth and in 86 B.C.E., Athens fell to a siege by Roman troops. Although Greece was a captured territory, however, Romans respected and indeed emulated many aspects of Greek culture. Art was moved in great quanitites from Greece to Rome and was widely copied by Roman artists in sculpture, painting, and architecture (8). In fact, when discussing the capture of Greece, the Roman poet Horace ( Epistles 2.1.156-157) wrote (8):
What was the Hellenistic period?
The three centuries of Greek history between the death of the Macedonian king Alexander the Great in 323 B.C.E. and the rise of Augustus in Rome in 31 B.C.E. are collectively known as the Hellenistic period (1). When he died, Alexander the Great left his extensive conquered territory without a clear line of succession and his strongest generals divided it up into several vast kingdoms. The new independent governments, along with the spread of Greek culture as far away as India, paved the way for dramatic changes to the ways that Greeks viewed themselves and the world around them.
How did architecture affect the Hellenistic period?
The arts flourished in the Hellenistic period as artists explored new ways of representing emotional effects, individual experiences, and ornate details. Architecture became a means of expressing an interest in the dramatic (4) through enormous buildings, as well as surprising vistas, as at the sanctuary of Athena on the island of Lindos, and innovative design, as at the Sanctuary of Apollo at Didyma. Religious buildings were often designed to give visitors a physical and emotional experience that matched their religious experience; they were meant to evoke feelings of awe, revelation, and delight (5).
What was the name of the family that ruled the Hellenistic world?
In some parts of the Hellenistic world, such as Egypt, which was ruled in the Hellenistic period by a family called the Ptolemies, a long tradition of ruler worship had already existed, but in other areas, which had no such tradition, ruler worship did not catch on as quickly or strongly (3).
What were the changes in Greek religion?
Social and cultural changes also brought about changes in Greek religious practices. Individualistic feelings contributed to a new fascination with mystery cults, which often promised reward in the form of a better afterlife (2). New deities were introduced to Greece from areas such as Egypt and Syria, a result of cosmopolitanism and cultural exchange. Ruler-cults became common as Hellenistic kings and queens began to be worshipped alongside gods. In some parts of the Hellenistic world, such as Egypt, which was ruled in the Hellenistic period by a family called the Ptolemies, a long tradition of ruler worship had already existed, but in other areas, which had no such tradition, ruler worship did not catch on as quickly or strongly (3).
How did Alexander the Great influence Greek culture?
Greek art and life had always been influenced by other cultures, but the expansion in territory during Alexander the Great's conquests brought greater possibilities for mutual cultural exchanges. These exchanges led to a new cosmopolitanism in the Greek world and influenced the desire to understand, appreciate, and represent the diversity of individual peoples. Greater mobility made possible by territorial expansion also encouraged people to seek a sense of purpose and belonging. Philosophy and other intellectual pursuits, which developed in great strides during the Hellenistic period, provided a means of exploring one's emotions and seeing the world and it was during this time that philosophers such as Epicurus (341-270 B.C.E.) and Diogenes of Sinope (c. 404-323 B.C.E.) found their followings and influenced the succeeding generations.
Which country captured its uncivilized conquerer and brought the arts to rustic Latium?
Captive Greece captured its uncivilized conquerer and brought the arts to rustic Latium
Origin of the term
The term “Hellenistic” emerged in the 19th century , specifically in the work of the German historian Johann Gustav Droysen ( History of Hellenism , 1836), taking the name by which the Ancient Greeks called their cultural region: Hellas, which translates into ancient Greek “Set of women”.
Background
The Macedonian Empire was in charge of Philip II until the first third of the fourth century, when Alexander III, also called Alexander the Great, took office in 336 BC. This new king ruled for just 13 years, from his two decades of age, and during that period he carried out the fastest and most powerful conquest in all of ancient history.
The diádocos
The diádocos accompanied Alexander the Great in his fight against the Persians.
The epigones
The epigones (or “successors”) of the diádocos, achieved a precarious balance between the three great Macedonian dynasties : Macedonia and mainland Greece were ruled by the Antigonids (descendants of Antigonus); Egypt, Cyprus and Cilicia by the Lagidas; Asia Minor, Syria, Mesopotamia, and western Persia became the Seleucid Empire.
Fall to the Romans
The Roman Empire would take more than three centuries to conquer the entire Middle East.
Religion and philosophy
During the Hellenistic period there was a departure from the formal sciences.
Science in Hellenism
The departure from the philosophy of science allowed them to be born in this period as a separate field, and they flourished thanks to patronage .
What is the term used to describe the influence of Greek culture on the peoples the Greek and Roman Empires conquere?
Answer. Hellenism is the term used to describe the influence of Greek culture on the peoples the Greek and Roman Empires conquered or interacted with. Upon the Jews' return from exile in Babylon, they endeavored to protect their national identity by following the law closely. This led to the rise of the hyper-conservative Pharisees and their added, ...
Why did the Martyrs go to their graves?
Martyrs went to their graves in order to ensure the gospel message stayed true. Hellenism in the days of the early church remains an example of how to use a culture to spread the message while not allowing the culture to change the message.
What did Greek philosophy teach about the creation of the Earth?
Greek philosophy taught that the earth was created not by the Most High God, but by an underling, several levels below, who imbued the physical nature of his creation with imperfection. The physical was seen as evil. Only the spirit was good. These beliefs manifested in several ways. If the physical is evil, then Jesus cannot be fully man ...
What culture did the Jews follow?
All Jews were influenced by Greek culture, however. The Greek language was as well known as the native Aramaic, the Jewish leadership changed from the God-ordained priesthood to the Sadducee-controlled Sanhedrin, and the law of the land more closely reflected Grecian laws than those given through Moses.
What did Paul and later Christian apologists use to argue for the validity of Christianity?
Paul and later Christian apologists used several Greek methods to argue for the validity of Christianity: - Cosmological argument. Although his deity bore no resemblance to the God of the Bible, Plato did discuss the existence of an " unmoved mover .".
What were the virtues of the early church?
Faced with misunderstanding and the constant threat of state-sanctioned persecution, the early church found comfort in this way of thinking. Steadfastness, courage, and self-control, even to the point of martyrdom, were highly valued virtues and gave Christians strength when their faith clashed with the world.
Where does the word "apologetics" come from?
Even the word apologetics comes from Greek. It means “the practice of defending a belief through a logical speech or explanation.”. The actual word is found in Paul’s explanation to Festus and Agrippa ( Acts 26:2 ), his defense of the gospel to the Philippians ( Philippians 1:7, 16 ), and Peter’s admonition to always have an answer ready ...
Significant people and publications
The most famous work by Nicholas de Condorcet, Esquisse d'un tableau historique des progres de l'esprit humain, 1795. With the publication of this book, the development of the Age of Enlightenment is considered generally ended.
Philosophy
René Descartes ' rationalist philosophy laid the foundation for enlightenment thinking. His attempt to construct the sciences on a secure metaphysical foundation was not as successful as his method of doubt applied in philosophic areas leading to a dualistic doctrine of mind and matter.
Science
Science played an important role in Enlightenment discourse and thought. Many Enlightenment writers and thinkers had backgrounds in the sciences and associated scientific advancement with the overthrow of religion and traditional authority in favour of the development of free speech and thought.
Sociology, economics and law
Hume and other Scottish Enlightenment thinkers developed a " science of man ", which was expressed historically in works by authors including James Burnett, Adam Ferguson, John Millar and William Robertson, all of whom merged a scientific study of how humans behaved in ancient and primitive cultures with a strong awareness of the determining forces of modernity.
Politics
The Enlightenment has long been hailed as the foundation of modern Western political and intellectual culture. The Enlightenment brought political modernization to the West, in terms of introducing democratic values and institutions and the creation of modern, liberal democracies.
Religion
The French philosopher Voltaire argued for religious tolerance, saying that "It does not require great art, or magnificently trained eloquence, to prove that Christians should tolerate each other. I, however, am going further: I say that we should regard all men as our brothers.
National variations
The Enlightenment took hold in most European countries, often with a specific local emphasis.
