HST 121 - The Hellenistic World

I. Philip II of Macedon
        1. Macedonia is weak, disorganized kingdom [MAP]
        2. Philip takes the throne in 359 BCE
        3. 346 BCE -- Philip intervenes in Greece
        4. 346-338 BCE -- Philip takes control of the Greek city-states
                - military innovation -- infantrymen with longer pikes [Image]
        5. 338 BCE -- Battle of Chaeronea; Philip creates League of Corinth [Map]
        6. Philip decided to attack Persian Empire, but died in 336 BCE
II. Alexander the Great [Map: Alexander's Route]
        1. 20 years old when he succeeded his father to the 
                throne in 336 BCE
        2. 336 BCE - defeats rebellious Greek city-states (destroys Thebes) [Map]
        3. 334 BCE - victory at Granicus in Asia Minor (against 
                Persian governors)
        4. 333 BCE - defeats Darius III at Issus (Darius escaped)
        5. 333-331 BCE - conquers Egypt
        6. 331 BCE - defeats Darius III at Gaugamela (Darius 
                escaped again)
        7. 331 BCE - Darius murdered; Alexander in control 
                of Persian empire
        8. 326 BCE - Alexander crossed the Indus River
        9. 323 BCE - Alexander back in Babylon; died at age 32
III. The Hellenistic World [Map]
        1. Alexander's gigantic, multi-ethnic empire
                is divided into three major kingdoms
                        a. Ptolemies in Egypt
                        b. Seleucids in Asia Minor, Persia and further east
                        c. Antigonids in Macedonia and Greece
        2. Alexander had established Greek cities throughout his empire
        3. these cities facilitated the spread of Greek culture
        4. Hellenistic culture
            a. society
                - Alexander's cities, e.g., Alexandria in Egypt
                - very cosmopolitan
                - people from Macedonia, Greece and all over the region
            b. economy
                - greatly expanded trade
                - cities
                - universal language
                - standardized currency
                - royal monopolies
             c. opportunities for women
                - economic power
                - personal freedom
                - political power
            d. education
                - gymnasium
                - Ptolemy's Alexandria
                    - Demetrius of Phalerum
                    - Theophrastus
                    - Museum, Library
                    - Euclid, Elements
            e. philosophy
                - Cynicism
                    - from the Greek kunos
                    - Diogenes
                - Epicureanism
                    - Epicurus
                - Stoicism
                    - from the Latin stoa
                    - Zeno
            f. religion
                - mystery religions
                - Isis and Osiris