HELLENISTIC GREECE WORLD HISTORY NOTES

DATE: ______

What does mean to be Hellenistic?

Ø  ______- The blending of Greek cultures with those of Persia, Egypt, and Central Asia following the conquests of Alexander the Great.

What is an empire, give the definition and explain how Alexander the Greats’ conquests apply.

Blending Cultures

Ø  Best way to encourage cultural exchange is through ______Alexander married Roxana of Bactria and Stateira of Persia.

o  He also did this to ______his claims to the Persian Empire.

§  Roxana bore Alexander a ______(child born after the death of a parent). She named the child Alexander IV; unfortunately, he never reaches adulthood because he was murdered in a political plot.

Ø  Another great way to gain cultural exchange is through ______.

o  When Egypt built the city of Alexandria the most important achievement was the ______, which contained information on:

§  ______

§  ______

§  ______

§  ______

§  ______

o  Alexandria is now underwater as you can see in the picture to the right.

o  Lighthouse of Alexandria was once one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. As seen in the picture to the left.

Life in the Hellenistic World

Ø  What was the most significant change in Hellenistic society?

o  Recall: the main political unit of Greece was the ______. After Alexander conquers much of the known world the political unit switches to ______.


Hellenistic Achievements

Ø  Philosophy

o  ______- rejected the ideas of pleasure, wealth, and social responsibility. Instead, they should live according to nature. Withdrew from society.

§  Many gave away possessions and became ______. They were like homeless people in today’s society.

o  ______- sought out pleasure, developed close friendships with those that shared similar beliefs

§  Pleasure- Good

§  Pain- Bad or Evil

o  ______- placed emphasis on reason, self-discipline, emotional control, and personal morality.

Ø  Art and Literature

o  Art pieces conveyed ______and ______.

§  ______was carved in a flowing style.

o  Literature focuses on ______.

Ø  Science and Technology

o  Euclid “Father of ______”: Formulated many of the ideas about geometry that we still use today.

o  Eratosthenes: Calculated the size of the ______

o  Archimedes: ______, compound pulley & mechanical screw for drawing water.