Alexander And the Hellenistic Period

Macedonia Under Philip II

Threat of Macedonia Phillip II – 359 B.C. Unites all of Greece under Macedonia Created a true monarchy Brilliant military strategist Battle of Chaeronea Macedonia defeats the Greeks Uses phalanx formations & then cavalry to crush opponents Alexander leads a cavalry charge at 18 Plan was to unite Greeks to go against Persians Phillip II was assassinated At his daughters wedding in 336 B.C. Son, Alexander take the throne

Death of Phillip II of Macedonia

Alexander the Great 20 years old when he took the throne Motivated by a desire & empire Tutored by Aristotle Desire to avenge Persian burning of Athens Alexander’s Conquests 334 B.C. defeated the Persian Army  30,000 infantry – 5,000 cavalry  hit Persians quickly and used phalanx formation  freed Greek city-states in Asia Minor 332 B.C. defeated Syria, Palestine, and Egypt  Alexandria became the Greek capital of Egypt Turned toward Pakistan and India  soldiers refused and went home 323 B.C. returned to Babylon  died at age 32 from wounds, fever and alcohol

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great in Persia

Legacy of Alexander Great Military leader Motivated by desire  Created largest empire ancient world had known  willing to risk his own life Sought to imitate Achilles  kept a copy of the Illiad under his pillow Extended Greek rule over a vast area  brought much wealth to Greece & Macedonia New culture emerges from blend of Greek and Eastern customs  Alexander adopted Persian dress and married a Persian woman

Alexander the Great’s Empire

The Spread of Hellenistic Culture 324 B.C. - 100 B.C.

The Hellenistic Kingdoms Hellenistic Culture Blend of Greek culture w/ Egyptian, Persian and Indian influence Rulers encouraged massive spread of Greek colonies Southwest Asia  modern Afghanistan and India Architecture and Sculpture Built throughout the empire  moved away from earlier classicism to realistic art

The Hellenization of Asia

Pergamum: A Hellenistic City

Greatest Accomplishment of the Hellenistic Age Alexander the Great saved Greek Culture and spread their ideas to every new place he conquered. The new culture that emerged was called “Hellenistic” culture, which means “Greek-like”. All of the following are the legacies of this Hellenistic age….

Science & Technology Alexander preserved Greek and Egyptian learning Observatory: study planets and stars Ptolemy Friend to Alexander – satrap of Egypt Last renowned astronomer  said Earth was center of universe

Eratosthenes Said Earth was round – 28,000-29,000 miles (within 185 m.)  was an astronomer as well as poet

Mathematics & Physics Euclid Mathematician taught in Alexandria  Elements: best known book  still used as basis for geometry Archimedes Most famous scientist  geometry of spheres and cylinders  mathematical constant pi  created device that raised water from the ground  created pulley to lift heavy object

Archimedes Moving the World

The Economy of the Hellenistic World

Hellenistic Philosophers Athens chief center of philosophy New system of Epicureanism and Stoicism Epicureanism: self interest avoid pain & seek pleasure. Gods had no interest in humans politics should be avoided. soul dies with body, should not fear death

Epicurus “Pleasure is our first and kindred good Epicurus “Pleasure is our first and kindred good. It is the starting-point of every choice …”

Zeno - Stoicism

Realism in Sculpture Hellenistic Art More realistic; less ideal than Greek art Showed individual emotions, wrinkles, and age! Moved away from appreciation of human body Female nudes become popular Colossus of Rhodes 100 ft. high – one of 7 wonders of the Ancient World

Hellenistic Art

The Breakup of Alexander’s Empire

7 Wonders of the World Tourist attractions of the Hellenistic World 1. Pyramids of Khufu 26th century BC 2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon 6th century BC 3. Temple of Artemis 4. Statue of  Zeus 5th century BC 5. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus 4th century BC 6. Colossus of Rhodes 3rd century BC 7. Lighthouse of Alexandria

The Temple of Artemis City of Ephesus - Western Turkey First shrine to Goddess Artemis built around 800 B.C. Goddess of fertility First temple burnt in 356 BC - Herostratus New temple - 425 ft long & 225 ft wide - 127 columns Parthenon 230 ft long, 100 ft wide & 58 columns Major tourist attraction Souvenirs & religious items including miniature statues of Artemis Destroyed by Goths in 262 A.D Few remains today Marble salvaged for local building needs

Hanging Gardens Of Babylon - Iraq Garden built by King Nebuchadnezzar, who ruled the city for 43 years starting in 605 BC Strabo described them as groups of vaulted terraces raised one above another Built to cheer up Nebuchadnezzar's homesick wife, Amyitis from Medes Land she came from was green, rugged and mountainous, and she found the flat, sun-baked terrain of Mesopotamia depressing.

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus Western Turkey Mausolus, with his queen Artemisia (also sister), ruled over Halicarnassus & the surrounding territory for 24 years In 353 B.C. Mausolus died Artemisia, heartbroken, decided to build the world’s most splendid tomb Stood above the city ruins for some 17 centuries until destroyed by an earthquake in 1404 AD

The Great Pharos Lighthouse Alexandria, Egypt founded by Alexander in 332 BC Under Ptolemys the city became rich and prosperous City needed both a symbol & a mechanism to guide the many trade ships into the busy harbor Built on the island of Pharos Building of the Pharos started in 290 B.C Took 20 years to complete Became tallest building in existence, with the exception of the Great Pyramid Became big tourist attraction Damaged by earthquakes Finally collapsed in 1306 AD

The Great Pyramids of Giza Pharaoh Khufu 2400 BC Only remaining wonder 756 feet long & 450 high Tallest man-made structure for over 4400 years until 1889 - Eiffel Tower Composed of 2,300,000 blocks of stone Originally covered by a beautiful smooth limestone surfacing Khufu’s tomb and treasure has never been found

The Colossus of Rhodes Island of Rhodes was an important economic center Southwestern tip of Asia Minor Held off a siege of city for over a year Celebrated the victory by building huge statue Melted metal from war machines left behind Construction took 12 years 110 ft high and stood upon a 50 foot pedestal near the harbor Destroyed by earthquake after 56 years

Statue of Zeus Temple of Zeus at Olympia – constructed 470 to 460 B.C. Similar to Parthenon in design Needed a magnificent statue of Zeus 50 feet high Phidias – sculptor Statue of Athena in the Parthenon