hellenistic greeks

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Hellenistic Greeks Hellenistic Greeks Society and Culture of an Society and Culture of an Empire Empire

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Describes Hellenistic society and the arts.

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Page 1: Hellenistic Greeks

Hellenistic GreeksHellenistic Greeks

Society and Culture of an EmpireSociety and Culture of an Empire

Page 2: Hellenistic Greeks

Philip of MacedoniaPhilip of Macedonia

Warfare continued among the city statesWarfare continued among the city states Finally, Philip of Macedonia conquered the Finally, Philip of Macedonia conquered the

peninsula 338 BCEpeninsula 338 BCE He was assassinated two years laterHe was assassinated two years later His son Alexander assumed the throne of His son Alexander assumed the throne of

MacedoniaMacedonia

Page 3: Hellenistic Greeks

Alexander the Great and His Alexander the Great and His SuccessorsSuccessors

Conquered Persia, Asia Minor (Turkey), Egypt, and Conquered Persia, Asia Minor (Turkey), Egypt, and SyriaSyria

Military Technology: catapults and battering ramsMilitary Technology: catapults and battering rams Expansion stopped in India, when an army with Expansion stopped in India, when an army with

elephants induced soldiers to mutinyelephants induced soldiers to mutiny Alexander died in 323 BCE, probably of MalariaAlexander died in 323 BCE, probably of Malaria The empire was divided into three segmentsThe empire was divided into three segments Egypt: By the Ptolemy dynastyEgypt: By the Ptolemy dynasty Persia by the Seleucid rulersPersia by the Seleucid rulers Macedonia under Antigonus the One-EyedMacedonia under Antigonus the One-Eyed

Page 4: Hellenistic Greeks

Hellenistic Greece: Main Hellenistic Greece: Main DevelopmentsDevelopments

Sculptures made for more realistic human forms, Sculptures made for more realistic human forms, rather then the idealrather then the ideal

Drama: melodramatic over the tragic;Drama: melodramatic over the tragic; Meaning: preference of extravagant theatrics over Meaning: preference of extravagant theatrics over

characterizationcharacterization Philosophy: Metaphysics replaced by science and the Philosophy: Metaphysics replaced by science and the

practicalpractical Religion: spread of the mysteries such as Isis from Religion: spread of the mysteries such as Isis from

Egypt, Mithra from Persia, GnosticismEgypt, Mithra from Persia, Gnosticism Spread Greek classicism to the non-Greek world—Spread Greek classicism to the non-Greek world—

including Romeincluding Rome

Page 5: Hellenistic Greeks

Philosophies of Hellenistic GreecePhilosophies of Hellenistic Greece

Overall, became guides of the practical that Overall, became guides of the practical that guided everyday lifeguided everyday life

Neglected the rational methods of Neglected the rational methods of investigation according to Plato, Socrates, investigation according to Plato, Socrates, Aristotle and the pre-Greek philosophersAristotle and the pre-Greek philosophers

Four schools predominate: Skeptics, Cynics, Four schools predominate: Skeptics, Cynics, Epicureans, and StoicsEpicureans, and Stoics

All placed the needs of individuals above that All placed the needs of individuals above that of community or the search for universal truthof community or the search for universal truth

Page 6: Hellenistic Greeks

Hellenistic Philosophy: Skeptics and Hellenistic Philosophy: Skeptics and CynicsCynics

Skeptics Skeptics harked back to the Sophistsharked back to the Sophists Denied the possibility of knowing anything for Denied the possibility of knowing anything for

certaincertain Argued therefore for the suspension of all intellectual Argued therefore for the suspension of all intellectual

judgmentjudgment Cynics Cynics called for renunciation of societal values, called for renunciation of societal values,

conventions, and wealthconventions, and wealth This renunciation is the key to spiritual satisfactionThis renunciation is the key to spiritual satisfaction Cynics anticipateCynics anticipate the asceticism ofthe asceticism of a monastic a monastic

ChristianityChristianity

Page 7: Hellenistic Greeks

Hellenistic Philosophy: EpicureansHellenistic Philosophy: Epicureans

Opposite of the popular idea “eat, drink, and be merry Opposite of the popular idea “eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die”for tomorrow we die”

Epicureans Epicureans (following Epicurus) argued that (following Epicurus) argued that happiness follows from avoiding all physical excesshappiness follows from avoiding all physical excess

Called for plain living and balance between body and Called for plain living and balance between body and mind—not unlike the Christiansmind—not unlike the Christians

Argued that gods played no part in human lifeArgued that gods played no part in human life Death is nothing but the rearrangement of atoms that Death is nothing but the rearrangement of atoms that

made up the body and all nature\made up the body and all nature\

Page 8: Hellenistic Greeks

Hellenistic Philosophy: StoicismHellenistic Philosophy: Stoicism

Derived from Derived from stoa, stoa, or portico where or portico where Zeno of Cilium taught this Zeno of Cilium taught this philosophy (left)philosophy (left)

Tranquility of mind comes from Tranquility of mind comes from acceptance of the will of natureacceptance of the will of nature

The universe is governed by an The universe is governed by an impersonal intelligence (antithetical impersonal intelligence (antithetical to Christianity)to Christianity)

Advanced the notion of universal Advanced the notion of universal equality, a Christian themeequality, a Christian theme

Page 9: Hellenistic Greeks

Architecture: Altar of ZeusArchitecture: Altar of Zeus

Given to larger, monumental forms than that of Classical Given to larger, monumental forms than that of Classical Greece.Greece.

The Altar of Zeus at Pergamon, Asia Minor, commemorating The Altar of Zeus at Pergamon, Asia Minor, commemorating a battle with the invading Gaulsa battle with the invading Gauls

Page 10: Hellenistic Greeks

Statuary RealismStatuary Realism Themes of statue are victory of Themes of statue are victory of

intellect over barbarism, Olympian intellect over barbarism, Olympian gods over Titansgods over Titans

Athena triumphs over Male, son of Athena triumphs over Male, son of the Earth Motherthe Earth Mother

LacoLacoőn and sons captured by sea őn and sons captured by sea serpent sent by Athena (lower left)serpent sent by Athena (lower left)

This is in revenge for his warning This is in revenge for his warning the Trojans of an impeding attackthe Trojans of an impeding attack

The Hellenic ideal form is displace The Hellenic ideal form is displace by realism that also portray children by realism that also portray children and the agingand the aging

This anticipates Roman sculptureThis anticipates Roman sculpture

Page 11: Hellenistic Greeks

Religious ThemesReligious Themes

Hellenistic thought also anticipates the MysteriesHellenistic thought also anticipates the Mysteries Some groups worship Isis or Osiris or both from Some groups worship Isis or Osiris or both from

EgyptEgypt From Persia came Mithra, God of the Sun in pre-From Persia came Mithra, God of the Sun in pre-

Zoroastrian timesZoroastrian times From Egypt also came Gnosticism, which refers to From Egypt also came Gnosticism, which refers to

personal knowledge of the unseen worldpersonal knowledge of the unseen world These themes were adopted later in Rome in along These themes were adopted later in Rome in along

with Christianity as the empire entered declinewith Christianity as the empire entered decline

Page 12: Hellenistic Greeks

Developments in Science and Developments in Science and MathematicsMathematics

Archimedes:Archimedes: specific gravity; foundations of specific gravity; foundations of calculus, compound pulley; mechanical properties of calculus, compound pulley; mechanical properties of the leverthe lever

Aristarchus:Aristarchus: Proposes the heliocentric theory of Proposes the heliocentric theory of planetary movementplanetary movement

Euclid: Euclid: basics of plane geometrybasics of plane geometry Hipparchus:Hipparchus: Invents trigonometry; catalogues 805 Invents trigonometry; catalogues 805

fixed starsfixed stars Herophilus:Herophilus: nervous system; arteries carry blood nervous system; arteries carry blood

(not air) from the heart(not air) from the heart

Page 13: Hellenistic Greeks

Conclusion: Significance of Conclusion: Significance of Hellenistic PeriodHellenistic Period

Expanded the world view of Hellenic Greece to Expanded the world view of Hellenic Greece to encompass that beyond that cultureencompass that beyond that culture

Created a practical perspective in intellectual life, Created a practical perspective in intellectual life, reflected in everyday concernsreflected in everyday concerns

Instilled realism in art and sculptureInstilled realism in art and sculpture Emphasized the plot over characterization in dramaEmphasized the plot over characterization in drama Brought size into architectureBrought size into architecture Fostered scientific and mathematical innovationsFostered scientific and mathematical innovations Set the foundations for Rome and later ChristianitySet the foundations for Rome and later Christianity