Western Civ Chapter 3

The conquests of Alexander produced a mixture of Greek and Near Eastern culture throughout the territories of his empire. After his death in 323 B.C.E. his generals succeeded him and divided his empire into several kingdoms. The last of these kingdoms, Egypt, fell to the Romans in 30 B.C.E., bringing an end to the Hellenistic Period.

Although Hellenistic rulers drew from the local population for government posts, they themselves were always of Macedonian descent.

According to Plato's Republic, women possess the same virtues and abilities as men.

Macedonian kings needed to maintain the support of their nobles, which they did by listening to their advice and by proving their abilities in war and hunting. Stable and orderly dynastic successions were rare.

Athens and Thebes tried to block Philip II's plans to dominate Greece, but were defeated at Chaeronea in 338 B.C.E. After their defeat, they retained their freedom in local matters, but were not allowed any autonomy in foreign policy.

The correct answer is The Academy. The Academy was a philosophical school founded by Plato in Athens around 387 BC. It was a place where students could engage in philosophical discussions and learn from Plato's teachings. The Academy played a significant role in the development of Western philosophy and produced many influential philosophers, including Aristotle.

Athens, Sparta and Thebes were the main rivals for dominance in Greece after the Peloponnesian War.

Plato founded the Academy in Athens around 386 B.C.E. as an informal association of people who studied philosophy, mathematics, and theoretical astronomy.

Alexander kept Homer's Illiad under his pillow.

Like Plato, Aristotle criticized democracy because it allowed the uneducated instead of more enlightened people to control politics.

Alexander believed he was descended from the god Zeus because Zeus was considered the king of the gods in Greek mythology and was often associated with power and authority. As Alexander was a great military leader and conqueror, he likely saw himself as a divine figure and believed that his lineage traced back to Zeus, further legitimizing his claim to power.

One of the hallmarks of Hellenistic sculpture was a turn away from the idealized serenity of classical art in favor of a new emphasis on individual traits and personal emotions.

Archimedes of Syracuse (287-212 B.C.E.) also devised a way to manipulate very large numbers.

Most of the Hellenistic population lived in small villages. Farmers were often forced tenants on royal land; free peasants worked their own plots as well as the farms of wealthy landowners. Perhaps 80 percent of all adult men and women had to work the land to produce enough food to sustain the population.

Philip II was assassinated in 336 B.C.E.

Because Socrates could not be accused of a political crime, his accusers charged him with acting in a way that angered the gods and threatened to bring divine punishment onto the city.

Although Aristarchus correctly believed that the earth revolved around the sun, his assumption that the earth moved in a circular orbit was problematic because calculations based on a circular orbit failed to correspond with the observed positions of other celestial objects.

The freedom to comment on politics was limited and artists and authors in the Hellenistic period tended to concentrate on individual emotions and aspects of private life.

Although women in the Hellenistic period could gain social influence and even in some cases serve in local government, women in Greece continued to be barred from assemblies and councils. They might still serve as honored queens.

Stoicism was founded by Zeno (c. 333-262 B.C.E.) and taught that virtue consisted of putting oneself in harmony with the divine, rational force of the universe, Nature, and striving for virtue.

Founded by the Ptolemaic rulers of Egypt, it housed more than a half million scrolls and sponsored scholars who wrote encyclopedias of knowledge.

In this way, the goals and structures of Hellenistic royal administrations recalled those of the earlier Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian empires.

Cleopatra had sided with Augustus's enemy Marc Antony. When they were defeated in 30 B.C.E., Egypt was absorbed into the Roman Empire.

Antiochus IV (r. 175-163 B.C.E.) outlawed the practice of Jewish rites and turned the temple in Jerusalem into a Greek temple. After twenty-five years of war, revolt succeeded in winning Jewish independence from the Seleucids.

Alexander cut the fabled impenetrable knot with his sword, thereby earning the lordship of Asia.

Alexander dealt with rival claimants to his throne by killing them. This brutal approach ensured that there were no potential threats to his rule and solidified his position as the sole ruler. By eliminating his rivals, Alexander eliminated any chance of rebellion or opposition to his authority. This ruthless tactic was effective in maintaining his power and control over his kingdom.

Although Philip II dreamed of conquering Persia, he died before this could happen. His son Alexander accomplished this instead.

Alexander never requested that Athens be renamed, and his requests for soldiers and colonists were not unusual. However, the Greeks never had a tradition of declaring their leaders to be gods.

The death of Alexander was followed by years of civil war, as his successors fought constantly among themselves for territory.

Alexander's commanders divided his conquests into three major parts: Antigonus (c. 382-301 B.C.E.) took over in Anatolia, the Near East, Macedonia, and Greece; Seleucus (c. 358-281 B.C.E.) in Babylonia and the East as far as India; and Ptolemy (c. 367-382 B.C.E.) in Egypt.

Hellenized Jews adopted aspects of Greek culture and the Greek language, but they largely retained the ritual practices and habits of life that defined traditional Judaism and refused to worship Greek gods.

Archimedes is credited with calculating the approximate value of pi. He used a method of inscribed and circumscribed polygons to estimate the value of pi. By increasing the number of sides of the polygons, he was able to get closer and closer to the actual value of pi. This method, known as the method of exhaustion, allowed Archimedes to calculate pi with remarkable accuracy for his time.

During the Hellenistic period, which followed the conquests of Alexander the Great, Greek became the official language of the Hellenistic kingdoms. This was due to the influence of Greek culture and the spread of Greek language throughout the conquered territories. Greek was widely spoken and used for administration, trade, and cultural exchange in these kingdoms. The Hellenistic rulers, who admired Greek civilization, promoted the use of Greek as the common language to facilitate communication and integration within their diverse territories. Therefore, Greek became the official language of the Hellenistic kingdoms.

Zeno founded the Stoic school of philosophy. Stoicism is a philosophical school that emphasizes the importance of virtue, self-control, and acceptance of one's fate. Zeno believed that the key to happiness and inner peace lies in living in accordance with nature and reason. He taught that individuals should focus on developing their moral character and cultivating inner tranquility, regardless of external circumstances. Zeno's teachings had a significant influence on later Stoic philosophers such as Seneca and Marcus Aurelius.

Although the war had devastated the Athenian economy, slavery was never eliminated in Athens.

Ruler cults arose in the Hellenistic world as a way for a community to express gratitude to their benefactors and to solicit additional favors.

Aristotelian ethics emphasized self-control. Aristotle believed that self-control was essential for leading a virtuous and fulfilling life. By practicing self-control, individuals could moderate their desires and impulses, allowing them to make rational and moral choices. This virtue enabled individuals to achieve a state of balance and harmony, avoiding excess or deficiency in their actions. Self-control was seen as a key component in developing moral character and achieving eudaimonia, or human flourishing.

The King's Peace of 386 B.C.E. was a Spartan treaty with Persia that sold out the Greeks of Anatolia in return for Persian non-interference in Sparta pursuing its own interests in Greece.

Alexander died three years after returning from his march into India. His queen Roxane bore him a son after his death. Alexander's exploits fulfilled the hopes of Persian conquest only dreamed of by his father, Philip II.

During the Hellenistic period, the kings often embellished their cities with gymnasiums and theatres. These structures were not only architectural marvels but also served as important cultural and social centers. Gymnasiums were used for physical exercise, education, and philosophical discussions, while theatres were venues for performances and entertainment. These additions to the cities showcased the wealth and grandeur of the Hellenistic kings, as well as their commitment to promoting physical and intellectual pursuits among their citizens.

Menander was a renowned Hellenistic playwright known for his comedies. He was highly regarded during his time and his works were immensely popular. Menander's comedies often explored themes of love, relationships, and social interactions, and his witty and humorous writing style made him a favorite among audiences. His plays were influential in shaping the genre of New Comedy and his works continued to be performed and adapted long after his death. Menander's reputation as the most famous Hellenistic playwright is well-deserved due to his significant contributions to the field of drama.

Alexander the Great brought the worlds of Greece and the Near East into closer contact than ever before and created new commercial opportunities, and his image as a warrior-hero endured for centuries. He was authoritarian and ruthless, though.

Sparta arranged the King's Peace with Persia in 386 B.C.E. This peace treaty was significant because it marked the end of the Corinthian War, a conflict between several Greek city-states and Persia. Sparta, as one of the leading city-states in Greece, played a major role in negotiating this peace agreement. The treaty aimed to establish a period of stability and peace in the region, allowing the Greek city-states to focus on internal affairs rather than external conflicts.

Plato's Republic, the leaders of his ideal society live in communal housing and their children are raised in a common environment. Men and women have several sexual partners to produce the best children.

Aeschines was an Athenian orator (c. 397-322 B.C.E.).

The condemnation of his mentor Socrates had convinced Plato that people were incapable of rising above self-interest to a knowledge of universal justice and truth.

The battle of Chaeronea resulted in Macedonian dominance over Greece. This battle took place in 338 BC between the Macedonians, led by Philip II of Macedon, and the combined forces of Athens and Thebes. The Macedonians emerged victorious, solidifying their control over Greece. This battle marked the end of Greek city-state independence and paved the way for the rise of Alexander the Great and the spread of Macedonian influence throughout the ancient world.

The Seleucid kings actively encouraged the immigration of Macedonian and Greek soldiers. This is because these soldiers were seen as valuable assets in maintaining control over the vast Seleucid Empire. The presence of Macedonian and Greek soldiers helped to strengthen the military power of the Seleucid kings and ensure their authority over the diverse regions of their empire. Additionally, these soldiers were often rewarded with land and other privileges, which further incentivized their migration to the Seleucid territories.

When the Persian king was forced to leave his wives and daughters behind when he fled the battlefield, Alexander reportedly treated them with great chivalry, enhancing his own reputation among the conquered Persians.

Borrowed from the Egyptians, the cult of Isis spread throughout the Mediterranean world during the Hellenistic Period and attracted many followers.