Politics, Philosophy, and
Science in the Hellenistic
World.
The Hellenistic World
United Empire in Pieces
 Macedonian generals in conflict over control
of the empire.
 See map:
 Four primary kingdoms
 Stability for several centuries
 Strain between Greco-Macedonian rulers and
native populations.
 Greeks and Macedonians the ruling
class…some were as small as 2.0% of the
population
Urban revolution
 This was an urban revolution
 Alexander focused on the foundation of cities.
 Military settlements were founded.
 Greeks relocated to fill voids as
administrators, architects, engineers, etc…
Economic trends
 Largely agrarian
 Aristocrats owned land worked it via rent or
slaves.
 Commerce expanded
 Trading expanded (Silk Road)
 Alexander made East-West trade more
possible.
Culture in the Hellenistic World
 Importance of Cultural
Diffusion
 Importance of
Literature—Egypt
(Library of Alexandria)
Importance of theatre/drama
 Centered in Athens
 Playwrights focused on
Comedies
 Menander
 Lost to history—”Ladies
at Lunch”
History
 Polybius a famed Greek
wrote “Inhabited
Mediterranean World”
 Most has been lost to
history
 Focused on the growth
of Rome
 Sought rational motives
for events
Sculpture
 Unlike classical age
artists the Hellenistic
works focused on the
“actual” not the ideal
form. Best preserved
example is the “Old
Market Woman”.
 Meets no qualities of
classical sculpture
A New Age in Science
 In Greece science had
been an extension of
philosophy.
 Now it was a subject of
scientific
experimentation.
Archimedes
 Noted for:
 Geometry
 Hydrostatics
 Numerical value of Pi
 Archimedan water
screw
 Pulley
 Lever
Achievements cont…
 From Plutarch: “that if
they did see but a little
rope or a piece of wood
from the wall, instantly
crying out, that there it
was again, Archimedes
was about to let fly
some engine at them,
they turned their backs
and fled!”
 “Give me a place to
stand I will move the
earth”
Philosophy
 Athens the center of philosophy
 “The Academy”
 New schools of philosophy
 Epicureanism
 Stoicism
Epicureanism
 Goal of life the pursuit
of pleasure—pleasure
in the sense of
liberation of mental
turmoil and worry. The
freedom of a mind at
rest.
 How? Free yourself
from public activity
 “We must release
ourselve from the prison
of affairs and politics”
Epicurus
Stoicism
 Founded by Zeno
 Flourished in Rome
 Happiness could only
be found living in the
will of God and that
life's problems should
be attacked through
political virtue.
Religion in the Hellenistic World
 Greek gods were
spread with the
conquest of Alexander.
 Primarily localized cults
such as those of Isis,
Tyche, Zeus, Asarte,
Horus, and Atargis.
Mystery Religions
 Often expanded from cults, they promised
salvation and eternal life.
 These faiths which attempted to tackle key
questions paved the way for later Christianity.