SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, ARCHAEOLOGY AND HERITAGE STUDIES TO : DR. GIFT KAYIRA FROM : FRANSISCO MUMBA REG. NO. : ESS-29-22 COURSE CODE : HIS 121 COURSE TITLE : EARLY WORLD HISTORY ASSIGN. TITLE : HOW AND WHY DID ALEXANDER THE GREAT CREAT THE HELLENISTIC WORLD? WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS OF THAT WORLD TO THE MODERN WORLD? ASSIGN. NO. : ONE SEMESTER : TWO DUE DATE : 22ND MAY, 2023. HOW AND WHY DID ALEXANDER THE GREAT CREATE THE HELLENISTIC WORLD? WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS OF THAT WORLD TO THE MODERN WORLD? Between 336 and 323 BCE, Alexander the great a legendary king of Macedon in ancient history, embarked on a conquest of vast territories that would forever transform the world history1. This paper delves into the story of how Alexander the great created the Hellenistic world and explores reasons behind his ambition. It argues that his military conquest, visionary leadership and pursuit of spreading Greek ideology were instrumental in shaping the Hellenistic era. The second and the last part is much based at examining the methods employed by Alexander the great to forge the Hellenistic world and explore the enduring contributions of the Hellenistic world to the modern era. How did Alexander the great create the Hellenistic world? To begin with, Alexander the great utilized military conquest as a primary means of creating the Hellenistic world. Through his unparalleled military prowess the strategic war genius Alexander embarked on series of wars that rapidly expanded his empire across vast regions, thereby incorporating diverse culture into the Hellenistic fold2. For instance his defeat of the formidable Persian Empire, epitomized by his victories at the battle of issue and Gaugamela resulted into absorption of the Persian territories and resources into his domain. The conquest also facilitated the integration of Persian cultural elements into the Hellenistic world, thus enriching its cultural tapestry. Furthermore Alexander’s campaigns in Egypt resulted in the founding of the city 1 Errington Robert Malcom. A History of Macedonia (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1990). 2 Angelos, Chaniotis. War in the Hellenistic World (Oxford, USA: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2005). Alexandria which became a hub of cultural exchange and a vibrant center for commerce and Hellenistic culture. Secondly, cultural assimilation played a vital role in creating the Hellenistic world. Alexander the great sought to blend Greek culture with the customs and Traditions of the conquered lands, a process known as Hellenization3. However scholars argue that Alexander’s vision of cultural assimilation was reflected in his policies and actions. He encouraged the adoption of Greek language, customs and attire among the local populations. In Egypt for instance, he presented himself as the legitimate successor to the pharaohs and blended Egyptian religious practices with elements of Greek culture. Similarly, in Babylon he initiated the construction of a grand city incorporating both Greek and Babylonian architectural styles. These examples highlight Alexander’s effort to merge cultures and create a distinct Hellenistic identify. Furthermore, Alexander’s visionary leadership played a great role in creating the Hellenistic world. He established a vast administrative system that allowed effective governance and cultural exchange4. The division of his empire into satrapies, each headed by a satrap in so doing the facilitated regional autonomy while ensuring loyalty to the central authority. His successors, known as the Diadochi, continued his legacy by adopting and practicing his administrative structures and policies. The Hellenistic kingdoms that emerged after Alexander’s death carried forward his vision of a culturally diverse empire5. 3 Bosworth, Albert, Brian. Alexander and the East (Oxford University Press, 1996). 4 Thomas Martin. Ancient Greece ( Library of Congress catalogue: Yale University Press, 2013) 5 Green Peter. Alexander the Great and Hellenistic Age (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2007). Why did Alexander the great create the Hellenistic world? One of the reason that influenced Alexander the great to embark in creation of Hellenistic culture was his pursuit of economic prosperity and exploitation of valuable Resources. The territories he conquered, particularly the Persian empire were renowned for their wealth and abundant natural resources such as gold, silver, precious gems and fertile agricultural lands, He also plundered the treasuries of defeated Persian Kings 6 . Alexander recognized the economic potential of establishing trade Networks and commercial routes throughout his empire. In so doing, Alexander gained control over important trade routes such as the Silk Road and maritime routes of the Eastern Mediterranean7. Another point which motivated Alexander the great to create the Hellenistic world was personal ambition and desire to leave a lasting legacy. Some scholars suggest that Alexander’s the great sought to surpass the achievements of his father, King Philip the second of Macedon and establish his own legendary status in history8. Alexander recognized the richer and sophistication of various cultures he encountered during his conquest, particularly the Persian and Egyptian civilization. He also we encouraged the translation of Greek texts into other languages leading to preservation and dissemination of Greek literature, Philosophy and scientific knowledge. Alexander’s political aspirations in creating the Hellenistic world. He sought to establish a vast empire that would secure his rule and consolidate power, by conquering and assimilating various 6 Griffith, Guy. The Hellenistic City ( London: Rutledge, 2013) 7 Green Peter, 2007. 8 Thomas Martin, 2013. regions9. Alexander the great aimed at maintaining political stability and control over his vast conquered territories. The division of his empire into satrapies headed by loyal officials exemplified his desire for effective governance. What would you consider to be the major contributions of Hellenistic world to the modern world? The major contribution of Hellenistic world is in the field of Philosophy. Hellenistic philosophers built upon the foundations of their predecessors and developed new school of thought that continue to shape Western Philosophy today10. Stoicism, founded by Zeno of citium, emphasized the pursuit of virtues, self-control and the acceptance of fate there by providing valuable ethical and moral frame works that still resonate in the contemporary society. This philosophical school has left enduring legacy influencing modern ethical, moral and existential debates. In the realm of science, the Hellenistic world made remarkable advancements that continue to influence modern scientific thought. The Hellenistic period witnessed significant progress in mathematics exemplified by Euclid’s “elements", a comprehensive treatise geometry that became a foundational text in the field. Archimedes made substantial contributions to mathematics, engineering and physics with his principles still used in modern scientific calculations. This period also saw progress in astronomy with astronomers such as Aristarchus of Samos proposing heliocentric foreshadowing the later Copernican revolution11. 9 Stone Man Richard. Alexander the Great (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2011). 10 Fox, Robin Lane. Alexander the Great (London: Penguin UK, 2011). 11 Thomas Martin, 2013. Finally, architecture and urban planning emerged to be the lasting legacy of the Hellenistic world. During this period, there was significant advancement in construction of cities like Alexandria in Egypt and Antioch in Syria were built as centers of Hellenistic culture, featuring grand public buildings, libraries and monumental structure 12. The architectural style developed during this period was called Hellenistic architecture, combined elements of Greek and local traditions there by resulting in distinctive designs that influenced subsequent architectural movements. In conclusion, the essay has highlighted some of the important points on how and why did alexander the great create the Hellenistic and its influence to the modern world, these are military conquest, cultural assimilation and desire for a long lasting legacy. His influence extended beyond his lifetime there by shaping and leaving enduring legacy that continue to be studied. 12 Griffith Guy, 2013. Bibliography Angelos, Chaniotis. War in the Hellenistic World: Social and cultural history. Oxford, USA: Blackwell publishing Ltd, 2005. Bosworth, Albert Brian. Alexander and the East: The Tragedy of Triumph. Oxford: Oxford University press, 1996. Errington, Robert, Malcom. A History of Macedonia. Berkeley: University of California press, 1990. Fox, Robine lane. Alexander the Great. London: penguin UK, 2011. Green, Peter. Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic age. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2007. Griffith Guy. The Hellenistic City: Creating Urban Culture in an Age of Empire. London: Rutledge, 2013. Hansen, Valerie. The Silk Road: A New History. Oxford University Press, 2012. Thomas Martin. Ancient Greece: From prehistoric to Hellenistic Time. Library of Congress Catalogue: Yale University Press, 2013. Stone Man Richard. Alexander the Great: A life in legend. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2011.
