The Hellenistic World
Alexander the Great (336-323 B.C.)
• Alexander the man
– Educated by Aristotle
– Idealized Achilles
– Believed to be the son
of Zeus
– Tamed his horse
Bucephalus at the age
of 10.
Alexander the Great in Persia
Alexander the Great’s
Empire
Building Greek Cities in the
East
Trade in the Hellenistic
World
Death of Alexander, 323 B.C
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Arrived in Babylon.
Falls ill and dies on June 10, 323 B.C.
Leaves behind wife Roxane and son
Body sent to Egypt.
Chaos reigns after his death.
Alexandria, Egypt
The Greatest City in The Hellenistic World
Pharos (Lighthouse) of Alexandria
The seventh wonder of the world... It was destroyed by an
earthquake in the 13th century.
The tower reached a
height of 384 feet,
equivalent to a 40story modern building.
Encased in fine white
marble, the beacons
summit was topped
with a magnificent
statue, most likely of
Poseidon, the Lord of
the seas. As the tallest
building on Earth , the
Lighthouse of
Alexandria was
illuminated by fire and
its flame magnified by
a mysterious mirror.
The mirror, possibly
made of polished
bronze, was said to
have reflected light
more than 35 miles
offshore.
Library at Alexandria (333 B.C.E.)
Alexandria Museum
Museum was dedicated to the Greek god Muses, the Greek
Goddess of the arts and sciences. Contained art galleries,
a zoo, botanical gardens, and a institution of advanced study.
Hellenic Art (Classical Art)
Stiff, symmetric, and not very
expressive. Very little realism
and not much emotion shown.
Hellenistic Art
Hellenistic sculptures were more realistic and
natural. The Hellenistic realism expressed
temporary emotional conditions, pain and
suffering. The sculptors did emphasize religious
and moral values, but took it further in a sense
that the secular viewpoint became more
important.
Hellenic vs. Hellenistic Art
This is Hellenistic sculpture. We see pathos not found in
Classical sculpture and larger than life. Three sculptors
created this masterpiece and it tells a story. The death of
Laocoon and his 2 sons by a sea serpent happened
because he told his countrymen about the dangers involve
in bringing the Greek wooden horse within the walls of Tro
We see the emotion, pain and anguish in larger-than-life
sculpture.
**This sculpture greatly influenced Michelangelo.
Hellenism:
The Arts & Sciences
$ Scientists /
Mathematicians:
 Aristarchus
 Euclid
 Archimedes
 Ptolemy
A Golden Age of Science and Medicine
• Astronomy
– Aristarchus of Samos
(c. 310-230 B.C.)
• Heliocentric view of
the universe
– Hipparchus
• Invented astrolabe
• Distance from earth
to moon.
Ptolemy’s – Geocentric Theory
This theory will be taught until the until the early 1600’s.
Archimedes of Syracuse (287-212 B.C.)
• Geometry of spheres
and cylinders
• Value of pi
• Hydrostatics
*law of specific gravity
*formulated the principle of the lever, the pulley and
the screw
*invented: compound pulley, tubular screw for
pumping water, screw propeller for ships, the
burning lens
"Give me a place to stand on, and I will move the world."
Euclid (c. 300 B.C.)
• Elements
– Developed geometry
Wrote Elements of Geometry,
which was a compilation of
his own and other
mathematician's works. Book
was used up the 1900’s.
Eratosthenes (c. 275-194 B.C.)
• Earth round,
circumference of
24,675 miles
• Latitude and longitude
• Sail west to India
•Calculated the circumference of earth (24,675 miles) with an
error of less than 200 miles
• Produced accurate map with earth divided into degrees of
latitude and longitude
•Advocated the theory that all oceans are really one
•First to suggest sailing west to reach India
Alexander’s Legacy
• Hellenistic Age (“to
imitate Greeks”)
• Monarchy
– Military strength, divine rule
• Culture
– Art, architecture, language,
literature
– Cities
The death of Alexander marked the beginning of a new stage in Greek history. The Hellenic civilization was replaced by
the Hellenistic and the fusion of culture and intermingling of peoples resulting from Alexander's conquests .Gradually a
new pattern of civilization emerged based on a mixture of Greek and Oriental elements.
This Hellenistic culture spoke Greek, had despotic governments, leaned towards extravagance in art and love of luxury,
consisted of an economic system that featured state-controlled big business with ruthless competition, and a philosophy of
defeatism that resulted in a loss of logic and the power of the mind to religions based on faith.
Greek language, art, architecture and literature spread to the near east..
Established 70 military colonies and or cites bearing his name Alexandria.