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== The Hellenistic Age ==

== The Hellenistic Age ==

The term “Hellenistic” means anything related to Greek history, culture or art after the life of a man named “Alexander the Great,” who lived from 356 to 323 B.C. and virtually conquered the world of his day.  Alexander was not himself Greek, as he came from Macedonia (the region north of Athens, Corinth and Sparta).  But he spread the Greek culture far and wide with his military conquests.

The term "Hellenistic" means anything related to Greek history, culture or art '''after''' the life of one remarkable man named "Alexander the Great," who lived from 356 to 323 B.C. and nearly conquered the entire world of his day.  Alexander was not really Greek himself, as he came from Macedonia (the region north of Athens, Corinth and Sparta).  But he spread the Greek culture far and wide with his extraordinary military conquests, the equal of which has never been seen since.

The kingdom of Macedon was formed in the 7th century and became Greek in culture and language by the 5th century, even though the Greeks considered Macedonians to be barbarians.  Philip II of Macedon organized most of the cities into the League of Corinth, and promised to invade the dreaded enemy of Persia to liberate Greek cities there.

The kingdom of Macedon was formed in the 7th century B.C. and became Greek in culture and language by the 5th century B.C., even though the Greeks considered Macedonians to be barbarians.  Philip II of Macedon organized most of the cities into the League of Corinth, and promised to invade the dreaded enemy of Persia to liberate Greek cities there.

   

   

In ancient Greece the common military formation was the “phalanx”, which is Greek for “finger”, composed of a rectangular formation consisting of heavily armed infantry carrying spears and shields.  Philip II was able to raise a well-trained phalanx in Macedonia at lower cost than the Greek city-states, and crushed them.  But he was assassinated in 336 B.C., leaving his throne in the hands of his 20-year-old son, Alexander.

In ancient Greece the common military formation was the "phalanx", which is the Greek word for "finger".  It is composed of a rectangular formation consisting of heavily armed infantry carrying spears and shields.  Philip II was able to raise a well-trained phalanx in Macedonia at lower cost than the Greek city-states, and he crushed the Greek armies.  But Philip II was assassinated in 336 B.C., leaving his throne in the hands of his 20-year-old son, Alexander.

   

   

=== Alexander the Great ===

=== Alexander the Great ===

Long before his death, Philip II had arranged for Aristotle to tutor his son Alexander, and the wisdom Aristotle conferred made Alexander the greatest military leader of all time.  Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.), as he is known, came closer to conquering the entire world than anyone else before or since.  He mapped out his battles with logical precision and never lost a single one.  He went to sleep at night with Aristotle’s marked-up copy of the Iliad, the great work of Greek literature, under his pillow.  He treated his conquered peoples better than Aristotle would have, because Aristotle advised Alexander to treat them like animals.  Alexander personally traveled over 22,000 miles with his troops and often knew the foreign terrain better than his enemies, even though they lived there.  He defeated the most feared empires the world had known and expanded the Greek empire from Persia to Egypt to India, before dying from swamp fever (perhaps malaria) at the tender young age of 33.  The world would never be the same again.

Long before his death, Philip II had arranged for Aristotle to tutor his son Alexander, and the remarkable wisdom Aristotle conferred made Alexander the greatest military leader of all time. I guess we could say that Alexander was homeschooled by this extraordinary tutor! Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.), as he is known, came closer to conquering the entire world than anyone else before or since.  He mapped out his battles with logical precision and never lost a single one.  He went to sleep at night with Aristotle's marked-up copy of the ''Iliad'', the great work of Greek literature, under his pillow.  He treated his conquered peoples better than Aristotle would have, because Aristotle advised Alexander to treat them like animals.  Alexander personally traveled over 22,000 miles with his troops and often knew the foreign terrain better than his enemies, even though they lived there.  He defeated the most feared empires the world had known and expanded the Greek empire from Persia to Egypt to India, before dying from swamp fever (perhaps malaria) at the young age of 33.  The world would never be the same again.

In a mere four years (334-331 B.C.), Alexander conquered the greatest empire in the history of the world so far:  the Persian empire led by Persian king Darius III.  The Persian armies were far superior to Alexander’s army, but Alexander was a brilliant, ferocious and unrelenting military leader.  King Darius III even offered half of the Persian empire and his daughter’s hand in marriage to Alexander in exchange for peace.  Alexander refused and proceeded to completely destroy the Persian army--capturing every one of its empire’s vast treasures.  Darius was then assassinated by one of his own guards, and Alexander became ruler of Persia.  Alexander did not stop there.

In a mere four years (334-331 B.C.), Alexander conquered the greatest empire in the history of the world so far:  the Persian empire led by Persian king Darius III.  The Persian armies were far superior to Alexander's army, but Alexander was a brilliant, ferocious and unrelenting military leader.  King Darius III even offered half of the Persian empire and even his daughter's hand in marriage to Alexander in exchange for peace.  Alexander refused and proceeded to completely destroy the Persian army -- capturing every one of its empire's vast treasures.  Darius was then assassinated by one of his own guards, and Alexander became ruler of Persia.  Alexander did not stop there.

There are many fascinating stories told about Alexander the Great.  Many consider him to have been the finest military mind ever.  Illustrating his approach, legend tells the story of how Alexander confronted a huge “Gordian knot,” and was told that whoever could unravel the knot would rule the world.  Alexander supposedly drew his sword and sliced the Gordian knot in two, and proceeded on his way.   

There are numerous fascinating stories told about Alexander the Great.  Many consider him to have been the finest military mind ever.  Illustrating his approach, legend tells the story of how Alexander confronted a huge "Gordian knot," a massive tangle of rope wrapped too tightly for anyone to unravel.  Alexander and was told that whoever could unravel the knot would rule the world.  Alexander supposedly drew his sword and sliced the Gordian knot in two, and proceeded on his way.   

He would surround himself with a staff of secretaries, philosophers and scientists, yet would also engage in drunken brawls to the point where he accidentally killed a friend who had once saved his life.  Alexander enjoyed battle himself, and would often be wounded leading his soldiers.  In one conflict, Alexander even employed underwater divers to defeat the enemy.  Alexander never lost a single battle, and seemed to have unlimited energy, motivation, and determination.  His work ethic was an inspiration to the world.  His vast influence but premature death at 33 has led historians to compare him to Jesus Christ, though obviously they were very different from each other. Alexander lacked any disciples to carry on after his death.

He surrounded himself with a staff of secretaries, philosophers and scientists, yet would also engage in drunken brawls to the point where he accidentally killed a friend who had once saved his life.  Alexander enjoyed battle himself, and would often be wounded leading his soldiers.  In one conflict, Alexander even employed underwater divers to defeat the enemy.  Alexander never lost a single battle, and seemed to have unlimited energy, motivation, and determination.  His work ethic was an inspiration to the world.  His vast influence but premature death at 33 has led historians to compare him to Jesus Christ, though obviously they were very different from each other! Alexander lacked any disciples to carry on after his death, unlike Jesus.

Alexander the Great led the Greek empire to the corners of the world as known at that time.  His death of a fever in his capital city of Babylon in 323 B.C. marked the end of his empire, but the beginning of the great Hellenistic influence.  Seeds of Greek knowledge had been planted all around the world and were beginning to spring up everywhere.  For centuries these seeds grew and influenced cultures from Persia to Egypt to Rome.

Alexander the Great led the Greek empire to the corners of the world as known at that time.  His death of a fever in his capital city of Babylon in 323 B.C. marked the end of his empire, but the beginning of the great Hellenistic influence.  Seeds of Greek knowledge had been planted all around the world and were beginning to spring up everywhere.  For centuries these seeds grew and influenced cultures from Persia to Egypt to Rome.

Alexander’s empire was too vast to survive his death, and his generals murdered the remaining members of his family.  Athens and Sparta again became independent city-states until the Roman empire conquered them.  However, what mattered was that the many thousands of Greeks who traveled with Alexander during his conquests brought their knowledge and culture to all corners of the ancient world except China.  The great city of Alexandria, Egypt, shows its tribute to him by its name.  Greek-speaking kingdoms had been established in Egypt, Syria and Iran, and the language became popular among the educated for trade in Palestine.  The post-Alexander era is known as the Hellenistic Age (232-146 B.C.)

Alexander's empire was too vast to survive his death, and his generals murdered the remaining members of his family.  Athens and Sparta again became independent city-states until the Roman empire conquered them.  However, what mattered was that the many thousands of Greeks who traveled with Alexander during his conquests brought their knowledge and culture to all corners of the ancient world except China.  The great ancient city of Alexandria, Egypt, showed its tribute to him by its name.  Greek-speaking kingdoms had been established in Egypt, Syria and Iran, and the language became popular among the educated for trade in Palestine.  The post-Alexander era is known as the Hellenistic Age (232-146 B.C.)

Taught in Greek, Christianity spread like wildfire throughout the Hellenistic world in the first century A.D.  The Greek language, culture, and advances in knowledge had prepared the people well for Christianity to take root.

Christianity, which relied primarily on the Greek language, spread like wildfire throughout the Hellenistic world in the first century A.D.  The Greek language, culture, and advances in knowledge had prepared the people well for Christianity to take root.

=== Greek Contributions ===

=== Greek Contributions ===

What can we thank Greece for today?  For starters, the Greeks began the Olympics.

What can we thank Greece for today?  For starters, the Greeks began the Olympics!

But we thank Ancient Greece for far more than that.  Our system of laws and government is largely based on the Greek example, and in particular the concept of democratic participation in government.  Trial by jury is from Greece, as is the concept of a defense attorney (Roman law lacked a defense attorney - note how Jesus did not have an attorney at His trial).  Greece established democracy for the first time in history.  Our language, too, is due to the Greek adoption of an alphabet.  The Greeks invented the study of history, so this course is indebted to the Greeks!

But we thank Ancient Greece for far more than that.  Our system of laws and government is largely based on the Greek example, and in particular the concept of democratic participation in government.  Trial by jury is from Greece, as is the concept of a defense attorney (Roman law lacked a defense attorney - note how Jesus did not have an attorney at His trial during the Passion).  Greece established democracy for the first time in history.  Our language, too, is due to the Greek adoption of an alphabet.  The Greeks invented the study of history, so this course is indebted to the Greeks!

Historians also credit ancient Greece for its tremendous achievements in the fields of science, philosophy and art.  The concept of truth began to acquire meaning in ancient Greece, as did freedom and knowledge.  The concept of moderation illustrated by the “Golden Mean” (whereby the whole is to the larger part as the larger part is to the smaller part, or (a+b)/a = a/b) and the design of ancient Greek buildings like the Parthenon using the Golden Mean in its dimensions were influential.  The Parthenon (built in 438 B.C. to honor the goddess Athena) is impressive.  It embodies the Golden Mean, which also  occurs in many living creatures and has fascinated mathematicians ever since; for those interested in math, the Fibonacci sequence is a manifestation of the golden mean.  A full-sized replica of the Parthenon sits in Nashville, Tennessee.

Historians also credit ancient Greece for its tremendous achievements in the fields of science, philosophy and art.  The concept of truth began to acquire meaning in ancient Greece, as did freedom and knowledge.  The concept of moderation illustrated by the “Golden Mean” (whereby the whole is to the larger part as the larger part is to the smaller part, or (a+b)/a = a/b) and the design of ancient Greek buildings like the Parthenon using the Golden Mean in its dimensions were influential.  The Parthenon (built in 438 B.C. to honor the goddess Athena) is impressive.  It embodies the Golden Mean, which also  occurs in many living creatures and has fascinated mathematicians ever since; for those interested in math, the Fibonacci sequence is a manifestation of the golden mean.  A full-sized replica of the Parthenon sits in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Greeks are not known for being very practical, but they did invent some useful devices.  They are credited with inventing soap, the shower, central heating, the alarm clock (built by Plato to signal to his students that it is time to enter the Academy), the odometer, floating bridges, the lever, the anchor, bricks, the catapult and even chewing gum.

The Greeks are not known for being very practical, but they did invent some useful devices.  They are credited with inventing soap, the shower, central heating, the alarm clock (built by Plato to signal to his students that it is time to enter the Academy), the odometer, floating bridges, the lever, the anchor, bricks, the catapult and even chewing gum.

 

== Other Ancient Peoples ==

== Other Ancient Peoples ==