Session 10 - Lecture Alexander the Great and Hellenism 1. Hellenism: The Greeks called themselves Hellens. However, it was the blending of Greek culture with Eastern thought that caused Hellenism to develop. 2. Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.) Alexander Alexander was the son of Philip of Macedon. At the death of his father he became king of Macedon at the age of 20. Alexander shared his father's desire in leading a united Greek army against the Persian Empire. In 334 B. C. Alexander took his troops into Asia Minor with the immediate aim of liberating the Greek city-states under Persian rule. Alexander was able to defeat the Persian forces led by Darius III in two battles between 334 and 333: the battle of Granicus in 334 and the battle of Issus in 333.
Alexander the Great and Persian King Darius, Battle of the Issus River With the Persians in retreat to Babylon, Alexander turned south through Syria and Palestine. In light of the success of Alexander, Syria, Palestine, and Egypt accepted the rule of the Greek leader. Two cities that refused to surrender control were Tyre and Gaza. Both cities were trade and sea faring rivals with the Greeks. They did not want to surrender control to Alexander for fear of losing their economic base. Tyre was captured after a seven month siege and Gaza fell after two months.â Moving eastward, Alexander again met the Persians at the battle of Gaugamela in 331. He was able to defeat Darius decisively and became the master of the Persian Empire. From 331 to 323 B. C. Alexander and his army campaigned eastward to the Indus Valley until his army mutinied. Alexander died in Babylon in 323 B. C. at the age of 33. Click map to see a larger image
3. The Division of Alexander's Empire The unexpected death of Alexander in 323 created a crisis. Alexander did not leave a viable heir to his throne. With no real heir to the throne Alexander's advisors formed a governing council and divided the empire among themselves. These men are known as Diadochi or "successors." Click map to see a larger image a) The empire was divided four ways. For our purposes, we will discuss the three significant players. Egypt was controlled by the general Ptolemy. Syria and Mesopotamia was controlled by another general Seleucus. Asia Minor was controlled by Antigonus and his son Demetrius. b)these three leaders of the newly divided empire quickly began to fight each other for control of the empire. Antigonus attacked Ptolemy I and forced Seleucus to abandon Babylon. Ptolemy and Seleucus joined forces and defeated Antigonus at the Battle of Ipsus in 312 B. C. The two remaining leaders quickly divided up the spoils. Ptolemy ruled over Egypt, Phoenicia, and Palestine. The Seleucid Dynasty controlled Syria and Babylon.
Ptolemy I Soter Seleucus I 4. Ptolemaic Rule in Palestine (301-200 B.C.) The Ptolemy s controlled Palestine from 301 B.C. to 200 B.C. The chief concern of the Ptolemies for Palestine was tax revenue and a military buffer zone. Click map to see a larger image a) Rulers Ptolemy I Soter (323 285 B.C.) Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285 246 B.C.) Ptolemy III Euregetes (246 221 B.C.)
Ptolemy IV Philopator (221 203 B.C.) Ptolemy V Epiphanes (203 181 B.C.) Ptolemy VI Philometor (181 146 B.C.) b) Policies Strictly controlled commerce, finance, and agriculture Land was under state control Certain industries were under state control Taxes were heavy Judea treated as a temple state, that is the land was dedicated to a particular god. The high priest of Jerusalem functioned as the religious and civil authority of the Jewish people. 5. Seleucid Rule in Palestine (200-167 B.C.) Between 274 B.C. and 200 B.C. the Ptolemies and the Seleucids fought five wars over control of southern Syria. After the fifth war (202 â 200 B.C.) the Ptolemies lost control of Palestine to the Seleucids. a) Rulers Seleucus I (312 280 B.C.) Antiochus I (280 261 B.C.) Antiochus II (261 246 B.C.) Seleucus II (246 223 B.C.) Antiochus III ( 223 187 B.C.) Seleucus IV (187 175 B.C.) Antiochus IV (175 163 B.C.)
b) Policies Pushed the adoption of Greek practices and ideas Less bureaucratic Less centralized Reduced tax burden c) Antiochus III (223-187 B.C.) Antiochus III expanded and consolidated his empire revived the Seleucid Dynasty after four indecisive wars with the Ptolemaic empire, Antiochus won the fifth war and took control of Palestine in 200 B.C. tried to expand westward into Greece and found the Romans. He fought a war with Rome and lost. His westward expansion was curtailed and he faced financial disaster and diminished power. died looting a temple in his eastern provinces in order to secure money to pay his debts d) Antiochus IV (175-163 B.C.) Antiochus IV Followed his father Antiochus III and brother Seleucus IV on the throne.â He wanted to restore the glory of the Seleucid Empire.
He initiated an aggressive policy of Hellenism in order to unify his kingdom and to prepare for an invasion of Egypt attacked Egypt and was on the verge of success, but was stopped by Romans in order to secure his border with Egypt, he forced Hellenism onto the Jews. This will lead to rebellion.