Helenistic+Persian

CHART: CHARACTERISTICS OF A CIVILIZATION OR CULTURE

NAME: Maggie Hackney_ HELLENISTIC ERA-323-30 B.C.E NOTES: Greek rule was replaced by the Romans; the era represents a collision of two empires and two classical civilizations

· **Leaders, Elites** · **State Structure** · **War** · **Diplomacy, Treaties** · **Courts, Laws** || The Hellenistic Era began with Alexander the Great. He led a Greek expedition against the Persian empire and conquered them, ultimately expanding the Greek empire from Egypt and Anatolia to Afghanistan and India. His conquests led the dissemination of Greek culture. Cities complete with Greek councils and assemblies attracted Greek settlers who served as state officials, soldiers or traders. Greek cities were part of large conquest states ruled by Greeks: Ptolemaic empire and the Seleucid empire. || · **Type of System** · **Technology, Industry** · **Trade, Commerce** · **Capital/Money** · **Types of Businesses** || Ptolemaic empire (Egypt) and the Seleucid empire (Persia) were imperial states, both determined to keep order, raise taxes, and maintain the authority of the monarch. Egypt had legal systems to keep the Greeks and native Egyptians separate || · **Holy Books** · **Beliefs, Teachings** · **Conversion** · **Sin/Salvation** · **Deities** || Greek rulers patronized the building of temples to local gods and they supported their priests In Bactria many Greeks converted to Buddhism || · **Family** · **Gender Relations** · **Social Classes** · **Inequalities** · **Life Styles** || Culture spread rapidly due to cities containing Greek monuments, theaters and markets, and Greek councils and assemblies. Simplified form of the Greek language spread from the Mediterranean to India. In Alexandria Egypt a harbor with space for 1,200 ships made for long distance commerce. The Macedonians and the Greeks were known as the elite and sought to keep themselves separate Native people gained the ability to become a Greek citizen by getting an education, speaking the language, dressing appropriately and assuming a Greek name. However in India, Greeks were assimilated into the caste system as members of Kstriya (warrior) caste || · **Art, Music** · **Writing, Literature** · **Philosophy** · **Math & Science** · **Education** || School of Buddhist art depicted the Buddha in human form for the first time A museum sponsoring scholars and writers of all kinds and a Alexandrian library consisting of 700,000 volumes helped learning to flourish || · **Location** · **Physical** · **Movement** · **Human/Environment** · **Region** || Culture spread to Egypt, Mesopotamia, and India An independent Greek state was established in Bactria. Alexandria in Egypt-largest city; cosmopolitan center Harbor with room for 1,200 ships eased long distance commerce ||
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