Hellenism

The story so far: During the Archaic and Classical periods, Greece – Hellas – consisted of many small, self governing city-states. The Macedonian king Philip II defeated many of these, and united them in a military league. When Philip later died, his son Alexander The Great conquered large areas around Hellas. Mostly thanks to the league’s army. Now it’s the year 323 Before Common Era, and Alexander dies.

But he has no heir. Who will take over this great empire? [Ptolemy] I will! [Seleucus] No I! [Antigonus] Forget it, I will! These are some of Alexander’s closest generals: Ptolemy, Seleucus and Antigonus the one-eyed. They each believe that they are entitled to take over. So they split the empire.

Like this. Eh, well, it’s not done as easily as that. The generals fight each other, and there are also others who want to seize power. Eventually, around 275 BCE the Greek - or the Hellenic - world looks like this. The empires are named after the rulers’ families.

The Ptolemaic Empire, the Seleucid Empire, and the Antigonid Empire. The Hellenes within these empires bring their customs, their art, their gods - the Hellenic culture. But the people of these areas already have their own cultures. When the Hellenic culture blends with them, the mixture is called Hellenism – and the time after Alexander’s death the Hellenistic period. This continues to the year 31 BCE.

One thing that in turn influences the Hellenes is that in Persia, and in Egypt, the kings have been worshipped as gods. The Ptolemaics and the Seleucids like this idea! They very much want to seem divine. Also the Ptolemaics call themselves Pharaohs, just like the earlier rulers of Egypt. But how do the Hellenes understand each other in the Hellenistic world?

It’s a long way from Asia to Egypt, or Macedonia. Do they speak the same language? Yes, when the Greeks move into the new areas they bring their language; a Greek language based on the dialect spoken in Athens at this time: Koine Greek. Earlier during Alexander’s reign these areas belonged to the Macedonian Kingdom. What does Macedonia look like now?

It’s ruled by Antigonos’ family - the Antigonids. Macedonia is still a powerful military state, but much smaller. How about the city-states then? Athens, Sparta, and so on? They are no longer so important politically.

And militarily, none of them have the means to stand up to these larger empires. They each must form a union with one of the empires, or be conquered. The Hellenistic empires war against each other, so the borders, and the countries’ names change continuously. New empires arise and others disappear. The one that lasts longest is the Ptolemaic empire in Egypt.

Meanwhile another power has arisen in the Mediterranean area: The Roman Empire. The Ptolemaic queen, Cleopatra realises that it would be a good thing to form close ties to the Romans. She forms alliances with two Roman leaders: Julius Caesar and Marcus Antonius. At this time, children are important in political power games, since they are able to inherit power from their father. Cleopatra first has a child with Julius Caesar and then later with Marcus Antonius.

But Marcus Antonius has an enemy: Octavianus - Caesar’s adopted son. These two are at war over the Roman Empire. So it really irritates Octavianus that Marcus Antonius has become stepfather to Caesar’s son with Cleopatra. Octavianus attacks Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra in a naval battle. Octavianus wins, and seizes Egypt from Cleopatra - who commits suicide.

Later, Octavianus changes his name to Augustus and proclaims himself emperor - Caesar. But that’s another story because now, when Cleopatra and her Ptolemaic empire have come to an end, so has the Hellenistic period come to an end.