The Hellenistic World

(Originally written July 14, 2006 in Book 4)

The History of Western Philosophy
Bertrand Russell

Chapter 25: The Hellenistic World

The ancient Greek world can be divided into three periods:
1) City-States with freedom and disorder
2) Alexander Rule with subjection and disorder
3) Roman rule with subjection and order.

The Alexander ruling period is known as the Hellenistic age.

Alexander changed the world drastically in only ten years (334 - 324 BC) conquering Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, Babylonia, Persia, Samarkand, Bactria and Punjab.

Alexander established Greek cities everywhere he conquered and integrated Greek and local cultures.

Alexander's kingdom was divided into three parts after his death:
1) European part - Antigonus
2) African part - Ptolemy
3) Asian parts - Seleucus

Greek language became the tongue of nearly the whole known world.

The Renaissance Man of the old Greek city-states was replaced by specialists int he Hellenized world.

Revolution and fear reigned after Alexander's death.

Hellenized Greece received Babylonian Astrology in earnest, causing superstition to reign supreme.

Moral decay and intellectual regression marked the age.