The Hellenistic period (4th - 1st c. BC), if the figures of Alexander the Great and Cleopatra are excluded, is relatively less known. It's often considered a period of transition, sometimes even of decline or decadence, between the brilliance of the Greek Classical Era and the strength of the Roman Empire. However, the splendor of cities, such as Alexandria, Antioch, Pergamon, the importance of foreign trade, cultural exchanges, and the dominant role of Greek and its diffusion profoundly affected the face of the ancient Middle East later under Roman dominion. Alexander the Great (Greek: ,[1] Megas Alexandros; July 356 BC–June 11, 323 BC), also known as Alexander III, king of Macedon (336–323 BC), was one of the most successful military commanders in history. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... This article describes the ancient classical period: for the classical period in music (second half of the 18th century): see Classical music era. ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... Alexandria Modern Alexandria. ... Antioch on the Orontes (Greek: Αντιόχεια η επί Δάφνη, Αντιόχεια η επί Ορόντου or Αντιόχεια η Μεγάλη; Latin: Antiochia ad Orontem, also Antiochia dei Siri), the Great Antioch or Syrian Antioch was an ancient city located on the eastern side (left bank) of the Orontes River about 30 km from the sea and its port, Seleucia Pieria. ... Acropolis of Pergamon as seen from above Sketched reconstruction of ancient Pergamon Temple of Trajan at the Acropolis of Pergamon The Asklepeion of Pergamon was the worlds first hospital Pergamon or Pergamum (Greek: Πέργαμος, modern day Bergama in Turkey, ) was an ancient Greek city, in Mysia, northwestern Anatolia, 16 miles... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ...

The Hellenistic era was defined by 19th century historians (the term "hellenistic" was first used by the German Historian Johann Gustav Droysen in Geschichte des Hellenismus in 1836 and 1843) as part of a linguistic and cultural criterion for the spectacular increase in the areas where Greek (ἑλληνίζειν / hellênízein) was spoken, and therefore a term for the phenomenal expansion of Hellenism. However, according to Paul Veyne, the phenomena of Hellenization of large regions and of the meeting of ancient Eastern and Western civilizations continued under the "Greco-Roman Empire." The chronological limits of the Hellenistic period are therefore conventional and political: the era begins with the conquests of Alexander the Great and ends when the suicide of the last great Hellenistic ruler, Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt, lead to the Roman conquest of Egypt. Johann Gustav Droysen (July 6, 1808 - June 10, 1884), was a German historian. ... October 2, Charles Darwin returns from his voyage around the world. ... 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Alexander the Great (Greek: ,[1] Megas Alexandros; July 356 BC–June 11, 323 BC), also known as Alexander III, king of Macedon (336–323 BC), was one of the most successful military commanders in history. ... Cleopatra was a co-ruler of Egypt with her father (Ptolemy XII Auletes), her brothers/husbands Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV, consummated a liaison with Gaius Julius Caesar that solidified her grip on the throne, and, after Caesars assassination, aligned with Mark Antony, with whom she produced twins. ...

Recent archaeological and historical work has lead to a reevaluation of the period, especially two specific aspects of it: the existence and stature of great kingdoms lead by dynasties of Greek origin (Ptolemaic, Seleucid, Antigonid, Attalid, etc.) and the role of hundreds of cities whose importance, contrary to a long pervasive idea, was far from declining. cleopatra ruled seneca for 10 years before she ruled Egypt. ... The Seleucid Empire was a Hellenistic successor state of Alexander the Greats dominion. ... The Antigonid dynasty was a dynasty of Macedonian kings descended from Alexander the Greats general Antigonus I Monophthalmus (the One-eyed). Antigonus himself ruled mostly over Asia Minor and northern Syria. ... The Attalid dynasty was a Greek dynasty that ruled the city of Pergamon after the death of Lysimachus, a general of Alexander the Great. ...

[edit] The conquests of Alexander

Main article: Alexander the Great

King of Macedon at 20 years old, master of Greece two years later, Alexander the Great then began his brief reign — barely 13 years between 336 and 323 BC — the quickest and most spectacular conquest of Antiquity. A kingdom that was all in all average, associated with a few Greek cities, was able to defeat the greatest empire of the time period, the Persian Empire of Darius III. The Achaemenid dynasty was conquered in four years (334-330) and in three battles, those of the Granicus, Issus, and Gaugamela. The following three years, until 328, were devoted to the slow and difficult conquest of the Satraps in Central Asia and subsequently, until 325 to assuring the Macedonian domination of parts of northwest India. It was there that Alexander, under pressure of depleted troops, was forced to stop pursuing his expansion and returned to what had become the heart of his empire, Mesopotamia. Alexander the Great (Greek: ,[1] Megas Alexandros; July 356 BC–June 11, 323 BC), also known as Alexander III, king of Macedon (336–323 BC), was one of the most successful military commanders in history. ... Macedons regions and towns Macedon or Macedonia (from Greek ; see also List of traditional Greek place names) was the name of an ancient kingdom in the northern-most part of ancient Greece, bordering the kingdom of Epirus on the west and the region of Thrace to the east. ... Alexander the Great (Greek: ,[1] Megas Alexandros; July 356 BC–June 11, 323 BC), also known as Alexander III, king of Macedon (336–323 BC), was one of the most successful military commanders in history. ... Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, which begins roughly with the earliest-recorded Greek poetry of Homer (7th century BC), and continues through the rise of Christianity and the fall of the Western Roman Empire (5th century AD... A polis (πόλις, pronunciation pol-is) — plural: poleis (πόλεις) — is a city, or a city-state. ... The Persian Empire was a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau (Irān - Land of the Aryans[1]) and beyond. ... Darius III or Codomannus (c. ... The Persepolis Ruins The Achaemenid dynasty (Old Persian:Hakamanishiya, Persian: هخامنشیان) - was a dynasty in the ancient Persian Empire. ... For the novel by Thomas M. Disch see 334 (novel). ... Events May 11 - Constantine I refounds Byzantium, renames it New Rome, and moves the capital of the Roman Empire there from Rome. ... Combatants Macedon Greek allies Persia Greek mercenaries Commanders Alexander the Great Parmenion Clitus the Black Spithridates Mithridates Memnon of Rhodes Strength 5,000 cavalry 30,000 infantry 15,000 cavalry 12,000 Persian infantry 5,000 Greek mercenaries Casualties About 150 4,000 killed 2,000 captured The Battle of... Combatants Macedon other Greek allies Persia Commanders Alexander the Great Darius III Strength 5,000 cavalry 26,000 infantry 12,000 cavalry 80,000 Persian infantry 10,000 Immortals 10,000 Greek mercenaries Casualties Nearly 500 10,000 in actual battle, Many more in the rout The Battle of Issus... Combatants Macedon other Greek allies Persia Commanders Alexander the Great Darius III Strength 50,000 infantry 7,000 cavalry (according to Arrian) 250,000 Persian infantry, 35,000 cavalry 200 scythed chariots war elephants (according to Curtius) Some historians claim the entire army was under 100,000 men Casualties 3... Events May 9: Athanasius is elected bishop of Alexandria Births Valens, Roman Emperor Wong Tai Sin Deaths April 17: Alexander I, Patriarch of Alexandria Categories: 328 ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... Events May 20 - First Council of Nicaea - first Ecumenical Council of the Christian Church: The Nicene Creed is formulated, the date of Easter is discussed. ... Mesopotamia refers to the region now occupied by modern Iraq, eastern Syria, southeastern Turkey, and Southwest Iran. ...

In order to ensure the longevity of his power, he entrusted the ruling class of the former Achaemenid Empire with filling the administrative skeleton of his kingdom. He further attempted to create a monarchy bearing both a heritage that was in part Macedonian and Greek but also Persian and, more generally, Asiatic. The brutal death of the king, probably due to illness, at only 33 ended this original attempt, which had been acutely contested by his Macedonian entourage. For other uses of this term see: Persia (disambiguation) The Persian Empire is the name used to refer to a number of historic dynasties that have ruled the country of Persia (Iran). ...

[edit] See also

• Hellenistic civilization
• Hellenistic Greece
• Alexander the Greatszddasd *Hellenistic art