HELLENISM: HISTORY, CHARACTERISTICS, PROMINENT PHILOSOPHERS - HISTORY - 2025

The Hellenism and Hellenistic period is a historical and cultural period from the death of Alexander the Great to the death of Cleopatra VII of Egypt. The final moment of the Hellenic period coincides with the definitive annexation of the Greek territories to the Roman Empire.

This stage has a certain cosmopolitan character due to the fact that Greek culture, already in a certain decline, permeated extensive regions. These areas coincided with territories that had been conquered by Alexander the Great.

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Despite the fact that this moment meant a certain decline in classical culture, there was an enormous cultural expansion of the Hellenic. This also implied a certain influx of oriental aspects towards the Greek.

History

To understand the Hellenistic period it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the territory that this culture covered. There are several factors that determined its appearance. The Greek city-states were in a kind of decline. This made it easier for the predominant Macedonian influence to be imposed by Alexander the Great.

His conquests included the ancient Persian Empire, the Median Empire, and the Greek territories themselves. The conquered areas reached in their prime to include from the Sri Daria River to Egypt and from the Indus River to the Danube.

The wide variety of cultures and kingdoms in this area made central government difficult. Alexander, in pursuit of governability, sought to incorporate the Persian ruling class into the Macedonian power structure. He also attempted communion between Macedonian, Persian and Greek cultures.

Struggles after the death of Alexander the Great

Alexander's untimely death at age 32 complicated governance problems. In this way, his generals (also called diádocos) assumed government tasks, because Alexander's children were too young to assume public functions.

This situation brought about wars between the different generals for the primacy of the government. Thus, for a period that lasted from 323 to 281 BC there was great war activity. In it the generals Seleuco, Ptolemy, Casandro, Antígono, Lisímaco and Perdicas faced.

Division

The fight between these generals produced the dismemberment of eastern areas of the empire. The fratricidal struggle between these groups only ended around the 3rd century BC when three main dynasties were imposed.

The territories of Greece and Macedonia were in the hands of the descendants of Antígono. The areas of Persia, Syria, Mesopotamia and Asia Minor remained for the descendants of Seleucus and the area comprised by Egypt, Sicily and Cyprus for those of Ptolemy.

Additionally, there were minor kingdoms that were apart from these centers of power. There were also two Greek city-state leagues that opposed these hegemonies: the Aetolian League and the Achaean League.

In short, towards the end of the second century there was the definitive annexation of these territories to Roman power. The weakness of these kingdoms as a result of constant wars ultimately led to Rome taking control.

characteristics

Monarchy

The political model that predominated was that of the monarchy. These were personalist and power was accessed by the warlike capacity of each caudillo. Because of this there was no clear sequence scheme.

The cult of the monarch's personality became common practice. Somehow these monarchs were deified. Despite this, some cities could have their own administrative scheme.

Expansion of Greek culture

On the other hand, the Greek culture had an enormous expansion through the vast territories of the Hellenic sign. However, Athens suffered a decrease in its commercial activity, which brought with it a certain disaster for the population.

Despite this, characteristic rituals such as the Dionysian festivals and the Eleusinian mysteries were maintained. Theatrical activity and theaters in general expanded.

Cultural enrichment

In Insular Greece there was a great flourishing of artistic and cultural manifestations. There were important schools of philosophy and teachers of rhetoric proliferated. Among these it is important to mention Aeschines, Eratosthenes, Euclid and Archimedes.

These cultural circumstances turned the Hellenic culture into a focus of attraction for inhabitants of other areas. Thus, many young Romans went to Greece to come into contact with such cultural refinement.

Architecture

Architecturally, the style of the porticoes was imposed, which exerted great influence later in the Roman Empire. The agora, for its part, assumed a very distinguished novel character. This was based on the layout in the form of right angles. Finally, the proliferation of gyms was another feature of that era.

Scientific advances

There were important scientific advances such as the measurement of the circumference of the earth by Eratosthenes

Among the most outstanding works are the Apollo of Belvedere, Diana the Huntress and the Venus de Milo. The Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of Alexandria are also from that time.

Featured philosophers

The rise of academies and philosophical schools in general brought with it the appearance of important individual figures. Traditional schools like Platonic endured in this period in the context of academia.

However, there was a kind of dismemberment in different philosophical tendencies. These encompassed the different areas of knowledge, at the same time that they allowed us to assume unique positions around existence.

Many of these philosophical schools had the character of sects. Among them it is important to mention the Stoic, Epicurean, Cynical and Skeptic schools.

Epicurus

Epicurus, who lived between 341 and 270 BC, was a fundamental figure who just founded the Epicurean school. She sought to find a way of life consistent with happiness.

Zeno of Citio

The Stoic school was created by Zeno de Citio, a character who lived between 335 and 263 BC. This school tried to take on the rigors of life with self-control.

Other thinkers who were part of this trend were Cleantes of Aso, Diogenes of Babylon, Panecio of Rhodes, and Posidonio of Apamea.

Without a doubt the contribution to the arts and philosophy in this period was very significant for human civilization. All this despite the fact that the political thing meant rather a regression.

References

1. Annas, JE (1994). Hellenistic Philosophy of Mind. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press.
2. Bagnall, R., & Derow, P. (2004). The Hellenistic Period: Historical Sources in Translation. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
3. Beazley, J., & Ashmole, B. (1932). Greek Sculpture and Painting: To the End of the Hellenistic Period. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
4. Long, A. (1986). Hellenistic Philosophy: Stoics, Epicureans, Sceptics. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press.
5. Powell, A. (1997). The Greek World. New York: Routledge.