The Expansion of Greece
Research Topics
The World of Alexander
Why was the Hellenistic Age an Age of Anxiety? What happened when the world of the
polis could no longer sustain its citizens? What benefits did the
cosmopolis have to offer?
Between the world of Classical Greece and Republican Rome came the age of Alexander the Great -- the Hellenistic Age. It was an age full of transitions -- from the idealized world of the
polis to the reality of the world city, or cosmopolis. The Hellenistic Age appeared in sharp contrast to Hellenic or Classical Greece. Whereas the polis was the only place where the Greek citizen could find virtue, Alexander's conquests in the 4th century created a world in which different cultures were assimilated in order to create one homogenous culture.
- Justin, How Philip of Macedon Began His Reign
The 3rd century C. E. Roman historian Justin relates the confrontations Philip endured with his family and subjects of the Macedonian kingdom.
- Plutarch, How Demosthenes Became an Orator
A great Athenian orator, Demosthenes sought to preserve Athenian supremacy against the influence of both Philip II and Alexander the Great.
- Plutarch, The Youth of Alexander the Great
The youth of Alexander described by Plutarch, the great 1st century C. E. Greek historian, essayist, and biographer.
- Arrian, Alexander at the Battle of Gaugamela
Arrian describes the role of Alexander at the decisive battle of Gaugamela (331 B. C. E.) in which the Persian forces of Darius III were defeated.
- Arrian, Alexander and the Assimilation of the East
It was Alexander's goal to fuse the culture of East and West into one great society - the cosmopolis - and to do this he had to break down the barriers between Persian and Greek to create Hellenistic culture.
- Strabo, A Description of Alexandria
Strabo was a Greek historian and geographer and in this passage from his Geography he describes the Egyptian city of Alexandria, an urban center that combined the best features of the Hellenistic world.