ALEXANDER AND THE HELLENISTIC ERA

The Greeks viewed their northern neighbors, the Macedonians, as barbarians since both their styles were very different. However, by the end of the fifth century B.CMacedonia emerged as a powerful kingdom. Soon Philip the second came to the throne, he had a big army and turned Macedonia into a new Greek world. He really liked Greek culture so he wanted to unite Greece under Macedonia but the Athenians got together with the other Greek States and fought the Macedonians at the Battle of Chaeronea in which the Macedonians won. Philip ended the freedom of Greek city-states and insisted that the states collaborate with him in a war against Persia, but before he could invade Asia he was assassinated leaving the hard work to his son Alexander. Alexander was 20 years old when he became king of Macedonia but Philip had prepared him his whole life for this kingship and so he was ready for the path and went on to invade the Persian empire. The Persian empire was weakened, but still considered a strong state in the spring of 334 B.C. Which is around the same time Alexander brought his army filled with both Macedonians and Greeks. Despite the circumstances, Alexander still managed to defeat half the Persian army at Issus. Which led him to turn south and eventually assume control of both Syria and Egypt. During that time he had built Alexandria as the greek capital of Egypt, which remains of tremendous significance to both the Syria and Mediterranean world today. In 331 B.C. Alexander gained control of the rest of the Persian empire. However, when Alexander returned to Babylon ready for more conquest he died before he could begin. This is said to have happened due to exhaustion from wounds, fever, and too much alcohol he was just 32 years old when he passed. Still, Alexander's extraordinary legacy remains widely popular today; his leadership and military created a lot of literature writing that was very admired, especially by Hellenistic leaders who spent tons of money promoting these writers create a lot of literature skills along with his many accomplishments are highly acknowledged through Greek language, architecture, literature, art, and religious diversity that is spread throughout several parts of Asia and North Africa. Alexander created a new time known as the Hellenistic Era, this era was clear proof of how transformed the classical civilization of Greece became. By unfortunate events, Alexander's empire began to fall apart after his death the four Hellenistic kingdoms that emerged as one, had eventually been conquered by the Romans. These kingdoms included Macedonia, Syria in the east, the kingdom of Pergamum in western Asia Minor, and Egypt. The Hellenistic era created a lot of literature and writing talent was very admired by Hellenistic writers who spent tons of money promoting these writers. Not only that, but Alexandria became a place for poets, writers, philosophers, scientists, and scholars of all kinds the library was the largest with more than 500,000 scrolls. There were new cities being built and old cities being rebuilt. Hellenistic Kings were not too shy about spending money to beautify the cities within their states. Math, science, and technology in the Hellenistic age grew considerably and Epicurus the founder of Epicureanism started a school in Athens at the end of the 4th century BC he strongly believed that human beings were free to follow their own self-interest and true happiness. Plus another school was stoicism; it became a really popular philosophy of the Hellenistic world and later flourished in the Roman empire as well. So discuss the show how many opportunities the Hellenistic age created after it was presented.