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Hellenistic Greece Facts

Hellenistic Greece Facts
Chronologically speaking, Hellenistic Greece refers to the period in ancient Greek history from the fourth century BC until the Roman conquered Greece in 146 BC. Some scholars specifically place the beginning of the Hellenistic Period when Philip II of Macedon (ruled 359-336 BC) conquered the Greek city-states in 338 BC, while others place the beginning with either the reign of Alexander III (Alexander the Great) (ruled 336-323 BC) or just after his death. Hellenistic Greece was also part of the larger "Hellenistic Period" of world history, when a number of Greek speaking Macedonian generals who served under Alexander started new dynasties and kingdoms in the eastern Mediterranean and the Near East. In terms of art, the Hellenistic statuary style was more ornate, detailed, and expressive, while in architecture it was grander. Politically, Hellenistic Greece, and the Hellenistic Period in general, was a time when the Macedonians came to rule Greece, subordinating the traditional Greek city-states to their will. The period before Hellenistic Greece is often called the "Classical Period" or "Classical Greece."
Interesting Hellenistic Greece Facts:
Alexander died in Babylon, probably from a fever caused by earlier battle wounds, at the age of thirty-two.
When Alexander died, his only heir was Alexander IV, with a Bactrian woman named Roxanne, so many of the Macedonians believed he was illegitimate.
Alexander's conquests were quickly divided among his generals, whom became known as the Diadochi.
Ptolemy received Egypt, Seleucus eventually took Mesopotamia, Lysimachus got Thrace, and Antipater (400-319 BC) got Macedon and Greece.
Cassander (ruled 305-297 BC) ruled Macedon and Greece after his father Antipater, but was unable to establish a dynasty.
Another Diadochi named Antigonus (ruled 306-301 BC) was given rule over much of Asia Minor (modern Turkey).
Antigonus son, Demetrius I (294-287 BC), conquered Macedon and Greece and established the dynasty that ruled Hellenistic Greece until the Romans arrived.
Demetrius I's dynasty is known as the Antigonid Dynasty
Portraiture became common in Hellenistic Period sculpture and provided a template for later Roman sculpture
A Macedonian dynasty known as the Attalids came to rule the Asia Minor city of Pergamon in the third and second centuries BC. The art and architecture of Pergamon is considered some of the best from the Hellenistic Period.
Demetrius I was known by the epithet "Poliorcetes," which is translated as "city besieger." He became known for this because he besieged Athens among other Greeks cities to attain and keep the kingship of Macedonia and Greece.
The Achaean League was the primary political and military league of the city-states in the Peloponnese region of Greece during the Hellenistic Period. The Achaean League was usually led by Corinth.
The Second Macedonian War (200-197 BC) pitted Rome against Macedon. Although the Macedonians had the support of many Greeks, others such as the Athenians favored the Romans.
Perseus (ruled 179-168 BC) was the last Antigonid ruler of Hellenistic Greece and the last native Greece to rule the land until the Byzantine Empire.


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