Hellenism Flashcards
1
Q
What is Hellenism?
A
- System of states resulting from the conquests of Alexander
- Local population was governed by a Greco-Macedonian elite
- Synthesis of Greek and Eastern culture resulting from spread of Greek system of gov’t and education
- Droysen definition
- Droysen
- didn’t see it as ‘degeneration’ of pure Greek culture
- saw it as new, developed, mixed culture
2
Q
Hellenism
A
- Term used for historical period between death of Alexander and the end of the Kingdom of Egypt
- Kingdom of Alexander 323BC = massive
“Hellenizein” -> speaking Greek & adopting Greek customs
3
Q
“Hellenistai vs. Hebraioi”
A
In the primitive Christian community of Jerusalem:
-Hellenists refers to the Jews who spoke Greek as their normal language, as opposed to the Hebrews who spoke Aramaic
4
Q
Attitudes in Hellenistic Period
A
- People critical
- Considered inferior to the Classical period
- Decadence of culture
- Loss of ancient freedom of Greek cities
5
Q
Hellenistic society
A
- Need for Greek soldiers, administrators, etc. encouraged emigration from old Greek world
- Greeks and Macedonians were a minority in concentrated cities (10% of pop’n)
- ‘Multicultural’ and ‘multiethnic’ nature of Hellenism was a defining concept
- Cannot look at Hellenism through modern lens of ‘nation’ and ‘ethnicity’, need to understand ancient concepts of ‘being Greek’
6
Q
Greeks and non-Greeks in the Mediterranean Basin
A
- Greek culture not in a vacuum- always had interactions and exchanges with others
- Scarce resources in Greece had them frequently traveling, establishing new cities, colonies, etc.
7
Q
Identities
A
- Family identity = oikos
- Civic identity = polis
- Regional identity ex. Cretan, Achaean
- Subhellenic identity ex. Dorian, Ionian
- Ethnic identity = the Hellenes
8
Q
Constructing Identities
A
- Aggregative: genealogical ties – common mythical ancestors
- Oppositional: stress differences between self and others (Greeks vs. Non-Greeks)
9
Q
Persian wars “National identity and changing attitudes
A
‘barbaros’- rare word in Archaic period, used a lot after Persian wars
- Period brought Greece together against a common enemy
- Greece tied by kinship, blood and speech - After 5th C BC, Persians shown as worthy opponent
10
Q
Aescheylus, The Persians
A
made 472 BC 3 main flaws in barbarians vs. Greeks 1. hierarchical society and political structure 2. Immoderate luxury 3. Unrestrained emotions Greeks: 1. Egalitarian 2. Modest lifestyle 3. Self-control
11
Q
Greek customs, foreign customs – from relativism to natural rules
A
- customs that are relative to that communities beliefs/ideals
- Natural rules- notion of a moral code (right, wrong) inherent in nature of all mankind
12
Q
Hellenistic ‘cosmopolitanism’
A
- After Alexander’s conquest of the Persian empire, the opposition between Greeks and Barbarians = less relevant.
- The Hellenistic states= large and composite multiethnic entities, inclusive and flexible attitude
- The concept of ‘race’ with the related theories of ‘racism’ is modern.
- Physical differences between human groups were rarely highlighted and never considered relevant.
- The concept of ‘being Greek’ was primarily based on cultural practices= anyone can adapt
- Prejudice and tensions did happen, but very seldom there was serious conflict
- Class divisions mattered much more than ‘ethnicity’
13
Q
Early Hellenistic Historians
A
- Douris of Samos: history of Macedonia from 370 to 281 BC
- Hieronymus of Cardia: from 323 to 272 BC
- Phylarchos: 272- 220/19 BC
- Timaios of Tauromenion: early Hellenistic historian working in Athens, who was especially interested in the history of the Western Greeks
‘fragments’ survive
14
Q
Late Hellenistic Historians
A
- Polybios of Megalopolis: formerly a high-ranking official of the Achaean League, in 167-150 BCE was deported to Rome
- Poseidonios of Apameia (Syria), ca. 135-51 BCE Stoic philosopher, scientist, and historian
15
Q
Later Writers
A
- Diodoros of Sicily and Pompeius Trogus wrote ‘universal histories’, i.e. histories of the Mediterranean world until what they perceived as the beginning of a new phase that was completely ‘Roman’ (60 BC for Diodorus, the age of Augustus for Trogus)
- Appian, an Alexandrian Greek of the 2nd c. AD, wrote a history of the Roman conquests
