the Hellenistic World (c. 330-30 BC) Flashcards
Alexander the Great
Macedonian king (Philip’s son), who conquered the entire Persian Empire. Became king in 336 BC. first, he took control of the Greek poleis in mainland Greece and Asia Minor and after that he moved on to the Phoenician cities, Egypt and further East towards Guagamela and Indian areas. established many cities (a lot of Alexandrias too) but aims to make Babylon the center of the empire. Marries a Persian princess Roxanne in the Bactra region.
Darius III
r. 336-330 BC. he is alexander’s opponent in the wars. Darius is captured shortly after the battle of Gaugamela by a general who then assumes the Persian throne. He kills Darius. Alexander, however, kills the general later on.
battle of Issus
takes place in 333 BC. Alexander wins. first time when Darius and Alexander meet on the battlefield. Darius had a tactical advantage, but he took bad advice and lost it. He had to run off. The Greek mercenaries showed even more fierce resistance, most likely because of what happened in the battle of Granicus.
battle of Granicus
takes place in 334 BC. Alexander wins. the Greek mercenaries that fight with the Persians are all slaughtered and made an example. the Greek-born Persian general Memnon survives this encounter.
taking Egypt
Alexander marched there in 332 BC. no resistance was put up, as Egypt had just come out of a revolt. Alexander went to the oracle in Siwah. He also set the foundations to a future cultural center Alexandria.
Gaugamela
in 331 BC, Alexander marched to the heartlands of the Persian Empire. his military tactic is to confuse and frighten the Persian army. Here he wins, and takes possession over the gold and silver of Persians to pay his troops. Darius flees again, but his wife and daughter are left behind and Alexander takes them under his wing.
taking Babylon and Nineveh
almost no resistance. Alexander settles himself in Babylon and makes it a capital. He initiates the reconstruction of the famous temple. here he takes a break for himself and his troops and later continues to Susa and Persepolis.
battle of Hydaspes
last major battles against an Indian ruler. Alexander wins and because of his troops unwillingness to advance further he turns back after this.
Alexander as a Persian Emperor
alexander saw himself as the legitimate successor to the Persian kings. He tried to adopt the Persian court ceremonials but due to the resistance from the Greeks and Macedonians that was unsuccessful. however, he did adapt to local traditions. taxes were left to be collected like before his time and he even allowed several Persian satraps to retain their authority. he made sure his officers married Persian women. Macedonia was seen as the border area of the empire and Babylon was made the center.
Philip Arrhidaeus
Alexander’s brother who was appointed to the throne after the death of his brother as Alexander had no successors (his child was still unborn). he was killed in 317 BC.
Alexander IV
Alexander the Great’s son, who was recognized as the king in 317 BC, after Alexander’s brother died. however, the power actually rested upon generals of Macedonia. Killed in 310 BC.
Antigonus the One Eyed
assumed power in Asia. he got a title of the strategos of Asia. His main rivals were Seleucus and Ptolemy. Demetrius’ father. forced to give up his territories east of Euphrates after struggles between 311-308 BC. He was also defeated in Ipsus in 301 BC.
Seleucus
satrap of Babylonia who was forced to flee to Egypt and allied himself with Ptolemy. Moved back to Babylonia after the battle of Gaza in 311 BC and he proclaimed himself the strategos of Asia. founded Seleucia-on-Tigris and Antioch-on-the-Orontes.
Ptolemy
satrap of Egypt who allied with Seleucus.
Demetrius
Antigonus’ son. also fought against his father’s rivals. in 312 BC, he was defeated at the battle of Gaza.
wars of the diadochoi
wars of the successors. these were the conflicts after Alexander the Great’s death to see who would assume the throne. These wars also resulted in the dissolution of the empire that Alexander had built.
Ptolemaic kingdom
Egypt. founded by Ptolemy I (satrap from 323 BC and king in 305-283 BC). also controlled Cyrene, Cyprus, Palestine (until 200 BC) and some Greek Islands. flourished under Ptolemy I and II (282-246 BC). Home to a new cultural center of Alexandria. under the fist rulers the kingdom was well-organized and built on the pharaonic institutions. a lot of papyri survive from that period. empire weakened by dynastic struggles, the loss of Palestine and some enclaves in Syria (200 BC) and also by the growing unrest of the Egyptian population. In 30 BC, Egypt lost its independence to Romans.
Seleucid kingdom
Asia. founded by Seleucus I (satrap of Babylonia in 321-316 BC, strategos of Asia in 311-305 BC, king 305-281 BC.) After 200 BC took control over Palestine and had influence over northern and eastern parts of Asia Minor. largest of the Hellenistic kingdoms. it was a continuation of the Persian Empire under a Macedonian dynasty. division into satraps remained. Babylonia was the heartland. fragmentation was a constant issue as it was very big and diverse. it had an efficiently organized government and a powerful army. kingdom inevitably weakened when Mesopotamia fell in 141 BC to Parthians. in 64 BC became a province of Syria under Romans.
Antigonid kingdom
Macedonia. from 276 onwards ruled by Antigonus Gonatas (277/’76-239 BC). threatened by the Galatinas (celts) from the North, but most importantly, Romans
Pergamum kingdom
ruled by the Attalids in Asia Minor from early third century onwards.