8.4 Hellenistic Culture

Greece and Rome

New Greek cities grew throughout southwest Asia and Egypt. Greek philosophers, scientists, poets, and writers settled in these new lands, extending Greek cultural influence.

The four kingdoms that came out of Alexander's empire were bound together by their Hellenistic qualities. However, this did not keep them from fighting among themselves.

Rome was a growing city-state in Italy in the late 200s B.C.

Threat to Freedom

The Greek city-states knew Rome was a threat to their freedom.

They tried to stop Rome's growing powers, but failed.

The Greeks even helped Rome's enemies in various wars in the region. However, the Romans could not be stopped.

Little by little, Rome conquered Greek city-states and eventually took control of the entire Greek mainland.

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Bibliography

Hellenistic Culture

Science and Mathematics

Buildings and Statues

Major advances in science and mathematics continued in the Hellenistic Era.

Erastosthenes

Aristarchus

Greek architects played an important role in building new cities and rebuilding old ones.

Kings and wealthy Greeks hired sculptors to make statues for the towns and cities.

A scientist name Aristarchus claimed that the sun was the center of the universe and that the Earth circled it.

At the time, early astronomers believed that the Earth was at the center of the universe.

• A remarkable librarian who concluded that the earth was round; used geometry to measure the Earth's circumference.

• Also attempted to determine the distances between the Earth, Sun, and Moon.

Euclid

Archimedes

• Made advances in mathematics.
• Wrote Elements, a book about plane geometry -- points, lines, angles, and surfaces related to one another.
• His theorems are still taught in geometry classes today.

• Most famous scientist of the Hellenistic Era
• Worked on solid geometry -- the study of spheres and cylinders.
• Calculated the value of pi -- used to measure the area of a circle.
• Also invented machinery and weapons of war (catapults).

Hellenistic Writers

Thinkers and Scientists

Athens also continued to support Greek philosophers. These thinks tried to find answers to questions such as "What is a good life?"

Talented writers produced a large amount of literature with the support of the Hellenistic kings.

One epic poem, called Argonautica, written by Apollonius of Rhodes, tells the story off a hero named Jason and his band of adventurers (Argonauts) who sailed the seas looking for a golden fleece.

The Stoics

Epicurus

Zeno developed the philosophy called Stoicism. The Stoics believed that people who followed their emotions would live unhappy lives. They believed that people should live by reason and that sound thinking should guide decisions.

Epicurus taught his students that happiness was the most important thing. He believed that avoiding pain would bring happiness, and spending time with friends would create pleasure.

Today, the word epicurean means the love of physical pleasures, such as good food or comfortable surroundings.