The Hellenistic Period

ancient history · greek culture · alexander the great · empire

Massive Greek Spread. When Alexander the Great died in 323 BC, he had conquered so much land that Greek culture wasn't just in Greece anymore, it spread across Egypt, Persia, the Middle East, and beyond. Everywhere his armies went, Greek ideas, language, and ways of living took root.

Greek Influence Everywhere. The Hellenistic period means "Greek-like," and it describes all the lands that became influenced by Greek culture after Alexander's conquests. People in Egypt, Persia, and other distant places started using the Greek language and following Greek customs, even though they weren't originally Greek.

A 300-Year Era. The Hellenistic period lasted from 323 BC, when Alexander died, all the way to 30 BC, when the last great Greek kingdom fell to Rome. That's nearly 300 years of Greek culture dominating the ancient world.

Many Greek Kingdoms. After Alexander's death, his empire was split among his generals, creating several Greek kingdoms across Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, and other regions. These kingdoms kept Greek culture alive but were eventually conquered by the rising Roman Empire.

From Hellenic to Hellenistic. Hellenic refers to Greece itself, but Hellenistic means all the territories that became Greek in culture because of Alexander's conquests. It's the difference between Greek and Greek-influenced.