hellenistic day one sp2014

History 321

Monday, January 27, 14

History 321

• Instructor: Isabelle Pafford• Office Hours Wednesdays 9-10 and 1-2.• On-line office hours Tuesdays and Sundays

from 7-8.• Office – I think I will be in Humanities 371• Email: [email protected]


Requirements

Attendance ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 10% Quizzes (2)! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 20%Translation Project ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 5% Essay One ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 10%Essay Two!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 10% Second Life Tour Assignment ! ! ! 10% Final Exam (Take Home Essays) ! 35%


Books - Required• R. Malcolm Errington: A History of the

Hellenistic World• M. M. Austin: The Hellenistic World from

Alexander to the Roman Conquest Second Ed.


Learning Goals

• The basic geography of the Hellenistic world• The political, social and religious features of

the Hellenistic kingdoms. • The basic chronology of events in the region

from 336 B.C.E. to 30 B.C.E.• The basic features of daily life, including the

ancient economy, and role of women in political and intellectual circles.


Take Roll• This Slide is to remind me to take roll.


Hellenistic HistoryAn Overview


404-371 B.C.• Classical - Pre-Hellenistic – Athens was

defeated by Sparta in the Peloponnesian war, but recovered.

• The Greeks, living in their city states (plural form of polis is poleis) continued to make alliances and fight each other.


The Battle of Lecutra

• Eventually, Sparta lost a major battle to the Thebans at Leuctra, and the balance of power was never the same.


360-336 B.C.

• In the north, tribal kingdoms, with Greek speaking rulers become more powerful.

• Macedon, under the leadership of Philip II campaigned in the south and conquered all of the other Greek city states, including Athens. He was getting ready for a campaign in Asia minor, against the Persians, when he was assassinated by other, disgruntled Macedonians.


336-323 B.C.

• Alexander, Philip’s son, took over his father’s campaign and conquered the Persians. He kept going until he had conquered half the known world, gaining territory as far east as the border of India. He then dropped dead at an inconvenient moment.


Death of Alexander

• The Hellenistic period begins from the death of Alexander because:

• His conquests led to the spread of Greek language and administrative customs far beyond mainland Greece.

• Political and social systems changed dramatically from this time.


Death of Alexander


323-276 B.C.

• The Successors (AKA the Diadochoi)• Alexander’s generals swore loyalty to his unborn

children and then proceed to fight each other and everyone else non-stop for about 50 years.

• All of them were ruthless and several survived through the whole period.

• Others died and were replaced by their sons, who were just as tough and ruthless. Their womenfolk could be rather formidable too.


276-229 B.C.

• The dust settles, leaving three major dynasties with their own areas of geographic dominance.

• The Ptolemies hold Egypt, • The Seleucids hold Syria • The Antigonids hold Macedonia and European Greece. • Other political entities at their borders play the three

major dynasties against each other, resulting in lots of fighting, bribery, excessively lavish spending, and the mixing up of all kinds of people, with differing religions and customs.


276-229 B.C.

• In the confusion, most people learn Greek, or acquire slaves and dependents who can speak Greek.

• This leads to “Hellenistic” culture showing up all over, as far east as Afghanistan, and as far west as southern France. We know a lot about social history, and are very confused about major events, geopolitics, and other aspects of traditional history.


229-146 B.C.

• Two western political entities (Rome and Carthage) come into conflict, and gradually drag the Hellenistic Kingdoms into their wars.

• Or, the weakening of the eastern powers creates opportunities for Rome and Carthage in the east – leading to the conflict between those two powers.


• Rome defeated Carthage, and somehow, just keeps going east, eventually took control of mainland Greece, and brought lots and lots of fantastic loot back to Rome.

• According to the Romans themselves, this led to moral decline.

• Did The Hellenistic Kingdoms contribute to their own decline?

• Or, was Resistance Futile……


Let’s Look at a Source….• Austin 265 - Decree of Itanos in Crete.• In Honor of Ptolemy III and his wife/

cousin Berenice II.


• With good fortune, Since King Ptolemy , having received the city of Itanos and its citizens from his father, King Ptolemy continues to benefit the citizens well and gloriously, and to preserve with goodwill their enjoyment of the same laws they had when he took them over.....

21


• resolved by the council and the assembly, the park next to the gate shall be consecrated as a sacred enclosure of King Ptolemy and Queen Berenice/ the sister and wife of King Ptolemy, the city shall offer a sacrifice every year ......

22


Squeeze


24


Stories.....

25


Berenice II• Born in Cyrene (North Africa) to King

Magas (Stepson of Ptolemy I). 267/266.• “Engaged” to Demetrius the Fair, an

Antigonid Prince.• Later married Ptolemy III and had six

children.

26


Berenike II• The Lock of Callimachus - Poem• Translated by the Latin poet Catullus• Coma Berenike - A constellation.

27


Berenike II• As a young girl, she took part in the

assassination of her betrothed, because he was sleeping with her mother.

• She was assassinated by her son, Ptolemy IV because he didn’t want her interfering with his government.

• He should have kept his mother and gotten rid of his advisors :-)

28


Sources for Benenike• Coins• Inscriptions• Fragments of Callimachus’ poem.• Catullus’ Latin translation of the poem.• Justin 26.3.

29


30


What is this Second Life….?


hellenistic day one sp2014

Documents

hellenistic history

hellenistic world

hellenistic kingdoms

hellenistic athens

hellenistic period

hellenistic culture

social history

greek city states