Alexander’s Conquests

• Lead him Further East: – More interested in expanding the Empire than ruling it – Crosses the Indus River and defeats the Persians

• Why is expansion East so important?

Alexander’s Legacy• United Greece

– After his death, empire fell apart• Divided into 3 kingdoms

– Macedon, Egypt, & Syria

• Hellenism: Spread into Asia– Greek culture blended with Egyptian, Persian, & Indian

influences• Alexander spread Greek technology and ideas throughout his

empire

– He brought to the Persians the Greek way of life• cities were placed on trade routes: goods b/w East & West

The Roman Coliseum has a strong Hellenistic influence.

What buildings in the USA have a Hellenistic influence?

Lincoln Memorial

BBC - Schools - Ancient Greece Theatre

GREEK CULTURE

Phidias’ AcropolisPhidias’ Acropolis

The Acropolis TodayThe Acropolis Today

Classical Architecture

Types of Columns…Doric Columns of the

Parthenon

Ionic columns Corinthian-style

Classical Greek Art

Balance, symmetry, harmony

Showing the proportionate human form was of importance.

Most famous sculptor: Phidias

Greek Drama

Theatre

Hellenism

The East Meets The West

Alexandria, Egypt• Center of all Hellenistic culture.

– Thriving commerce– Mixture of eastern/western cultures

melded

Hellenistic Science & Tech

• Astronomy: Aristarchus v. Ptolemy– Aristarchus = sun is 300x larger than

Earth & heliocentric theory– Ptolemy = geocentric theory

– Eratosthenes = circumference of earth is between 28-29,000 mi. Actual circumference is 24,860!

Hellenistic Mathematics

• Geometry: Euclid– The Elements– Theorems/postulates are unchanged today!

• Physics: Archimedes– 3.14…..... Importance? – Law of the lever– Compound pulley

Hellenistic Art• Qualities: Display emotion & action

– Meant to commemorate heroes, honor gods.

– Ordinary people served as inspiration too

vs.

Hellenistic Art

Hellenistic Art

Hellenistic Art Cont’d

vs.

Classical or Hellenistic?