Page 111 - Western Civilization A Brief History, Volume I To 1715 9th - Jackson J. Spielvogel

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The Hellenistic World
Roman statuette of Alexander the Great wearing a helmet
CHAPTER OUTLINE
AND FOCUS QUESTIONS
Macedonia and the Conquests of Alexander
Q How was Alexander able to amass his empire, and what might his rule have been like if he had lived longer?
The World of the Hellenistic Kingdoms
Q What were the main features of the political and military organization of the Hellenistic kingdoms, and how did the new political systems differ from those of the Greek city-states? What were the main social developments in the Hellenistic world?
Culture in the Hellenistic World
Q What achievements in literature, art, science, and philosophy occurred during the Hellenistic period?
Religion in the Hellenistic World
Q Which religions were prominent during the Hellenistic period, and what does their popularity suggest about Hellenistic society?
IN 334 B.C.E., ALEXANDER THE GREAT led an army of Greeks and Macedonians into western Asia to launch his attack on the Persian Empire. Years of campaigning resulted in the complete defeat of the Persians, and in 327 B.C.E., Alexander and his troops pushed east into India. But two more years of fighting in an exotic and difficult terrain exhausted his troops, who rebelled and refused to go on. Reluctantly, Alexander turned back, leading his men across the arid lands of southern Persia. Conditions in the desert were appalling; the blazing sun and lack of water led to thousands of deaths. At one point, when a group of his soldiers found a little water, they scooped it up in a helmet and gave it to Alexander. Then,
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CRITICAL THINKING
Q How was the Hellenistic period different from the Greek Classical Age?
CONNECTIONS TO TODAY
Q What role would a military leader like Alexander play in a military system today?
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Louvre (Bulloz), Paris//a RMN-Grand Palais/Art Resource, NY