➔ The Hellenistic period began in 323 BCE, with the death of Alexander the Great. This was because many of the dominant scholars and writers of the period were born in Athens, though we do have sources from other Greek city-states. And comedy, notably those by Aristophanes, lacked the politeness and subtlety of other genres. Kathy from The beautiful Napa Valley, California on July 01, 2011: Southern Muse. Hellenistic Culture The influence of Greek language, philosophy and culture on Jews and early Christians. ➔ Literature in the Hellenistic period revolutionized with comedy becoming more akin to drama, and this was evident through the works of Menander. Mithraism, another monotheistic religion, also arose in the this time period, with the god Mithra having been born on December 24 and holding Sunday as a sacred day. The Hellenic Period occurs after what is known as the Archaic Period, the formative period of Ancient Greece from the 8th century BCE (700's BCE) to 510 BCE. At the centre of these religions were complex systems governing the interrelationships between gods and humans, individuals and the state, and living people and their ancestors. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. I enjoyed this greatly. ... about 1600-1300 ) to the present Modern Greek. Unlike the Hellenic period, very few individual philosophers existed independent of these schools of thought. I aim to focus only on the differences before and after Alexander the Great, especially concerning the arts and sciences, as a means of introducing newcomers to the topic as well as showcasing information that you don't typically find in textbooks. Amazingly easy to read and full of comparisons, details, etc. The major philosophical groups of this period include the Cynics, Epicureans, Stoics, and Skeptics. to the death of Cleopatra and the incorporation of Egypt in the Roman Empire in 30 B.C.E. Hellenic vs Hellenistic Greece (example comparisons) Philosophy studies. The Hellenistic period ended when the Romans came to town. In some fields Hellenistic culture thrived, particularly in its preservation of the past. Prezi’s Big Ideas 2021: Expert advice for the new year; Dec. 15, 2020. This Historyplex article states a comparison of Hellenic and Hellenistic Greek periods to understand the same. These twelve primary deities in the Greek pantheon were Zeus, the sky god and father of the gods, his sacred objects were the ox and the oak tree. Just give me more detail about Ancient Greece. The art and literature of the era were transformed accordingly. Every deity had a particular cult worship and sacred place with a sacrificial alter. The sciences of geometry and physiology, along with Archimedes’ principle of specific gravity are a few of the achievements of the period. Athena, the patron goddess of Athens, is typically portrayed in full armor along with her auspices (a goat skin with a snaky fringe), helmet, and spear, she is also the patroness of weaving and carpentry. Apollo’s twin sister Artemis is the patroness of hunting, and is often portrayed with a bow and quiver. It embodied exuberance, cheerful sensuality, and coarse with. The culture during this period remained untouched by other cultures around the world, and hence, is termed as pure. ➔ Science in the Hellenic period produced many noble and well-known ancient scientists and theories. Without a doubt, the Hellenistic times were the beginning of a new status quo. I look forward to more. Classical Greece vs. Hellenistic Greece Principles Economy During Classical Greece religion was one important principle. Western architecture - Western architecture - Hellenistic period: The successors to Alexander’s empire split the new Greek world, which now ran to the borders of India in the east and the Sudan in the south, into separate kingdoms. Zoroastrianism arose as one of the first documented monotheistic religions, with Ahura-Mazda as the single god and the intercession of magi (priests) on earth. The Hellenic period saw the rising and falling of the polis while Hellenistic period was plagued by warfare among the remaining dynasties. The difference between the Hellenic period and Classical Greece lies in the date of 323 BCE: When Alexander the Great died. * Click on the names for more information. Alexander the Great is perhaps the best known Macedonian, and it was his conquests that united the Greek city-states with the rest of the world into an empire. Alexander himself was hailed as divine in Egypt. Hellenism was a synthesis of Greek (Hellenic) culture with the native cultures of the Near East. Question: How did Greek sculpture and drama change during the Hellenistic Era? Theocritus wrote pastorals that created make-believe worlds, rather than commenting on his own. Astronomy witnessed Thales prediction on a solar eclipse. Answer: The Hellenistic Jews are first mentioned in the Bible in Acts 6:1: “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.” The believing Jews are here divided into two groups. During the span of the Classical and Hellenistic periods in Ancient Greece, many changes occurred that differentiated one from the other. It was a dynamic phenomenon, with the ever-­evolving Hellenistic (“Greek‑like”) culture continually becoming the raw material for new syntheses with other native cultures not yet under its sway. It housed the tomb of Alexander the Great, the Pharos (lighthouse) of Alexandria, and the famed Library of Alexandria that aimed to serve as a melting pot of knowledge of the world. Upon the Jews' return from exile in Babylon, they endeavored to protect their national identity by following the law closely. Hellenistic art also included architectural accomplishments like the first lighthouse, the citadel of Alexandria, and the Corinthian column belong to this period. Classical vs. Hellenistic Periods Essay 677 Words 3 Pages During the span of the Classical and Hellenistic periods in Ancient Greece, many changes occurred that differentiated one from the other. Cynicism was founded by Antisthenes (c 444 – 366 BCE), who was a student of Socrates. Other significant deities were Aphrodite, the goddess of love; Dionysos, the god of wine and theater; Ares, the god of war; and the lame Hephaistos, the god of metalworking. I had a clue but, certainly, not a great amount of knowledge regarding this subject. With the rise of the Hellenistic period, tragedy and comedy tended to merge into "dramas" as evidenced by the works of Menander and Theocritus. Plato’s Republicis considered as the precursor of the systematic treatment of political philosophy. All aspects of culture took a Greek hue, with the Greek language being established as the official language of the Hellenistic world. Hellenistic age, in the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, the period between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 bce and the conquest of Egypt by Rome in 30 bce. A notable achievement is the rise in architecture of the Doric and Ionic columns. With the support of roy… Tiffany (author) from USA on April 10, 2014: Charles, this article is meant merely to focus on the traditional Greek boundaries ONLY, and on aspects other than the traditional "social-economical-political" discussion. Epicurianism was founded by Epicurus (341 – 270 BCE), and it dealt with the fear of death. Hellenic definition, of, relating to, or characteristic of the ancient Greeks or their language, culture, thought, etc., especially before the time of Alexander the Great. He is considered as an important god in Greek religion mainly because the ancient Greeks considered his sanctuary to be the center of the universe for the oracles of Delphi. Tragic dramas like Antigone and Oedipus became the zeniths of entertainment for the ancient Greek audience. Sculpture of the period emphasize extreme naturalism and unashamed extravagance, rather than the former idyllic beauties and perfect Davids. ➔ Literature in the Hellenic period witnessed the writing of Homer’s epic mythological records, lyrical verses written in docile, and news article styled writing. After King Philip’s death, Alexander went on to conquer the world, thus becoming Alexander the Great. ), Quest for truth; Individuals (Plato, Aristotle, Socrates), Reason; Groups (Cynics, Epicureans, Stoics), Dramas; pastorals; history, biography; utopia, Exuberance, sensuality; marble statues; Doric & Ionic Columns, Commodification; naturalism; extravagance; Corinthian Column, Thales, Pythagorean, Aristotle, Hippocrates, Archimedes (geometry, physiology); the body, Derived from philosophers; questioning of gods, Zoroastrianism (monotheism), Ahura-Mazda, mystery cults, Mithraism. For some scholars, the Hellenistic period is considered as a period of decadence or degeneration when compared to the brilliance of the Greek Classical Era. Dec. 30, 2020. As Rome gradually overshadowed the Mediterranean world, the Romans learned much from the peoples they conquered, and Hellenistic civilization was absorbed rather than extinguished. And prose became dominated by historians, biographers, and authors writing of utopia. After the battle of Actium, the entire Hellenistic world became subjects of Rome. "Hellenistic" is a modern word and a 19th-century concept; the idea of a Hellenistic period did not exist in ancient Greece.Although words related in form or meaning, e.g. The Hellenistic period covers the period of Mediterranean history between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the emergence of the Roman Empire as signified by the Battle of Actium in 31 BC and the subsequent conquest of Ptolemaic Egypt the following year. Hellenistic art is the art of the Hellenistic period generally taken to begin with the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and end with the conquest of the Greek world by the Romans, a process well underway by 146 BCE, when the Greek mainland was taken, and essentially ending in 30 BCE with the conquest of Ptolemaic Egypt following the Battle of Actium. While the Hellenistic world incorporated a number of different people, Greek thinking, mores, and way of life dominated the public affairs of the time. Alexander the Great . It taught patience, duty, self-discipline, and brotherhood of all humanity. ➔ The Hellenic period is also known as the ‘Age of Classical Greece’ or the ‘Golden Age of Greece’, and it extended from the Greek mainland, Crete, the islands of the Greek archipelago, to the coast of Asia Minor primarily. Comedies became more akin to dramas, as evidenced in the works of Menander. The Hellenic World of ancient Greece was the Golden Age of Greece and is also known as the ‘Classic Greek period’, this period produced the noblest of philosophers, artists, statesmen, and writers. Instead, we see philosophers revert to a reliance on faith - accepting the inability to know truth. In the ancient world, one learned to worship the gods by being born into a Hellenic family or by participating in the public religious culture of a Hellenic community. In particular, Martyr used the Greek concept of internal and external thought to illustrate Jesus Christ'… The attitude that the greatness of the human being ruled over the belief in the power of their gods, culminated in Plato’s view that there was a Divine creation, and and then the world was left to run itself. (particularly for religion and purpose) Hellenistic philosophers sought to explain the universe like scientists would, why do we breath, why do stars move, why do we get tired. Shamefully, I always thought the two terms were synonyms. The states of the Hellenistic period were deeply fixated with the past and its seemingly lost glories. 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