The Hellenistic Age

The Hellenistic World refers to the known world that emerged after the conquests of Alexander the Great. It encompasses the Hellenistic Period of ancient Greece, which extends from 323 BCE, the year of Alexander's death, to the annexation of Greece by Rome in 148/6 BC.

Alexander the Great, hailing from Macedon and born in 356 BCE, followed in the footsteps of his father, King Phillip II. He initially subdued the city-states of Greece and then led his army on a series of campaigns, successfully conquering the known world of that time. His conquests spanned from Macedon through Greece, down to Egypt, across Persia, and even reaching India.

After Alexander's demise, his vast empire was divided among his four generals, known as the Diadochoi, which means "successors" in Greek. Lysimachus obtained Thrace and a significant portion of Asia Minor. Cassander took control of Macedonia and Greece. Ptolemy seized Egypt, Palestine, Cilicia, Petra, and Cyprus, establishing the Ptolemaic Dynasty in Egypt, which endured until the death of Cleopatra VII in 31 BCE. Seleucus gained dominion over the remaining territories in Asia, founding the Seleucid Empire, which comprised Syria, Babylon, Persia, and India.