Hellenizing the World

I. Alexander conquers the world
    A. Rise of Macedonia
        1. King Philip appeals to Greek hopes for unity and greatness
        2. Demise of classical Greece

    B. Alexander carries out his fathers' dream
         1. How he did it with inferior numbers of soldiers
         2. He keeps going and going
         3. The new Achilles
             a. Hollywood's Alexander vs. history

II. The Hellenistic World
    A. New political and social order 
        1. Monarchies and aristocracies, not democratic poleis
            a. Family and Greekness become defining social characteristics
            b.  Higher status for aristocratic Greek women
                   -- Example of Queens Arsinoe and Cleopatra
        2. Blending of the Greek and non-Greek

     B.  Cosmopolitan world of Greek Cities
        1. expansion of commerce
        2. Prevalence of Greek language and culture
        3. Emphasis on education and scholarship

III.  Hellenistic Culture
     A.  Philosophy and Religion
        1. Cynics--withdrawal from madness of world
        2. Epicurians--happiness in simple pleasures
        3. Stoics--happiness in duty
        4. Mystery Religions--escape to the divine
        5. Common thread--search for individual happiness

     B. Art
        1. Hellenistic "realism" vs. classical "idealism"
            a. comparing Laocoön with  Doryphorous
            b. classical and Hellenistic women (Venus de Milo)

c. examples of Nike and Dying Gaul

2. Hellenistic art: vital, but not balanced
        3. Relation of new art to Hellenistic society and philosophy

a. focus on the individual, not the polis

b. struggle with larger forces

c. diminished confidence about human mastery

     C. New Achievements in Math and Science
        1.  Euclidian Geometry
        2. Archimedes discovers Pi
        3. Calculation of the size of earth, distance of sun and moon
        4. Ptolemy's geography and astronomy (Roman era) 

5. Strengths and weaknesses of Hippocratic medicine