The Hellenistic states are an important milestone, a special period in human history, which had a huge impact on the subsequent development of the socio-state and cultural-political world order.
What caused these powers to emerge? How did the Hellenistic states emerge? What are their distinguishing features and characteristics? This article will be devoted to these and many other issues.
We will also get acquainted with specific examples of the Hellenistic states, learn about their brief history and talk about the famous rulers of that time.
Prehistory, or how it all began
The Hellenistic states replaced the Classical era of the state system, characterized by the ancient urban civil community.
During that historical period, human society was organized into so-called policies, often taking the form of city-states. Each fenced-off area was considered a separate country, headed by an agricultural community.
Therefore, in short, the emergence of the Hellenistic states was based on the ancient policies. What else characterized these settlements?
First of all, each civil community consisted of an urban center and the surrounding agricultural area. Members of the communities had the same political and property rights.
There was also a separate part of the population in the policy that did not have civil rights. They were slaves, meteks, freedmen and others.
Each city had its own power, currency, religious and secular organization. The political system of such policies was diverse: from a monarchical political regime to a democratic or capitalist one.
What marked the new nationwide system? What changed with the rise of the Hellenistic states? This will be briefly discussed below.
A new round in public relations
First of all, city-states were replaced by entire empires or powers, including not one city, but several large settlements and settlements surrounded by rural settlements, vast pastures and spacious forests.
Who was able to carry out such a nationwide coup, affecting all spheres of human society? This man was none other than Alexander the Great. Thanks to the conquests of this strong and powerful ruler, the Hellenisticstates. This will be briefly discussed below.
However, first, let's find out what is remarkable about the Hellenistic era and what role it played in the general political world history.
The Essence of Hellenism
In short, the Hellenistic states were the result of the spread of Greek culture, actively introduced by Alexander the Great. This gave rise to new political and social ties, trade and market relations, as well as the popularization of the Greek language and culture.
The Hellenization of the countries of the East was determined by the adoption by the local population of the culture, customs, traditions and views of the Greek conquerors, as well as by the imitation of their way of life, habits and political system.
The main tool for the spread of Greek culture was urban planning, as the Hellenistic authorities were actively building cities in the territory under their control. The scale of construction of large cities was huge and impressive. On their territory, wide streets, spacious parks, religious buildings and large central squares were planned in advance. Such extensive urban development was the main feature of the Hellenistic states, since the city in Greek culture was considered the center of art, education and political life of the entire population.
Another way to spread the Greek way of life was the planting of education, actively carried out by Macedonian and his followers. Alexander the Great was very fond of enlightenment. He built schools andlibrary, encouraged the work of writers and scientists, contributed to the development of the theater and the translation of sacred books.
As mentioned above, the Hellenistic states arose as a result of the conquests of Alexander the Great. Who was this man and what did he achieve?
Leader of Hellenism
Alexander the Great, born in the summer of 356 BC, became king at the age of twenty as a result of the untimely death of his father. During the thirteen years of his reign, Alexander not only strengthened his own state, but also conquered the Persian Empire and spread Greek culture throughout the East. Thus, he proved himself to be a brilliant commander and a wise ruler.
Becoming the king of Asia, Alexander the Great wanted to equalize and unite the winners with the losers. He sought to combine the customs of different peoples. This policy concerned the wearing of oriental clothes, and the observance of court ceremonies, and the maintenance of a harem. However, to adhere to Persian customs or not depended on the Macedonian invader himself, Alexander did not force his subjects to strictly adhere to certain Eastern traditions.
And yet, riots broke out against Macedonian repeatedly in his own troops. Perhaps this was due to the introduction of the Persian custom of kissing the feet of their master.
Death of the lord
According to many historical reports, Alexander the Great died suddenly, after a ten-day long illness. Some associate the diseaseHellenistic ruler with malaria or pneumonia. According to others, the great commander could die due to parasitic infections or cancer. There is a version about the deliberate poisoning of Alexander during his next military campaign.
Be that as it may, with the death of Macedon, the decline of the Greek states began, leading to the complete fall of Greece and the grandiose prosperity of the Roman Empire, the country that conquered the Hellenistic states.
What powers were part of Greek rule?
Conquered countries
As we have seen, Hellenism and the Hellenistic states are closely related. Thanks to the conquests of Alexander the Great and the conquest of many peoples, the spread of Greek culture became possible.
Which countries were included in the list of Hellenistic states?
Here are some of them:
- The Seleucid State.
- Greco-Bactrian kingdom.
- Indo-Greek kingdom.
- Hellenistic Egypt.
- Pontic kingdom.
- Achaean Union.
- Pergamon kingdom.
- Bosporan kingdom.
The main Hellenistic states (like many of the others listed above) were a kind of synthesis between local despotic power and the Greek political tradition. At the head of each separate state was a king. His power was based on the bureaucracy and citizens enjoying special rights and privileges.
Thanks to the emergence of the Hellenistic states and their friendly relations, the empire of Alexander the Great included stable, well-developed powers, united by common cultural and political values.
What is a brief description of the Hellenistic states? Let's get to know them better.
Hellenistic states. Their similarities and differences
After the death of Macedon, his great and strong empire fell apart, as it was divided among his commanders. Separate powers carried the ideas and views of the Greeks, but still they no longer possessed their former power, either politically, culturally, or militarily.
To learn more about these Hellenistic states, it is necessary to determine their main parameters and characteristics.
The Seleucid State
It was a monarchy, the core of which was the Middle East. This state, huge in territory, included Asia Minor, Phoenicia, Mesopotamia, Syria and Iran. In fact, it was a link between Greek and Eastern culture.
Beginning to carry out military aggression, the empire faced the Roman army and received a sharp rebuff. Then it was captured by the Parthians and Armenians, after which it turned into a Roman province.
After the state became part of the Roman Empire, it was given a different name - Syria. Greek culture still reigned here, reflected in the Greek-Macedonian communities,Greek temples, baths and theaters.
The Syrians were reputed to be morally licentious people, indulging in various pleasures and delights. The state existed at the expense of internal taxes (capitation, customs, hydrochloric, municipal and others). The state was also famous for its strong, professional army, the founder of which was Alexander the Great.
Greco-Bactrian kingdom
Arose as a result of the collapse of the Seleucid Empire. The state included the lands of Bactria and Sogdiana.
The state itself lasted a little over a hundred years. At first, the population of the country adhered to Greek traditions and worldviews, but over time, the inhabitants adopted the way of thinking and customs of the East, which gave rise to a cultural-religious mixture called “Greek-Buddhism”. The country's economy was based mainly on gold mining and the export of silk from China.
Indo-Greek Kingdom
It emerged as an extension of the Greco-Bactrian, covering the entire territory of northern India. The ruling dynasty in the state were the heirs of Euthydemus, they significantly expanded the kingdom thanks to numerous military operations carried out in the west and east of their country.
In the early years of its emergence, this Hellenistic state adhered to Hindu religious views, which were replaced by Buddhism, closely associated with Greek culture. For example, religious buildings and images were a mixture of Eastern and Hellenistic traditions.
The last kingthe state was overthrown by the Indo-Scythian conquerors.
Pontic Kingdom
This Greco-Persian state occupied the southern coast of the Black Sea and existed for about two hundred and fifty years. It was conditionally divided by the Pontic Alps into two parts: upland (where ore and other precious metals were mined) and coastal (where olives were grown and fished).
There were differences in culture and customs between these areas. The population of the coast was Greek-speaking, while the inhabitants of the hinterland belonged to the Iranian nationality. The religion of the kingdom was mixed - it reflected both Greek mythology and Persian motifs. Some kings of the state adhered to Judaism.
The country's army was considered strong and populous (up to three hundred thousand soldiers), which included a powerful fleet. However, this did not prevent the Pontic state from suffering a crushing defeat in battles with the Roman Republic, after which the western part of the country joined Rome as the provinces of Bithynia and Pontus, and the eastern part went to another state.
Kingdom of Pergamon
Occupied the northwestern region of Asia Minor. Throughout history (about one hundred and fifty years), the state was inhabited by a diverse national composition. Athenians, Macedonians, Paphlagonians, Mysians and others lived here.
Pergamon kings were famous for their patronage of art, literature, science and sculpture. At the end of the existence of the state, its rulers acted as vassals of the Roman emperor, which eventually ledto the fact that the kingdom turned into one of the Roman provinces.
Commagene Kingdom
It is considered an ancient Armenian Hellenistic state, located on the territory of modern Turkey (more precisely, some of its regions).
The history of this power was not marked by any outstanding memorable events, although its kings managed to defend their independence for a long period. And yet, over time, Commagene was annexed to Rome as another province.
However, the history of the Hellenistic state was not over. For a certain period, by order of the emperor, the Kingdom of Commagene regained its independence, in order to finally join the Roman Empire in thirty years.
Hellenistic Egypt
was the main center of Greek culture. The history of this Hellenistic state began from the moment of its conquest by Alexander the Great and ended with the defeat of the state in the battle with the Roman ruler Octavian. Since then, Hellenistic Egypt has been included in Rome as the province of the same name.
Egypt in those days was ruled by the Ptolemies. In their power, they combined both Greek and local traditions and customs. There were privileged positions at the court, such as “relatives”, “first friends”, “successors” and the like.
Administratively, Egypt was divided into several policies that did not play a significant role in political governance, as well as into nomes, which did not have any influence or self-government at all.
Important socialand the political power in the state was possessed by the priests located at each temple. These cult workers received material benefits from the treasury, and also collected offerings from many believers.
During the Hellenistic period, Egypt retreated from its cultural identity, gradually adopting the Hellenistic way of life. Libraries and schools flourished here, such sciences as geometry, mathematics, geography and others developed.
Famous writers lived in Hellenistic Egypt, such as Callimachus, Apollonius of Rhodes, Theocritus, who worked in various genres and styles (hymns, tragedies, mimes, idylls and others).
The religion of the state combined the Greek and Egyptian religion, expressed in the cult of the god Sarapis.
Achaean Union
Another name for the state is the military-political association of ancient Greek cities, settled in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula.
There was no central leading policy on the territory of the Achaean Union. The synclite was considered the supreme power - a meeting of members of the Union, which could include all free men who had reached the age of thirty. At such meetings, laws were passed and current affairs were considered.
The Achaeans had a strong army, but fought very rarely, most often for defensive purposes.
Founded in the fourth century BC, the Achaean League was defeated in 146 BC by a Roman commander.
Bosporan kingdom
Antiquea state territorially located in the north of the Black Sea region, in the Kerch Strait. Formed in the fifth century BC, by the first century before the birth of Christ, it became dependent on the Roman Empire.
The economy of the state was based on the cultivation of cereals - millet, wheat, barley. The Bosporans also specialized in the export of s alted and dried fish, leather and fur products, livestock and even slaves. Among the imported goods, wines, olive oil, expensive fabrics and precious metals, elaborate statues, vases and terracotta were valued.
The end of these states and the reasons for this
As you can see, the states of the Hellenistic world played an important role in the cultural, general political and social plan of the entire era. Having arisen almost at one moment, each power had its own history and its own administrative and political structure, which had a negative impact on their future fate.
What are the main features of the Hellenistic states? First of all, this is their focus on Greek culture, reflected in art, religion, science and other areas of life of every inhabitant.
As mentioned above, the Hellenistic states arose as a result of the conquests of Alexander the Great and the spread of Greek culture among the eastern population of that time. The end of these once powerful powers was devastating and epochal. However, events unfolded slowly and gradually. The main role in the conquest of the Greek powers was played by Rome, which became a new, real contender for world domination after the empire of AlexanderGreat.
The very first who entered into a confrontation with the Roman power was Antiochus III - the ruler of the Seleucids. He was defeated, the consequence of which was the subordination of Greece and Macedonia to the Roman legionnaires. This happened in 168 BC.
Then Syria entered into a military feud with the Romans, which had to defend itself from the aggressive attacks of the new dominant power. The subordinate position of Syria to the Seleucids led to the fact that the state almost immediately submitted to the conquerors. Syria became a province of the Roman Empire in 64 BC.
Egypt lasted the longest. The Ptolemaic dynasty, headed by the powerful queen Cleopatra at that time, resisted Roman domination for a long time.
The prudent Egyptian ruler was the mistress of influential emperors, territorially located in the enemy camp. They were both Caesar and Mark Antony.
And yet Cleopatra was forced to recognize Roman domination. In the thirtieth year of our era, she committed suicide, after which powerful Egypt passed into the power of the Roman Empire and was lost among its many provinces.
This was the end of an entire Hellenistic era, reflected in several major Greek states of that time. Since then, the dominant place on the world stage has gone to Rome, which became the center of the cultural, political and economic life of the society of that time.
