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Greek Influence and Learning

Alexander the Great

map showin the empire of Alexander the Great in red
A map showing the empire of Alexander the Great

After his father's death in 336 B.C. (B.C.E.), King Philip's son Alexander took the throne in Macedonia. Throughout his life, Alexander was groomed by his father to become king. As you can see from the map, the empire of Alexander the Great partially covered what is modern-day Afghanistan, Egypt, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Libya, Pakistan, Syria, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

In 334 B.C. (B.C.E.), Alexander the Great attacked the Persian Empire using an army of over 37,000 Macedonian and Greek soldiers. His first task was to free the Ionian cities of Asia Minor from Persian rule. By 331 B.C. (B.C.E.), Alexander the Great had conquered the Persian Empire. While he tried to continue on into the Indian sub-continent beyond the Indus River in 326 B.C. (B.C.E.), he encountered massive resistance from the people living there. He did not move any further into Asia; instead, the leader returned to Babylon with his soldiers. Alexander the Great died at the age of thirty-two at the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II in Babylon. Some disagree whether his cause of death was natural or an assassination scheme. It is rumored that the soldiers who were with him in Babylon were given the privilege of seeing him when he was ill.

the flag of Greek Macedonia
The flag of Greek Macedonia

Present-Day Macedonia

In the 2nd century B.C. (B.C.E.), Macedonia fell to the Romans, became a province of the Roman Empire, and then later the Byzantine Empire. Today, Macedonia is a geographic region that includes parts of north Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, and Serbia. The portion that extends into Greece is the country's largest region.

Cities Named Alexandria

In many of the locations Alexander the Great conquered, he built or renamed cities "Alexandria." One of the best examples is the Egyptian city of Alexandria. Located at the mouth of the Nile River on the nutrient-rich Nile River Delta, Alexandria was founded in 331 B.C. (B.C.E.). Alexander the Great valued education and wanted Alexandria to serve as a center of knowledge, as well as a link between Greece and the Nile. The library in Alexandria was one of the most extensive in the ancient world and featured over 500,000 scrolls. Alexandria also housed an ancient museum. In an effort to replicate the center of knowledge and power he had created in Egypt's Alexandria, Alexander the Great founded or renamed cities Alexandria in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Turkmenistan.

the modern-day city of Alexandria, Egypt

The modern-day city of Alexandria, Egypt

Contributions of Greek Culture

Contributions of Greek Culture Interactivity

Greeks laid a foundation for many civilizations. Between the Persian and Peloponnesian wars, Greek culture flourished, and advances were made in politics, drama, poetry, history, art, architecture, science, mathematics, and philosophy. Even today, you may encounter Greek contributions in your daily life. For example, you may recognize such influences in a formal debate at school, terminology you hear at the doctor's office, when completing geometry and English work, or during an election. In this interactivity, you will explore contributions of Greek civilization. Click the player button to begin.

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The Hellenistic Age

The Hellenistic Age Interactivity

The death of Alexander the Great marked the start of the Hellenistic Age, which lasted until 31 B.C. (B.C.E.), when the Romans conquered the last of their territories. In this interactivity, you will learn how the Greek civilization expanded through trade and colonization, and led to the spread of Hellenic culture across the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea. Click the player button to begin.

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Greek Influence and Learning Review

Greek Influence and Learning Review Interactivity

review iconNow that you have explored Greek influence and learning, review your knowledge in this interactivity. Click the player button to get started.