Alexander, the Hellenistic World & Greek Philosophers

Battle of Chaeronea

Battle near Thebes in 338 BCE where the Macedonians defeated the Greeks from the various Greek city-states and made them join an alliance against Persia.

Battle of Granicus River

Alexander's first battle with the Persian Empire; he nearly lost his life as he charged into the armies of the Persian Satraps. (334 BC)

Aristarchus

Greek scientist who first stated that the Earth revolved around the Sun, and rotated on its axis.

Philip of Macedon

Father of Alexander;

unified the warring Greek city-states

Alexander the Great

King of Macedonia who conquered Greece, Egypt, and Persia

Battle of Issus

* Alexander emerged victorious when Darius was forced to abandon his army and flee (333 BC)

* Captured Darius' family.

Hellenistic Culture

Greek culture blended with Egyptian, Persian and Indian ideas, as a result of Alexander the Great's Empire.

Hipparchus

First person to describe location using a mathematical grid; proposed a geocentric theory adopted by Ptolemy.

Archimedes

Greek mathematician and inventor. He wrote works on plane and solid geometry, arithmetic, and mechanics. He is best known for the lever and pulley.

Specific gravity... "Eureka!"

Hero of Alexandria

* Five simple machines

* steam-powered device

Eratosthenes

Greek mathematician and astronomer who estimated the circumference of the earth and the distances to the moon and sun (276-194 BC)

Epicureanism

Philosophy founded by Epicurus in Hellenistic Athens; taught that happiness through the pursuit of pleasure was the goal of life

Stoicism

* Founded by Zeno

* Emphasis on ethics, living in harmony with the will of God

* Brotherhood of all mankind

* Public service was noble

* adopted by Romans

Cynicism

* Criticized corruption in society; idealized a "simple life."

* Diogenes: lived in tub on beach; went about with a lantern looking in vain for an honest man.

The Skeptics

This group of Hellenistic philosophers questioned any assumptions and had a goal of achieving peace of mind.

Hellenistic Art

A mix of art styles from different civilizations. Dramatic, emphasis on emotion, violent action, heightened sense of realism

Battle of Gaugamela

Alexander's decisive victory over Darius III. Although outnumbered, Alexander's superior tactics and army earned the victory that would lead to the fall of the Achaemenid Dynasty. (331 BC)

Socrates

An Athenian philosopher who thought that human beings could lead honest lives and that honor was far more important than wealth, fame, or other superficial attributes.

Plato

Was a disciple of Socrates whose cornerstone of thought was his theory of Forms, in which there was another world of perfection.

Aristotle

* Greek philosopher

* A pupil of Plato, the tutor of Alexander the Great

* Developed a system of empirical observation and rational inquiry.

Still learning (20)

You've started learning these terms. Keep it up!