Age of Conquests: The Greek World from Alexander to Hadrian (History of the Ancient World)

The world that Alexander remade in his lifetime was transformed once more by his death in 323 BCE. His successors reorganized Persian lands to create a new empire stretching from the eastern Mediterranean as far as present-day Afghanistan, while in Greece and Macedonia a fragile balance of power repeatedly dissolved into war. Then, from the late third century BCE to the end of the first, Rome’s military and diplomatic might successively dismantled these post-Alexandrian political structures, one by one. During the Hellenistic period (c. 323–30 BCE), small polities struggled to retain the illusion of their identity and independence, in the face of violent antagonism among large states. With time, trade growth resumed and centers of intellectual and artistic achievement sprang up across a vast network, from Italy to Afghanistan and Russia to Ethiopia. But the death of Cleopatra in 30 BCE brought this Hellenistic moment to a close―or so the story goes. In Angelos Chaniotis’s view, however, the Hellenistic world continued to Hadrian’s death in 138 CE. Not only did Hellenistic social structures survive the coming of Rome, Chaniotis shows, but social, economic, and cultural trends that were set in motion between the deaths of Alexander and Cleopatra intensified during this extended period. From Alexander to Hadrian provides a compelling narrative of the main events that shaped ancient civilization during five crucial centuries. Many of these developments―globalization, the rise of megacities, technological progress, religious diversity, and rational governance―have parallels in our world today. The World That Alexander Remade In His Lifetime Was Transformed Once More By His Death In 323 Bce. His Successors Reorganized Persian Lands To Create A New Empire Stretching From The Eastern Mediterranean As Far As Present-day Afghanistan, While In Greece And Macedonia A Fragile Balance Of Power Repeatedly Dissolved Into War. Then, From The Late Third Century Bce To The End Of The First, Rome's Military And Diplomatic Might Successively Dismantled These Post-alexandrian Political Structures, One By One. During The Hellenistic Period (c. 323-30 Bce), Small Polities Struggled To Retain The Illusion Of Their Identity And Independence, In The Face Of Violent Antagonism Among Large States. With Time, Trade Growth Resumed And Centers Of Intellectual And Artistic Achievement Sprang Up Across A Vast Network, From Italy To Afghanistan And Russia To Ethiopia. But The Death Of Cleopatra In 30 Bce Brought This Hellenistic Moment To A Close--or So The Story Goes. In The Author's View, However, The Hellenistic World Continued To Hadrian's Death In 138 Ce. Not Only Did Hellenistic Social Structures Survive The Coming Of Rome, The Author Shows, But Social, Economic, And Cultural Trends That Were Set In Motion Between The Deaths Of Alexander And Cleopatra Intensified During This Extended Period. This Volume Provides A Compelling Narrative Of The Main Events That Shaped Ancient Civilization During Five Crucial Centuries. Many Of These Developments--globalization, The Rise Of Megacities, Technological Progress, Religious Diversity, And Rational Governance--have Parallels In Our World Today. -- Publisher's Description How It All Began: From Macedonia To The Oecumene (356-323 Bc) -- The Successors: Adventurers And Architects Of Kingdoms (323-275 Bc) -- 'old' Greece In The Short Third Century: Struggles For Survival, Freedom And Hegemony (279-217 Bc) -- The Ptolemaic Golden Age (283-217 Bc) -- Kings And Kingdoms -- The City-state In A World Of Federations And Empires -- Entanglement: The Coming Of Rome (221-188 Bc) -- The Greek States Become Roman Provinces (188-129 Bc) -- Decline And Fall Of The Hellenistic Kingdoms In Asia And Egypt (188-80 Bc) -- A Battlefield Of Foreign Ambitions (88-30 Bc) -- A Roman East: Local Histories And Their Global Context (30 Bc-ad 138) -- Emperors, Cities And Provinces From Augustus To Hadrian (30 Bc-ad 138) -- Socio-economic Conditions: From Greek Cities To An 'ecumenical' Network -- Social And Cultural Trends: Benefactors, Confrères, Ephebes, Athletes, Women And Slaves -- From Civic Worship To Megatheism: Religions In A Cosmopolitan World -- The Greeks And The Oecumene. Angelos Chaniotis. Published In The United Kingdom As: Age Of Conquests : The Greek World From Alexander To Hadrian (336 Bc-ad 138), London : Profile Books, Ltd, 2018. -- Title Page Verso Includes Bibliographical References (pages 401-426) And Index. The world that Alexander remade in his lifetime was transformed once more by his death in 323 BCE. His successors reorganized Persian lands to create a new empire stretching from the eastern Mediterranean as far as present-day Afghanistan, while in Greece and Macedonia a fragile balance of power repeatedly dissolved into war. Then, from the late third century BCE to the end of the first, Rome's military and diplomatic might successively dismantled these post-Alexandrian political structures, one by one.During the Hellenistic period (c. 323–30 BCE), small polities struggled to retain the illusion of their identity and independence, in the face of violent antagonism among large states. With time, trade growth resumed and centers of intellectual and artistic achievement sprang up across a vast network, from Italy to Afghanistan and Russia to Ethiopia. But the death of Cleopatra in 30 BCE brought this Hellenistic moment to a close—or so the story goes.In Angelos Chaniotis's view, however, the Hellenistic world continued to Hadrian's death in 138 CE. Not only did Hellenistic social structures survive the coming of Rome, Chaniotis shows, but social, economic, and cultural trends that were set in motion between the deaths of Alexander and Cleopatra intensified during this extended period. Age of Conquests provides a compelling narrative of the main events that shaped ancient civilization during five crucial centuries. Many of these developments—globalization, the rise of megacities, technological progress, religious diversity, and rational governance—have parallels in our world today. The world that Alexander remade in his lifetime was transformed once more by his death in 323 BCE. His successors reorganized Persian lands to create a new empire stretching from the eastern Mediterranean as far as present-day Afghanistan, while in Greece and Macedonia a fragile balance of power repeatedly dissolved into war. Then, from the late third century BCE to the end of the first, Rome's military and diplomatic might successively dismantled these post-Alexandrian political structures, one by one. During the Hellenistic period (c. 323-30 BCE), small polities struggled to retain the illusion of their identity and independence, in the face of violent antagonism among large states. With time, trade growth resumed and centers of intellectual and artistic achievement sprang up across a vast network, from Italy to Afghanistan and Russia to Ethiopia. but the death of Cleopatra in 30 BCE brought this Hellenistic moment to a close - or so the story goes. In the author's view, however, the Hellenistic world continued to Hadrian's death in 138 CE. Not only did Hellenistic social structures survive the coming of Rome, the author shows, but social, economic, and cultural trends that were set in motion between the deaths of Alexander and Cleopatra intensified during this extended period. This volume provides a compelling narrative of the main events that shaped ancient civilization during five crucial centuries. Many of these developments - globalization, the rise of megacities, technological progress, religious diversity, and rational governance - have parallels in our world today Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Maps 11 List of Figures 27 Preface 31 Introduction 36 Chapter 1. How It All Began: From Macedonia to the Oecumene (356–323 BC) 45 Chapter 2. The Successors: Adventurers and Architects of Kingdoms (323–275 BC) 66 Chapter 3. ‘Old’ Greece in the Short Third Century: Struggles for Survival, Freedom and Hegemony (279–217 BC) 91 Chapter 4. The Ptolemaic Golden Age (283–217 BC) 109 Chapter 5. Kings and Kingdoms 120 Chapter 6. The City-state in a World of Federations and Empires 157 Chapter 7. Entanglement: The Coming of Rome (221–188 BC) 183 Chapter 8. The Greek States Become Roman Provinces (188–129 BC) 210 Chapter 9. Decline and Fall of the Hellenistic Kingdoms in Asia and Egypt (188–80 BC) 228 Chapter 10. A Battlefield of Foreign Ambitions (88–30 BC) 242 Chapter 11. A Roman East: Local Histories and Their Global Context (30 BC–AD 138) 268 Chapter 12. Emperors, Cities and Provinces from Augustus to Hadrian (30 BC–AD 138) 296 Chapter 13. Socio-economic Conditions: From Greek Cities to an ‘Ecumenical’ Network 326 Chapter 14. Social and Cultural Trends: Benefactors, Confrères, Ephebes, Athletes, Women and Slaves 352 Chapter 15. From Civic Worship to Megatheism: Religions in a Cosmopolitan World 379 Chapter 16. The Greeks and the Oecumene 421 References and Sources 436 Bibliography 453 Chronology 462 Index 471