Lesson 2: The Hellenistic Kingdoms

Lesson 2: The Hellenistic Kingdoms

Main ideas
1. Three powerful generals divided Alexander’s empire among themselves, establishing Hellenistic Macedonia, Hellenistic Syria, and Hellenistic Egypt.
2. A uniform system of trade developed throughout the Hellenistic kingdoms, with a common language, culture, and coinage.

Key People
1) Antigonus: a powerful general of Alexander’s who became the king of Macedonia
2) Seleucus: a powerful general who seized most of Alexander’s Asian conquests
3) Ptolemy: a powerful general of Alexander’s who ruled Egypt and whose dynasty became the most powerful and wealthiest of Hellenistic kingdoms
4) Cleopatra VII: the last and most famous Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt

Three Hellenistic Kingdoms
After Alexander died, there was no obvious heir to his kingdom. So his generals fought for power. The empire was divided among three generals.
Antigonus became the king of Alexander’s homeland, Macedonia, which included Greece. It had the weakest government. Macedonia had trouble defending itself from the many revolts of the Greeks. Rome’s armies conquered the Antigonid dynasty in the mid-100s BC.

Multiple Choice

Alexander's son became the heir to his kingdom.

• True

• False

Open Ended

Why were Rome’s armies able to conquer the Antigonid dynasty?

Seleucus seized control of most of Alexander’s Asian conquests, including Persia. This empire was larger than Macedonia and was difficult to control. It was spread out and was home to many different people with different customs. The capital was far from some parts of the kingdom, so people ignored the king. Seleucid rulers were eventually conquered by Rome in the 60s BC.

Multiple Choice

____________seized control of most of Alexander’s Asian conquests, including Persia.

• Cleopatra VII

• Seleucus

• Alexander the Great

• Phillip II

Open Ended

What problems existed in the Seleucid kingdom?

Ptolemy became ruler of Egypt. His dynasty, the Ptolemaic, was the most powerful and wealthiest of the Hellenistic kingdoms. He was called “pharaoh” to gain him the support of the Egyptians. He ruled from Alexandria, one of the ancient world’s greatest cities. It had the world’s largest library and the Museum, a place for scholars and artists. Even this stable and prosperous kingdom, though, came into conflict with other powers, especially Rome. It lasted longer than the other kingdoms. But after the death of the last and most famous Ptolemaic ruler, Cleopatra VII, the Romans took control of Egypt.

Multiple Choice

Ptolemy was called "pharaoh" to gain him the support of the ___________.

• Persians

• Chinese

• Syrians

• Macedonians

• Egyptians

Open Ended

Why was Alexandria considered a great city?

GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMY
Alexander had ruled without limits on his power, as did the Hellenistic rulers. Rule passed down within their families. Only men could be kings in Macedonia and the Seleucid kingdom. A few women became pharaohs in Egypt, such as Cleopatra VII.

Open Ended

How was rule in Egypt different from rule in Macedonia and the Seleucid kingdom?

Hellenistic rulers relied on Greek advisors. Together, they strengthened their economies, built and repaired roads and irrigation systems, promoted manufacturing and trade, and supported the arts. Large cities grew as kings became wealthy from the taxes.

Draw

Draw a picture of something that was strengthened when rulers relied on Greek advisors.

Throughout the Hellenistic region, the people followed a uniform system of trade. They shared a common culture and used a form of Greek as their common language. They continued to use standard coins from Alexander’s time. They built trade networks with other civilizations. For example, China could send silk to the Hellenistic kingdoms, and they could send other goods back to China.

Open Ended

What made trade so successful throughout the Hellenistic region?