Essay On Alexander's Legacy: The Great Hellenistic Legacy
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Alexander’s Legacy: The Great Hellenistic Age The Hellenic Age was a time in Greek history when Greek culture was purely Greek. This period, also known as the Classical Age, saw the rise and fall of the polis, lasting between 500 and 323 BCE, ending with the death of Alexander. The Hellenistic Age allowed other cultures to influence the classic, purely Greek culture that previously existed. Through the influence of Asia, and African cultures on Greece, the creation of a more blended, “Hellenistic” culture began to emerge. The cause of this change lands on the shoulders of a legend; Alexander the Great. In 336 BCE with the assassination of Phillip of Macedon, twenty year old Alexander ascended to the throne. Already a well accomplished soldier, he immediately set his sights on Persia, seeking gold and claiming revenge for earlier assaults on…show more content… He swept through India, defeating Porus at the Battle of Hydaspes River where, after its death, he erected a city named for his favorite horse, Bucephala. It was here he was advised to end his campaign or face a mutiny. Alexander relented; he built statues and monuments to mark the end of his Eastward journey, and finally turned his forces toward home. He sent half of his army sailing south to the Indus River, and on to the Indian Ocean where they would turn west to once again meet their King.
Alexander, still unsatisfied, began planning his next campaign against Arabia, who had refused to submit to Alexander’s rule. His less noble desires in this venture were the intriguing spices Arabia offered and, of course, the riches. Unfortunately for the great Alexander, his troops mutinied at Opis, which caused him to retaliate by executing the main collaborators of the crime. Having now executed several of his officers, he began promoting his Asian comrades. This caused much anger and unrest with the majority of his fellow Macedonian