Homework Bell Ringer• How did Alexander solve the mystery of the Gordian Knot

– a knot that supposedly no one would be able to untie?

HELLENISTIC AGEEmpire of Alexander the Great 4th century B.C.362 - 30 BC

King Philip II of Macedon took advantage of the feuding between Greek city states to take control of all of Greece. He had admired the Greeks - had hired Greek soldiers to train his army and had his son, Alexander, tutored by the Greek philosopher, Aristotle.

He reorganized the Macedonian army into a flexible phalanx- using a mix of heavily armed infantry, light missile troops, and an elite calvary.

Through diplomacy, alliances, and outright attack, he took control over all of Greece. King Philip was assassinated and the dream of a great empire was fulfilled by his son, Alexander.

                                                                                                                                                   

Alexander was driven by a conviction that he was an instrument of the gods and never lost a battle. He would have continued east, but his army was too tired and scared. At the age of 33, he died of an illness at his new capital of Babylon.

Over 10 years, Alexander conquered the Persian Empire, bringing the Greek culture which he mixed with local cultures creating “Hellenistic Civilization”.

Hello, I’m Bucephalus

– Alex named a city after

me!

On his deathbed, he was asked “to whom do you leave your empire?” His response - “to the strongest” - civil war divided the Macedonians Empire until the arrival of the Romans.

HELLENISTIC ARTS & SCIENCES

Alexander’s Spread of Greek Culture into Persia & Egypt - Created a New Blend of Eastern and Western ideas.

Contributions to Western Civilization

Math & Sciences - Medicine - learned about

circulatory system, anesthesia for surgery

Astronomy - Earth was round, measured its diameter, believed earth rotated around sun – heliocentric (many of these ideas were rejected)

Euclid created basis for modern geometry, Archimedes discovered “lever”, screw and catapult

Classical Mathematician - Pythagoras• "The area of the square built upon the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the areas of the squares upon the remaining sides.“

Classical Medicine - Hippocrates

Hippocratic Oath – has been modified by modern doctors. Although not required by law – 98% of American doctors do take it (50% of British doctors do)

The Declaration of Geneva, as currently amended, reads:[3]

•AT THE TIME OF BEING ADMITTED AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION:I SOLEMNLY PLEDGE to consecrate my life to the service of humanity;•I WILL GIVE to my teachers the respect and gratitude that is their due;•I WILL PRACTICE my profession with conscience and dignity;•THE HEALTH OF MY PATIENT will be my first consideration;•I WILL RESPECT the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient has died;•I WILL MAINTAIN by all the means in my power, the honour and the noble traditions of the medical profession;•MY COLLEAGUES will be my sisters and brothers;•I WILL NOT PERMIT considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient;•I WILL MAINTAIN the utmost respect for human life;•I WILL NOT USE my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat;•I MAKE THESE PROMISES solemnly, freely and upon my honour.

Contributions to Western Civilization (cont)Philosophy - emphasis on

individual, not state Epicureans - happiness

achieved through calm, simple lives. (personal pleasure over moral conduct) – mainly food

Stoics - happiness achieved through strict discipline (calm in the face of problems)

Art - new emphasis on individual suffering - realism replaced Classical idealism, no longer art for the sake of glorifying the Empire

Ouch ! See, how real my

pain is?

El’ Greco’s Laocoon