The Spread of Greek Culture

1. The Spread of Greek Culture Section 4 Overview This section describes the spread of Hellenistic culture in the wake of Alexander’s empire and the achievements of many great philosophers, writers, and scientists.

2. The Spread of Greek Culture Focusing on the Main Ideas • Hellenistic cities became centers of learning and culture. • Epicurus and Zeno showed the world different ways to look at happiness. • Hellenistic scientists made major discoveries in math and astronomy.

3. The Spread of Greek Culture Locating Places • Rhodes (ROHDZ) • Syracuse (SIHR·uh·KYOOS) Meeting People • Theocritus (thee·AH·kruh·tuhs)  • Aristarchus (AR·uh·STAHR·kuhs)  • Eratosthenes (EHR·uh·TAHS·thuh·NEEZ)  • Euclid (YOO·kluhd)

4. The Spread of Greek Culture Meeting People • Archimedes (AHR·kuh·MEE·deez)  Building Your Vocabulary • Epicureanism (EH·pih·kyu·REE·uh·NIH·zuhm) • Stoicism (STOH·uh·SIH·zuhm)  • astronomer (uh·STRAH·nuh·muhr)  • plane geometry (jee·AH·muh·tree)  • solid geometry (jee·AH·muh·tree)

5. The Spread of Greek Culture Greek Culture Spreads • Philosophers, poets, scientists, and writers moved to the new Greek cities in southwest Asia, particularly Alexandria, during the Hellenistic Era . • Hellenistic kings wanted to make their cities like those in Greece, so they hired Greek architects and sculptors. • The writers of the Hellenistic Era produced a large body of literature.

6. The Spread of Greek Culture Greek Culture Spreads • Appolonius wrote the epic poem Argonautica, recounting the legend of Jason and his band of heroes. • Theocritus wrote short poems about beauty and nature. • Athenians still created plays, but the plays of the Hellenistic Era were about love and relationships.

7. The Spread of Greek Culture Philosophy • Epicurus, the founder of Epicureanism, taught that happiness was the goal of life. • Stoicism was developed by a Phoenician named Zeno. • This philosophy believes that happiness comes from reason, not emotions.

8. The Spread of Greek Culture Greek Science and Math • Astronomers study the stars, planets, and other heavenly bodies. • Aristarchus was an astronomer who claimed that the sun was at the center of the universe and that Earth revolved around the sun. • Eratosthenes was an astronomer who believed that the earth was round and measured Earth’s circumference.

9. The Spread of Greek Culture Greek Science and Math • Euclid, one of the most famous Greek mathematicians, described plane geometry. • Plane geometry is the study of points, lines, angles, and surfaces. • Archimedes was the most famous scientist of the Hellenistic Era.

10. The Spread of Greek Culture Greek Science and Math • He worked on solid geometry—the study of spheres and cylinders. • He also determined the value of pi, a number used to measure the area of circles. • Archimedes invented the catapult, among other weapons.