Ancient Greek Culture: The Classical Or Hellenistic Ages

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The Ancient Greek culture has evolved over thousands of years. Those able to experience the Classical and/or Hellenistic Ages are said to have witnessed both the best and worst of ancient Greek culture. The Classical Age (ca. 650-ca. 330 BC) began with the Persian Wars at the beginning of the fifth century B.C. and ended with the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. The Classical Age was a period of war and conflict, first between the Greeks and the Persians, and then between the Athenians and the Spartans. It was also a time of economic prosperity, literary achievement, and artistic expression. The Hellenistic Age, that directly followed the Classical Era, reigned from the death of Alexander the Great to the conquest of the East by the …show more content…
Those who were Greek understood there were other cultures and the importance of other cultures; they just did not want to be associated with them. In the Hellenistic Era, once Alexander the Great died, there is a rise of an international culture with the rise of classical Greek elements and Near-eastern elements. This new international culture bonded the wealthy and most educated, in the eastern Mediterranean all the way to Iran, in a way that they haven’t been united before. The language of Koine developed (spin off of classical Greek) and became the staple language of literature, government and religion in the eastern Mediterranean. This would have been the best language to understand when traveling the world as is came be compared to the language of English in today’s world …show more content…
When the Hellenistic Era began, philosophers were trying to narrow in there studies, questioning rather how to life and have a good life. This shows how different the Classical and Hellenistic Eras really were. The Classical Era, also known as the golden era, promoted independence and citizen governments (polis). On the other hand, the Hellenistic Era ‘took a step back in time’ as it promoted monarchy. Hellenistic philosophers focused upon describing in detail the kinds of character action that might enable a person to live well despite the prevailing political realities of living during the reign of a monarchy (Podcasts). The philosophy during the Classical and Hellenistic Eras only emphasize the differences in politics, economies, and cultures during these time
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