Defining the Hellenistic Age and World
What is meant by the term “Hellenistic”? What identifies it as a Period? What areas of the world did it influence?
Hellenistic: The word “Hellenistic” comes from a root word meaning “to speak Greek or identify with the Greeks.” As a time period it refers to when Greek culture, language and politics dominated the Mediterranean world. It began with the conquests of Alexander the great beginning in 336BCE and lasted until it succumbed to the Roman empire in the first century BCE.