Hellinistic culture

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What contributions did the Hellinistic Culture make to our modern civilization?

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2004

Answers

The term 'Hellenistic culture' usually applies to the culture in the lands conquered by Alexander, from his death up through the next several centuries. It was centered in Alexandria, Eygpt. Hellenistic culture was an extension of an earlier, exceptionally vibrant culture that arose in various city-states on the mainland of Greece and in the Aegean (such as Athens, Corinth and Thebes).

Some of the more distinctive contributions of Hellenistic culture would be Stoicism, Cynicism and Epicureanism in philosophy, realism (as opposed to idealism) in sculpture and painting, and the sitcom (as invented by the playwright Menander). The sad thing is that all these contributions can be seen as reactions to the loss of political freedom imposed by living under imperial rulers.

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2004


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