Greek And Hellenistic Period

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Ancient Greece can be characterized into several distinct periods, each embodying their own unique traits and characteristics. Two of the most prominent eras are the Classical Period- a time of Greek intellectual growth and discovery - and the sequential Hellenistic period, characterized by the spread of Greek culture into surrounding areas. These two periods are separated by the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, causing the disunion of a once powerful and widespread nation. Because Greek culture had been so prominent, and Alexander’s rule so influential, many aspects from Ancient Greece’s Classical Period carried over into the new era. These continuities includes the presence of conflict, the use of novel Greek military formations, and grandiose architecture. However, these periods still attained levels of distinction including the growth of cities, shift in political power, and ideological change among individuals. Classical conflict can be traced back to the beginning of the era, where Ionians and Greeks revolted against the Persian Achaemenid Empire. The severely outnumbered Greek city states repelled the revengeful Persian army twice as well. Conflicts such as these continued in the Hellenistic period where multiple battles were fought. Both the Ptolemaic and Seleucid empires constantly fought resistance and breakaway movements, with the most notable being the Jews fight against Hellenization. The Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV “Epiphanes” savagely