Hellenism

Question 1

What two powerful cultural forces did the Jews of 1st century Palestine experience?

Answer 1

• The Jewish laws, festivals and traditions expressed in the scriptures
• The Hellenic civilisation; the international culture that had been brought into Judea by the conquering Greeks and Romans

Question 2

What does ‘Hellas’ mean?

Answer 2

Greece

Question 3

What does ‘Hellenic’ mean?

Answer 3

Greek culture and ideas

Question 4

What is ‘Hellenism’?

Answer 4

The spread of Greek culture and ideas into society

Question 5

How did the process of Hellenism begin?

Answer 5

Greek ideas were spread by the conquests of Alexander the Great

Question 6

What happened after the death of Alexander the Great?

Answer 6

His vast empire was carved up by his generals, who became Kings of Persia, Egypt and Greece itself

Question 7

Which of the Kingdoms that emerged following the death of Alexander the Great held power over Palestine and most of the Middle East?

Answer 7

The Seleucid kingdom, based in what we now call Syria. The Jews of Palestine found themselves under their control for 150 years

Question 8

What was the consequence of Alexander leaving behind vast kingdoms in his wake?

Answer 8

Allowed mass migration and communication across Asia and the Med

Question 9

Which Greek ideas in particular began to be introduced to the wider world?

Answer 9

Politics, art, religion, philosophy and language