The Hellenistic Culture

Before the Hellenistic world could make an impact on the world around it, first it became part of the culture, the language, integrate into the cities and religions, and then part of the Empires. Despite some resistance, the Hellenism world took high appeals to the people. The Hellenistic culture was one that was developed from the small, individual city-states and then grew greatly through the entire Mediterranean and then even further. (207) The culture itself was based on “philosophical and political thinking” as well as disciplines from history and biology, entertainment, competitive games for the public, and multiple forms of art. (207) Since the culture had so many interties with in it, which no other culture did, the Hellenistic culture
spread like rapid fire due to its appeal. (207) Along with an appealing culture, there was also a common language which was one of the core elements of Hellenistic known as koine, also known as ‘common’ which replaced many dialects in numerous city-states. The language was an everyday form that the people were able to grasp and master with ease, in return it became the language of its day. (207) The simple language was used by people in Egypt, Judea, Syria, and Sicily and made it possible for them the communicate with one another and be able to share common art and comedies. As a result, the movement spread to the Greek culture and Southwest Asia. (207) The result of the culture and language being a large popularity factor in the Hellenistic movement created the formations of larger kingdoms and states.
In the previous city-state world individuals would would identify with local cultures and beliefs. Once the Hellenistic movement was celebrated, people wanted to connect to not only a local culture but a common world culture in which all individuals belong to one world instead of one city or state. Since kingdoms and states had become so huge, people now related to one another on political style through the personalities of their king, ruler, or families. (208) Everything was based off personality and style. (208) The rules began to dress in expensive clothing, platform shoes, heavy makeup, and capes with images. (208-209) Since rulers began to set their presence as powerful, ordinary people began to feel inferior and belittle. With this feeling, Hellenistic religion and philosophy began to come into play to help individuals focus on his/her place in the larger world.
(209)
With individual self expression and loving becoming a growing concern many philosophers began to develop ideas on how people should live their life. The Athenian philosopher Diogenes was a big contributor to the idea of self-sufficient and freedom from the laws that the society and costumes had placed in the human race. (209) The teacher Epicurus was a founder of a school in Athens that was called The Garden which directed teaching to the self, similar to Diogenes. (209) His ideal community would be focused on the importance of good sensation and bad sensation, and that people should live their life based on the good rather than the bad. (209) Zeno created Stoicism which was from the island of Cyprus in which the belief that human should live by the rules of nature and indifferent one’s pleasure and pain. (209) In Egypt a cult of Osiris and Isis was form in which the followers believed that one could be re-born. (210)
Along with these popular beliefs, many did not believe in the culture and philosophies that Hellenism taught and displayed.
The Jews in Judea, between Egypt and the state of Mesopotamia, did not encourage or consider the culture of Hellenism. Despite the resistance, the rebuilding of Jerusalem began and the society gained rule under another empire resulting in the introduction to a new openness and culture of the Mediterranean world. (211) In addition to the Jews not accepting the new change, the Romans also saw the Greek’s culture to be unappealing, but inevitably they saw the opportunities to increase their value and acceptance.
(211)