Greek Colonies Hellenistic Military Campaigns Term Paper

Ancient Indian art starting from the 3-century BC experienced a considerable influence of Hellenistic traditions

In general, Greek state-cities in Middle Asia had a number of typical features of Greek urban culture so that life of its inhabitants was quite similar to traditional life of Greeks in Mediterranean. Urban architecture, ethics, dress code and social relations in Asian Hellenistic colonies were quite similar to classical Greek traditions.

For example, Greek-Bactrian city of Ai-Khanoum according to Boardman had all the hallmarks of a Hellenistic city, with a Greek theater, gymnasium and some Greek houses with colonnated courtyards"(p. 201). Culture of Hellenisticcolonies as in many ways common to Greek classical traditions, but on the hand with Greek customs colonists adopted a number of aboriginal traditions. Polytheism of Greeks also experienced mixture with local religious beliefs and experienced a certain influence of Zoroastrian and Buddhist religious traditions, but Greek mythology preserved its privileges. As mythological beliefs of ancient cultures in many respects had common background, integration of religions was a common practice.

Greek colonies in Middle Asia promoted development of trade of native tribes with China and Mediterranean as they executed the role of uniting chain between different cultures of Ancient world and contributed much to the struggle against nomadic tribes from the East.

Making a conclusion it's important to note that Greek colonies of Hellenistic Age have lost much of its politic attributes compared to Classic age. Greek democracy principles transformed into absolute monarchy of local rulers, who often adopted native system of administration, which considerably limited autonomy of polises. All political decisions were made by the ruler, the opinion of elected council was nearly always neglected and its commission was limited to municipal administrative issues. Despite all political restrictions and population disproportion, the position of military commander (strategist) which was always taken by ethnic Greek gave them relative protection and guarantees from the side of absolutist rulers. Because Greeks had advanced culture, social and political traditions which stood on a higher level compared to those of natives, they successfully preserved individualism and uniqueness of Hellenistic culture. System of beliefs, philosophy of Greeks and their mentality was totally different from native cultures of Middle Asia. Being more technologically and military advanced, Greeks made a great contribution to the development of Asian culture and numismatic art of Middle Asian countries and even China.

References

Boardman, J. Griffin, J. Murray, O. The Oxford Illustrated History of Greece and the Hellenistic World Oxford University Press, 2001

Tarn, W.W. The Greeks in Bactria and India Cambridge University Press, 1997

Greek Colonies…