According to Plutarch, how did Alexander the Great spread civilization to Asia? How had Asia become more “civilized?”

Transcribed Image Text:Page 1 Hellenistic Culture: Rationalism, Universalism, and Individualism During the Hellenistic Age, Greek civilization spread to the Near East in the wake of Alexander's conquests, and Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Persian, and Jewish traditions-particularly religious beliefs-moved westward. Thousands of Greeks settled in newly established cities throughout the an- cient Near East, carrying with them Greek urban institutions and culture- laws, cults, educational methods, artistic and architectural styles, custonms, and dress. The new Hellenistic cities were dominated by a Greek upper class, which recruited native non-Greeks to its ranks to the degree that they became Hellenized that is, they adopted the Greek language and lifestyle. Through intermarriage, education in Greek schools, and the prospect of political and economic advantage, non-Greeks came to participate in and contribute to a common Greek civilization that spread from the western Mediterranean to the Indus River. Cultural exchange permeated all phases of cultural life. Sculpture showed the influence of many lands. Historians wrote world histories, not just local ones. Greek astronomers worked with data collected over the centuries by the Babylonians. Greeks increasingly demonstrated a fascination with Near Eastern religious cults. Philosophers helped to break down the barriers between peoples by asserting that all inhabit a single fatherland. As the philosopher Crates said, "My fatherland has no single tower, no single roof. The whole earth is my citadel, a home ready for us all to live in." Plutarch CULTURAL FUSION The Greek biographer Plutarch (c. A.D. 46–120) provides a glowing account of Alexander the Great in the following passage. Plutarch saw Alexander as a phi- losopher in action and an apostle of universalism and human brotherhood. Many modern historians reject this assessment of Alexander's intentions, but the scope of his conquests and their significance in reducing the distinctions between Near Easterners and Greeks remain impressive.
Transcribed Image Text:Page the gods of the Greeks. Plato wrote a book on the One Ideal Constitution, but because of its forbidding character he could not persuade community and one polity, and that we should have a common life and an order common to us all, even as a herd that feeds together and anyone to adopt it; but Alexander established shares the pasturage of a common held. 1his more than seventy cities t among savage tribes, Zeno wrote, giving shape to a dream or, as it were, shadowy picture of a well-ordered and and thus overcame its uncivilized and brut- philosophic commonwealth; but it was Alex- ander who gave effect to the idea. For Alexan- der did not follow Aristotle's advice to treat and sowed all Asia with Grecian magistracies, ish manner of living. Although few of us read Plato's Laws, yet hundreds of thousands have made use of Alexander's laws, and continue the Greeks as if he were their leader, and other to use them. Those who were vanquished by peoples as if he were their master; to have re- Alexander are happier than those who escaped gard for the Greeks as for friends and kindred, but to conduct himself toward other peoples as to the wretchedness of their existence, while the though they were plants or animals; for to do so would have been to cumber his leadership his hand; for these had no one to put an end victor compelled those others to lead a happy life. .. . Thus Alexander's new subjects would with numerous battles and banishments and not have been civilized, had they not been van- festering seditions. But, as he believed that he came as a heaven-sent governor to all, and as quished; Egypt would not have its Alexandria, nor Mesopotamia its Seleuceia, nor Sogdi- a mediator for the whole world, those whom ana its Prophchasia, nor India its Bucephalia, he could not persuade to unite with him, he nor the Caucasus a Greek city hard by; for by conquered by force of arms, and he brought the founding of cities in these places savagery together into one body all men every where, was extinguished and the worse element, uniting and mixing in one great loving-cup, as it were, men's lives, their characters, their under its influence. If, then, philosophers take marriages, their very habits of life. He bade the greatest pride in civilizing and rendering them all consider as their fatherland the whole adaptable the intractable and untutored ele- inhabited earth, as their stronghold and tection his camp, as akin to them all 4. gaining familiarity with the better, changed pro- ments in human character, and if Alexander has been shown to have changed the savage natures good men, and as foreigners only the wicked; they of countless tribes, it is with good reason that he should not distinguish between Grecian and foreigner by Grecian cloak and targe [shield], or scimitar {curved sword] and jacket; but the Zeno, the founder of the Stoic sect, may be distinguishing mark of the Grecian should be seen in virtue, and that of the foreigner in in- iquity; clothing and food, marriage and man- live differentiated by their respective rules of ner of life they should regard as common to all, justice into separate cities and communities, being blended into one by ties of blood and should be regarded as a very great philosopher. Moreover, the much-admired Republic of summed up in this one main principle: that all the inhabitants of this world of ours should not bur that we should consider men to be of one children. ... Page 3 For he did not overrun Asia like a robber he made himself conform. But if the deity that sent down Alexander's soul into this world of ours had not recalled him quickly, one law would govern all mankind, and they all would look toward one rule of justice as though toward a common source of light. But as it is, that part of the world which has not looked nor was he minded to cear and rend it, as if it were boory and plunder bestowed by unexpected good fortune, after the manner in which Hanni- bal later descended upon Italy. . . . But Alexan- der desired to render all upon earth subject to one law of reason and one form of government and to reveal all men as one people, and to this purpose upon Alexander has remained without sunlight.

Question

According to Plutarch, how did Alexander the Great spread civilization to Asia? How had Asia become more “civilized?”

Accepted Answer

According to Plutarch, Alexander the Great had spread civilization to Asia.