The Hellenistic Near East A general survey of the Ancient Near East from the rise of Achaemenid Persia in the sixth century B.C. to the fall of the Greek monarchies at the time of Cleopatra VII, Marcus Antonius, Caesar Augustus, and the Roman Empire. The major issues of urbanization, agriculture, nomadism, and the development and institutions of monarchy and Empire will be stressed. Concepts of cosmopolitan Assyro-Babylonia and Persia will be developed, the concept of Zarathustrian theocratic kingship, and the bases of theocratic Hellenistic empires will also be stressed. The rise of the Parthians and Romans upon the Hellenistic World and the Hellenistic matrix for Christianity will conclude the survey. This course is unique.
Most Hellenistic studies stress Alexandrine change.
This study stresses Near Eastern continuity and alteration. All examinations are essay in nature.