Alexander and the Seleucids

Seleucids Period 330 - 247

Seleucids, a dynasty of Macedonian kings that reigned in the Middle East, were established when the empire of Alexander was partitioned among his generals. Their kingdom originally extended eastward from Asia Minor into what is now Pakistan. The Seleucid kingdom had two capitals: Antioch in Syria and Seleucia on the Tigris in Mesopotamia. The Seleucids, Greek in language and culture, encouraged Greek colonists to settle in their domains. Nevertheless, in their autocratic rule they followed the example of their Syrian, Mesopotamian, and Persian predecessors. They were frequently involved in wars with the Ptolemies, another Macedonian dynasty that had established itself in Egypt.

330 Alexander conquered the Achaemenian Empire.
- Alexander entered Susa.
330 Alexander burned Persepolis.
Alexander became king of Asia as the successor of Darius III. His conquest of the Achaemenian Empire marked the end of Achaemenian greatness and the glory of ancient history.
Persian nobles joined Alexander, and together they brought new order to the world. The Persians penetrated into the political and administrative life of the empire. Alexander appointed Macedonians and Persians as satraps and  generals.
- Atropates, a Persian, was appointed satrap of Media.
- Phrataphernes, a persian, was reinstated satrap of Parthia.
- Mithrenes, a Persian, was appointed satrap of Armenia.
- Mithrenes couldn't secure his new post, and Orontes remained satrap.
Alexander's dream was to bring Macedonians, Greeks and Persians together. His intension was to create a fusion of Hellenes and Persians. Inter-marriage en masse between the Greeks and the Persians was mandated to consolidate Greco-Persian union.
He founded cities called Alexandria mostly in the east of Persia where he had to fight more. The cities, based on Achaemenian garrison towns, were military centers to control the strategic routes.
- To encourage the Greco-Persian union, Alexander married Roxane, daughter of the Sogdian Lord.
327 Alexander conquered India.
323 Alexander died at 33 in Babylonia.
Alexander died too young to have time' to carry out his plans.
What Alexander established survived his death, and his plans were carried out by his successors.As conquests continued, capable young men replaced old generals of Philip. Three of the young generals were Ptolemy, Antigonos, and Seleucus. After Alexander's death, his generals sought and declared their independence.
322 Aristotle died.
- Ptolemy became king of Egypt.
- Antigonos became king of Media (Atropatene).
- Seleucus became king of Persia.
312 Seleucus founded the Seleucid dynasty.
311 Seleucus began to quell all opposition in Babylonia and Persia.
Seleucus created a system of military colonies. Seleucus fought much to secure the allegiance of satraps and local rulers. He secured the allegiance of Bactria, Media, Macedonia, Syria, Anatolia.
Seleucus re-founded the centers that had declined, such as Ecbatana and Hecatampylus.
305 Seleucus formally became king of Persia.
Hellenism marked the beginning of foreign rule and disunity.
Seleucus introduced the concept of polis and city life and ruled for 25 years. He did well and loyalty to his house remained strong.
His political and military purpose was primarily to ensure his rule. Areas of importance were Egypt, Babylonia, Anatolia, Ionia, and Media, which was a valuable source of horses needed for their cavalry.
Seleucids achieved a uniform currency and monetary system, but Achaemenian institutions like road and post systems remained unchanged.
The great innovation and main function of the Seleucids was founding cities. Seleucus and later Seleucid rulers scattered Greek settlements throughout the empire, but there were not enough Greeks and Macedonians to control all of Asia.
300 Antioch, now in Turkey, was founded by Seleucus Nicator as capital of his Syrian kingdom.
300 Zeno of Citium, founder of Stoicism and Epicurus, founder
of Epicureanism, flourished in Athens.
300 Euclid, the most prominent mathematician of Greco-Roman
antiquity, flourished. He is best known for his treatise on geometry.
-Seleucus was assassinated in Greece.
The Greek way of life and practice meant spread of language, law, and culture.The king was the supreme judge, general, legislator, and nerve center. The court was house of the king and his friends, families, slaves, and servants. There was no national Seleucid state, but subjects of the Seleucid king. The Greeks learned about methods of agriculture, new fruits, and new crops. The Greeks called peaches and oranges 'Persian apples', and 'Median apples'. Imperial and cultural traditions were maintained with little Greek influence. Greeks primarily influenced art, architecture, and religion. Zoroastrianism declined, and cults of Heracles and Mithra were preached.
Hellenization of the Persians led to the Persianization of the Greeks.
Fars established its independence in an uprising against the Seleucids.
250 New centers of power were emerging in Asia Minor.
-The Ptolemies ruled in Egypt.
-The Kushans, a people of Persian origin, ruled in Bactria. Parthians, who had migrated from northeast although their origin is uncertain, began to assert their independence.
- Arsaces, the head of Parni tribe and the vassal of the Bactrian Greeks, revolted and fled westwards to establish his rule.Parni was one of three nomadic or semi-nomadic tribes in the confederacy of the Dahae living east of the Caspian Sea whose members founded the Parthian empire.