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The Hellenistic Successor Kingdoms (the Diadochi, from the Greek for “Successors”) emerged after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE, when his vast empire fractured among his generals. From this division arose powerful states such as the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt (305–30 BCE), the Seleucid Empire in the Near East (312–63 BCE), and the Antigonid Kingdom in Macedon and Greece (276–168 BCE). These monarchies blended Greek and local traditions, becoming centers of politics, culture, and scholarship that defined the Hellenistic world.
The Diadochi period was marked by constant wars and shifting alliances as rival dynasties sought to expand or defend their territories. The Wars of the Successors (322–281 BCE) culminated in the Battle of Corupedium (281 BCE), after which the three main dynasties stabilized. Each kingdom fostered advances in art, science, and philosophy, with Alexandria in Egypt, Antioch in Syria, and Pergamon in Asia Minor emerging as leading cultural hubs. Though eventually absorbed by Rome, the Hellenistic kingdoms left a deep legacy, spreading Greek culture across the Mediterranean and Western Asia and shaping the intellectual foundations of later civilizations.
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Related Images
Map of the Successor Kingdoms, c. 303 BCE
Map of Ptolemaic Egypt c. 240 BCE
Seleucid Empire 200 BCE
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Ptolemaic Trade Networks in the Late 1st Century BCE
Cite This Work
APA Style
Netchev, S. (2021, June 30). Map of the Hellenistic Kingdoms after Alexander, c.301 BCE. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14355/map-of-the-hellenistic-kingdoms-after-alexander-c3/
Chicago Style
Netchev, Simeon. "Map of the Hellenistic Kingdoms after Alexander, c.301 BCE." World History Encyclopedia, June 30, 2021. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14355/map-of-the-hellenistic-kingdoms-after-alexander-c3/.
MLA Style
Netchev, Simeon. "Map of the Hellenistic Kingdoms after Alexander, c.301 BCE." World History Encyclopedia, 30 Jun 2021, https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14355/map-of-the-hellenistic-kingdoms-after-alexander-c3/.
