---
title: Hellenistic Trade Routes, 300 BCE
author: Jan van der Crabben
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/67/hellenistic-trade-routes-300-bce/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 1970-01-01
---

# Hellenistic Trade Routes, 300 BCE

_Authored by Jan van der Crabben_

## Image File

[![Hellenistic Trade Routes, 300 BCE](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/67.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/67.jpg)

## Image Caption

[Alexander the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alexander_the_Great/) died in [Babylon](https://www.worldhistory.org/babylon/) on the 13th of June, 323 BCE. His Macedonian-[Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) [empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/) broke apart, but [Alexander](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Alexander/)’s heritage was felt throughout the ancient [Mediterranean](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/mediterranean/) world for centuries. Three [Hellenic](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/) empires emerged from the wars of succession that followed his [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/): The Antigonid Empire in Macedonia, the [Seleucid Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/Seleucid_Empire/) in [Persia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Persia/) and [Mesopotamia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mesopotamia/), and the [Ptolemaic Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Ptolemaic_Empire/) in [Egypt](https://www.worldhistory.org/egypt/). Hellenic [culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/culture/) was kept alive and spread all across the known world: often with the sword, but even more successfully through [trade](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/trade/). 
 
The Ptolemaic influence extended from [Carthage](https://www.worldhistory.org/carthage/) in the Maghreb via [Alexandria](https://www.worldhistory.org/alexandria/) in Egypt to [Meroë](https://www.worldhistory.org/Meroe/) in Nubia. Ptolemaic trade routes extended as far south as Abyssinia and Somaliland in [Africa](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/africa/), as well as to [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/) by sea trade. The [Seleucid](https://www.worldhistory.org/Seleucid_Empire/) influence extended from [Antioch](https://www.worldhistory.org/Antiochia/) in the West via Seleucia in [Babylonia](https://www.worldhistory.org/babylon/) and [Persepolis](https://www.worldhistory.org/persepolis/) in Persia to Bactra, the gateway to the Asian steppes… and to Xian in [China](https://www.worldhistory.org/china/) along the [Silk Road](https://www.worldhistory.org/Silk_Road/). By these routes, [Greek culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Greek_Culture/) was exported, and exotic goods such as elephants, ivory, pearls, and [silk](https://www.worldhistory.org/Silk/) were imported into the Mediterranean.

#### Editorial Review

This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).

## Bibliography

- Hermann Kinder, Werner Hilgemann. *dtv Atlas der Weltgeschichte.* Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, 1995

## Cite This Work

### APA
Crabben, J. v. d. (2012, April 26). Hellenistic Trade Routes, 300 BCE. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/67/hellenistic-trade-routes-300-bce/>
### Chicago
Crabben, Jan van der. "Hellenistic Trade Routes, 300 BCE." *World History Encyclopedia*, April 26, 2012. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/67/hellenistic-trade-routes-300-bce/>.
### MLA
Crabben, Jan van der. "Hellenistic Trade Routes, 300 BCE." *World History Encyclopedia*, 26 Apr 2012, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/67/hellenistic-trade-routes-300-bce/>.

## License & Copyright

Original image by **Jan van der Crabben**. Submitted by [Jan van der Crabben](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/jvdc/ "User Page: Jan van der Crabben"), published on 26 April 2012. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.