The Hellenistic Age or Hellenistic World was an age where Greek and conquered cultures integrated together. It made a huge impact on society by the spreading and diffusion of cultures, the East meeting the West. The important lesson in this era was the lesson in change and continuity. It was also a period of uncertainty which the Greeks slowly learned to adapt to. However, Alexander the Great's conquests had remarkable effect on the civilizations during this time as well. Alexander, along with his leading generals swept across Egypt, in the Middle-east, and Persia's into India becoming key players in the spread of Hellenistic culture.
There various type of changes that occurred during Hellenistic age. It brought about new political and philosophical concepts. Epicureanism held that people could achieve happiness only by withdrawing from public life and, through the exercise of reason, freeing themselves from all sources of anxiety, including a belief in gods. Epicureanism also opened philosophical activity to all despite gender or social condition. Stoicism did so as well through its idea of a world society bound by a shared search for harmony with the Logos. Everyone could achieve this harmony by their passions through reason. Stoicism also encouraged participation in public life to foster harmony throughout world society. Skepticism denied that there is one true path to happiness. In its most sophisticated form, it insisted on the limits of reason, encouraging adherents to base morality not on fixed principle but on practical experience. The most radical of Hellenistic philosophies, Cynicism tried to free people to follow their own natures by denying all forms of authority and promoting ascetic self-discipline. By emphasizing personal fulfillment, Hellenistic philosophy did some of the work of religion, thus preparing the way for Christianity.
Politically, Hellenistic civilization was defined by its Greek-speaking cities. It became diverse as the Greek concept of exclusive city-citizenship yielded to the reality of common subject to the king. King Philip II of Macedonia strengthened the Macedonian armed forces just as the attempts at unity in the Greek mainland failed. Philip II was able to conquer the city-states of southern Greece and created a Macedonian hegemony. Although Greek city-states technically continued to exist, they were subjected to a Macedonian empire. When Philip died, Greece and the kingdom of Macedonia fell to his son, Alexander. The political systems instituted at the time by Alexander’s general's obtainment of conquered kingdoms was the traditional way modeled after the rule who held power before them. This, along with cultural diffusion allowed for some smaller kingdoms to measure of political ethics was the utility of the individual constitution. Classical Greek philosophy stressed both rationalism and skepticism
Artistically, the emphasis was on the individual and everyday human activity. Due to Alexander’s accomplishments artist commemorated the deeds of the Hellenistic kings by creating sculptors of themselves as a gift. Artists during this time looked at sculpting as an experiment with the relationship between the statue and its space to depict varieties of accomplishments and power. Hellenistic art reflected the age by preserving the Classical tradition while injecting into it new subjects and techniques
Scientifically, this era made very important advancements due to their quest to learn. Some of the advancements were in Medicine, Mathematics and Astronomy. Alexandrian physicians advanced medical knowledge by studying human anatomy and organ functions. Archimedes of Syracuse both invented many devices and theorized the properties of static liquids. Astronomers debated the geocentric and heliocentric theories of the universe and mapped the stars, while geographers worked to estimate the earth's circumference. Greek science reached its height during this age, fueled by the data gathered through Alexander's conquests.
Religion also changed as well in many various ways. With influence of Greek cultures and Greek Gods continued to be worshiped, and the same rights as before. However, from cultural diffusion and different religions from other countries, such as the Egyptian gods and goddesses, it created a mix of religions. For example, they had Grecco-Macedonian gods along with regional entities. By this type of religion forming it provided a new outlet for people seeking fulfillment in both the present life and the afterlife. The worship of Hellenistic rulers was also a feature of this period, most notably in Egypt, where the Ptolemies adopted earlier pharaonic practice, and established themselves as god-kings.