Cultural Effects of Alexander's Conquests Essay

Cultural Effects of Alexander's Conquests - Essay Example The people of Asia were quick to adopt the culture of the conquerors. This situation set the stage for integrating Greek culture in the conquered territories and information from both ways. As a result artists, painters, musicians and writers flocked to these cities founded by Alexander in Persia, Egypt and in the later other cities also followed classic Greek city style, complete with baths, temples and public meeting places, a style directly borrowed from Greek, which was further spread along the Silk road in the conquered territories. It is a well-known fact that, the changes in cultures, which we know as history of the civilization, are the direct consequence of sweeping conquests. When Alexander's armies subjugated the known world by their military prowess, the result was Hellinization of the cultures in the centuries to come, and the impact was equal spread from Europe to Middle East and Central Asia. By 323 BC Alexander Empire was stretched from Greece to Egypt, Iran and India. As the Empire grew larger, so does the Greek influence in these new conquered territories. At every conquered territory Alexander setup a strategic military installations with complete Greek style towns, which imported the Greek culture and ideas. And these influences can even be observed even in today in central Asian art and architecture. Despite the enormous distance between the Asia and Europe, the two continents were in contact via Silk Road, which was famous and well-known route for travelers, merchants, pilgrims spreading trade and culture along the silk road from Rome to Central Asia .Without any doubt it was the conquering nations who brought this cultural change and diffusion allowing this diffusion of cultures. Alexander made conscious efforts to hellinize the world, which can be seen by his marriage to Persian princess, the daughter of Darius III .He also asked 80 of his officers to marry local women. During 324 B.C in a feast he offered 10000 of his men foreign women. Other than that he also built about thirty Greek style cities along the route of his conquest, an extension of Hellenistic empire, which continued long after his death. These cities, in the later years even though separated from Greek rule remained alive enclaves of Greek culture. The elite of these cities not only spoke Greek language, but also adopted Greek customs and traditions, including taking part in Greek athletics. Alexander conquests provided the chance for Hellinism to flourish with much greater force among these territories. As a result Greek culture became the culture of the rulers. Alexander used different techniques to consolidate these conquests. For example Alexander founded the colonial installations, even though some were mere military installations, mainly occupied by army to control the city. The important aspect of these cities and town was to acquire the status of Greek cities and able to imitate the Greek style of government. Greco- Macedonians, who lived like Greeks formed part of the local population, ruled these cities. Being conquered, it was natural for these conquered territories to follow the Greek culture and language. One of Alexander's general Peukestas learned Persian language and even became familiar with Persian culture and adopted their clothes, which was an exceptional case. Normally it was the conquered population, who followed the Greek traditions and tried to b ecome part of hellenized culture for