Greek culture reached Middle East before Alexander?

[zefs]

Study Suggests Alexander Not So Great
Greek Culture Reached Middle East Ahead of Alexander
By Lee Dye
June 19
— Way back in the fourth century B.C., a young Alexander the Great thundered across what is now the Middle East in a bloody mission that ranks among the most brilliant military conquests in history.

And according to almost any textbook, Alexander, though barely out of his teens, paved the way for the rapid spread of Greek culture throughout that tortured land.

But according to some intriguing research, the young Macedonian's achievements may not have been as great as his name implies. The evidence suggests quite strongly that Greek material culture, at least, flourished as far away as the coast of what is now Israel at least a century before Alexander's conquests.

The findings dispute the widely held belief that Hellenization, or the spread of Greek culture, "went into high gear" on the heels of Alexander's military exploits, says Andrew F. Stewart, an art historian and archaeologist at the University of California, Berkeley, who is heading up an international team of experts investigating the matter.

"What we think we can prove is that's not true," Stewart says.

The evidence also suggests that Greek culture did not increase, at least in that area, under Alexander.

"If anything there was a bit of retrenchment," Stewart says.

Artifacts Suggest Earlier Greek Culture

Why should anyone care, other than a bunch of art historians? Simply this. It may seem logical to assume that military victories in places like Iran, Afghanistan, Israel and other hot spots will lead to the spread of the culture and values of the conquering forces. But beneath a small mound overlooking two ancient sand-filled harbors, archaeologists are uncovering evidence that "decouples material culture from military conquest," Stewart says.

For nearly two decades Steward has been digging into the sandy soil where a Phoenician town once thrived on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, in what is now Israel. The site is extraordinarily rare in that it has remained relatively undisturbed for two millennium.
Rest is continued...
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Story?id=97611&page=1

[Promethean Fire]

Come on man what bout the temple conviniantly named Petra. You think arabs designed corinthina columns. Good article Zefs....i like it.

[pankration]

This is news? Western Asia was long known as home for many Greek-speaking people. Some were even allies of various Persian kings. so what does this prove?

[Αλέξανδρος ο' Μέγας]

It's perfectly normal that there were many contacts between Greece and East. They fought many wars, and they knew each other's existence. When Alexander crossed the Hindu-Kush, he knew he was going to India, as he received information from other merchants from Bactria, the far east persian province, who had been there.

The main point is that Alexander established an enormous, cosmopolitan realm, from the mountains of Macedonia to the Indus, passing through the pyramids of Egypt. There is a slight difference I think from knowing the existence of a culture, and being conquered by it.

[Andrew]

Thales , Pythagoras , Demokritus , Herodotus and Xenophon with his 10.000 are the minimal "famus" portion of Greeks that have travelled to East (Asia and Egypt) before Alexander . What about the numerous and "unknown" Greek merchants and merchenaries that for centuries have reached Asia ??

Now ...the difference ..:
1) Before Alexander , East was weak receptor of Greek culture.
2) After Alexander , East was strong producer of Greek culture (watch Alexandreia after Ptolemy).

[pankration]

Thales , Pythagoras , Demokritus , Herodotus and Xenophon with his 10.000 are the minimal "famus" portion of Greeks that have travelled to East (Asia and Egypt) before Alexander . What about the numerous and "unknown" Greek merchants and merchenaries that for centuries have reached Asia ??

Now ...the difference ..:
1) Before Alexander , East was weak receptor of Greek culture.
2) After Alexander , East was strong producer of Greek culture (watch Alexandreia after Ptolemy).

Greece was a portal of trade not only for Persia but Africa and the rest of the Mediterranean regions. Many different people could be seen in a Greek agora any day of the week. The mercantilists and traders spread ideas far and wide and anyone who thinks their influence is minimal should look at the Middle Ages that followed a thousand years later. If not for traders and trade fairs, Europe would still be in the Dark Ages.

[klimentohridski]

Of course there was greek influence in Asia before Alexander.... He did not care about spreading hellenism at all. It was the greeks before him and greek artists following him during the conquest.

[Ptolemy]

Of course there was greek influence in Asia before Alexander.... He did not care about spreading hellenism at all. It was the greeks before him and greek artists following him during the conquest.

Nice of you to contribute to the amusement of MOTW members by sharing gibberish they are feeding you in FYROM. Be my guest to contribute more. People who make others laughing like you, are welcomed!

[zefs]

If that is true klim. then why did his whole family claim that they were from Argos? Why is it that this forum allows these morons to troll. Any Greek who goes to their forums they kick them out. We are too nice to these slavs.

[kzk842]

Of course there was greek influence in Asia before Alexander.... He did not care about spreading hellenism at all. It was the greeks before him and greek artists following him during the conquest.


but he said, Were I not Alexander, I would be Diogenes. That is, —

“Had I not designed to intermix barbarians and Greeks and to civilize the earth as I marched forward, and had I not proposed to search the limits of sea and land, and so, extending Macedon to the land-bounding ocean, to have sown Greece in every region all along and to have diffused justice and peace over all nations, I would not have sat yawning upon the throne of slothful and voluptuous power, but would have labored to imitate the frugality of Diogenes. But now pardon us, Diogenes. We follow the example of Hercules, we emulate Perseus, and tread in the footsteps of Bacchus, our divine ancestor and founder of our race; once more we purpose to settle the victorious Greeks in India



The First Oration of Plutarch Concerning the Fortune Or Virtue of Alexander the Great,Plutarch, The Morals, vol. 1
http://oll.libertyfund.org/index.php?option=com_staticxt&staticfile=show.php%3Ftitle=1211&layout=html#chapter_91562



Now come and tell me that this is Greek propaganda...
I wish you to do,cause those are just Alexanders words.