This lesson on the Hellenistic Period introduces students to the time period that traditionally begins in 323 BCE with the death of Alexander the Great and ends in 31 BCE with the ascension of Augustus to the emperor of Rome.
Essential questions about the Hellenistic period
- What happened within the Alexandrian Empire after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE?
- How did Hellenic culture impact other Mediterranean and Near East cultures, and vice-versa?
Learning objectives
- Develop analytical skills with printed text and video to determine the central ideas
- Learn or improve basic geography skills.
The lesson plans allow for differentiation and adaptation to your students’ level of ability.
Starter activity
Start your class with a discussion about how the Hellenistic Period was shaped by the vision that Alexander the Great had for a cosmopolitan empire and the spread of Greek culture.
He believed that Greek and Eastern cultures would blend and merge together to form new ideas and accomplishments. From this vision came a torrent of new advancements in art, science and mathematics, to name a few.
To help your discussion, use the included warm-up table. This sets out a selection of Greek and Hellenistic advancements that are still alive in our modern world.
Students can guess from which period they think each advancement came from. They can then discuss if and how this impacts their lives.
World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organisation publishing the world’s most-read history encyclopedia. Browse more free teaching materials, including games and quizzes on this topic.
