The Hellenistic period covers the period of ancient Greek (Hellenic) history and Mediterranean history between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the emergence of the Roman Empire as signified by the Battle of Actium in 31 BC and the subsequent conquest of Ptolemaic Egypt the following year. At this time, Greek cultural influence and power was at its peak in Europe, Africa and Asia, experiencing prosperity and progress in the arts, exploration, literature, theatre, architecture, music, mathematics, philosophy, and science. For example, competitive public games took place, ideas in biology, and popular entertainment in theaters. It is often considered a period of transition, sometimes even of decadence or degeneration, compared to the enlightenment of the Greek Classical era. The Hellenistic period saw the rise of New Comedy, Alexandrian poetry, the Septuagint and the philosophies of Stoicism and Epicureanism. Greek Science was advanced by the works of the mathematician Euclid and the polymath Archimedes. The religious sphere expanded to include new gods such as the Greco-Egyptian Serapis, eastern deities such as Attis and Cybele and the Greek adoption of Buddhism.

Answer the following questions:
1. What is the main topic?
2. Whos history does it cover?
3. Were sports played?
4. What else did this period see a rise of?
5. Did this include religion?
6. Can you name one?
7. And from the east?
8. Did they adopt any other beliefs?
9. What was this considered a period of?
10. Were they moral?
11. Who died in 323?
12. What countries power and influence peaked during this time?
13. What happened in 31?

Numbered answers:
1. The Hellenistic period
2. Ancient Greek (Hellenic) and Mediterranean history
3. Yes, there were competitive public games
4. the arts, exploration, literature, theatre, architecture, music, mathematics, philosophy, and science
5. The religious sphere expanded to include new gods
6. Serapis
7. Attis and Cybele
8. Buddhism
9. transition, sometimes even decadence or degeneration
10. unknown
11. Alexander the Great
12. Greece
13. The Battle of Actium