Hellenistic vs Roman
Hellenistic vs Roman
Was Western civilization based on Greek civilization? This belief has some merit but it is not entirely correct. To be precise, Western European civilization was based on Roman civilization. The terms West and Greco-Roman civilization can be misleading. It is really vague what West is. In ancient times, Greece was West and Persian Empire was East. Where is the line between East and West?
We should clarify some vagueness that exists regarding, West, Western civilization, Greco-Roman civilization. We will add and explain a term that is not often used and this is a mistake. The terms Greco-Roman and Western are used very often but the term Hellenistic rarely. There is confusion also with the terms Hellenic and Greek which are the same.
Let's start with the last because it is first historically. The correct name of Greeks is Hellenes. Although the terms Greek and Greece are widely used all over the world, they are incorrect. Greeks never called themselves like that and their country Greece. From ancient times till today, they have been calling themselves Hellenes and their country Hellas. How did the incorrect terms Greek and Greece prevailed?
Graecians were a Hellenic tribe that lived in an area around Dodona and Achelous river in Epirus which is in northwestern Greece. It is the area of mainland Hellas that is closer to Italy and Graecians were among the first Hellenes that established colonies in Italy, around 9th century BC. According to one source, the first colony was Cumae that was founded by settlers from Euboea. There was and still is a town called Cumae in Euboea. The remains of ancient Cumae in Italy are in the village Cuma, near Naples.
Even though Graecians may have not been the first Hellenes to establish colony in Italy, they were the first Hellenic tribe that came into contact with Latins who erroneously used the term Graecians for all Hellenes. This term was also used in Latin texts and spread in Western Europe and the rest of the world. The correct terms are Hellas, Hellenes and Hellenic. Hellenistic is derived from Hellenic. Hellenistic is a term coined by later historians.
It implies something that was Hellenic to a great extent but not entirely. It is like saying Greekish instead of Greek. The term Hellenic could be used as well but historians wanted to distinguish Hellenic from Hellenistic. The Hellenic world was mainly in today's Hellas (Greece). Hellenistic world was much broader and so was Hellenistic culture and civilization.
Hellenistic period starts with Alexander's death in 323 BC and ends with Cleopatra's death. In 30 BC, Octavian conquered Alexandria and the Ptolemaic kingdom of Egypt where Cleopatra reigned. The last Hellenistic kingdom ceased to exist. Octavian promised Cleopatra that he could keep her alive but she committed suicide on 12 (or 10) August 30 BC, at age 39. That was the end of Hellenistic period.
Cleopatra was a member of Ptolemaic dynasty and descendant of Ptolemy, Alexander's general. After the death of Alexander, the vast Macedonian Empire was divided by Alexander's Diadochi (successors), mainly four generals. Hellenistic kingdoms were a continuation of Alexander's Macedonian Empire. Culture and civilization were predominantly Hellenic but not entirely.
They incorporated elements of cultures and civilizations that were inside the Empire. The fusion had started from Alexander's time. Initially, Macedonian culture and civilization was purely ancient Hellenic (Greek). But as time went by, it was influenced by cultures and civilizations in Macedonian Empire. This continued for the three centuries that Hellenistic kingdoms lasted.
The start of Roman Empire is considered 27 BC and Octavian, also known as Augustus, was the founder. The first split of Roman Empire occured in 286 AD and the final in 395 AD. If we take the first split, Roman Empire lasted three centuries. Hellenistic kingdoms and Roman Empire lasted the same time but for some reason, Roman Empire is more well known in Europe and around the world.
Influence of Hellenic culture and civilization on Roman had started from the Hellenic colonies in Italy. While Hellenistic kingdoms were under Roman rule, influence became much stronger. The term Greco-Roman civilization can be misleading. It could be misunderstood that there was a common civilization shared by Hellenes (Greeks) and Romans which is not true. There were two distinct civilizations Hellenic (Greek) and Roman. Greek preceded and Roman followed.
The term Greco-Roman civilization coined by historians refers to Roman civilization and implies that it was strongly influenced by Greek (Hellenic). Roman civilization spread in Western Europe and it would be correct to state that Western European culture and civilization were based on Roman, which were greatly influenced by Hellenic (Greek). So two distinct cultures-civilizations developed that were greatly influenced by ancient Hellenic culture-civilization.
One culture-civilization was Western Roman in Western Europe and the other Eastern Hellenistic in Byzantine Empire. Which one was closer to ancient Hellenic? It is hard to tell but probably Hellenistic of Byzantine Empire was. The important point is that Roman and Hellenic were two distinct cultures-civilizations and so were Western Roman in Western Europe and Eastern Hellenistic in Byzantine Empire.
During Byzantine era, Hellenistic fusion continued. People that moved in the territory of the Empire had an influence on culture and civilization. Through the centuries, large numbers of Slavs migrated into Byzantine Empire and had an impact on culture and civilization. Nevertheless, Byzantine culture and civilization remained predominantly Hellenistic which was predominantly ancient Hellenic (Greek).
Byzantines had very close relations with Kievan Russes. Byzantine culture and civilization had considerable influence on them. Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians originate from Kievan Russes. So a large part of Eastern Europe has substantial influence from Byzantine culture-civilization which was predominantly Hellenistic. Hellenistic was predominantly Hellenic (Greek).
During communist era, West was the core of non-communist bloc and included Western Europe and North America. All Eastern Europe was in Eastern Bloc, except Greece. Since there is no more communism and Eastern Bloc, the term West should stop being used. The term West became obsolete as NATO, when communism fell. There is no West but three distinct areas; North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe.
Western European culture-civilization is substantially influenced by Western Roman while Eastern European by Eastern Hellenistic. North American culture- civilization is based on the cultures and civilizations of the people that migrated there and American Indians that lived before immigrants came. Roughly half of people in USA have their roots in Western Europe. So culture and civilization could be considered roughly 50% Western European.