The Hellenistic world (281 BC)

This historical map, created by Cattette in 2021, shows the political entities that made up the Hellenistic world.

After the death of Alexander the Great, his empire crumbled and was divided between the kingdoms of the Diadochi. They maintained shifting alliances and fought amongst themselves, causing their territory to evolve over the years. The year 281 BC marks the death of the last of the Diadochi, Seleucus, and the rise to power of the Epigoni, as the sons of the Diadochi were known.

At that time, as shown on the map, the Seleucid Empire and the Ptolemaic Empire had become the two centres of Hellenistic culture, mainly in their major cities, which were ruled by a Greek-speaking elite. The Kingdom of Macedonia was gradually regaining stability and managed to remain the most influential Hellenistic kingdom in Europe and part of Asia Minor.

Other kingdoms also existed in Anatolia, such as the kingdoms of Pontus, Bithynia, and Paphlagonia.

Sources


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