The Impact of Alexander's Conquest.pdf (original) (raw)

THE ECONOMICS OF UNHEAVAL: ALEXANDER THE GREAT IN THE EAST

The conquests for Philip II and his son, Alexander III, have traditionally been greeted a fair degree of romanticism in modern scholarship through a process of accretion of earlier laudatory sources. Philip's career in Europe has often been termed 'responsible for uniting the Greeks' and Alexander's campaign in Asia hailed as the 'catalyst that spread Hellenic culture east'. Admiring scholars such as WW Tarn promoted the notion of vision of 'a brotherhood of man' encompassing the Persian population and Hellenic invaders, breaking down the Greek-barbarian divide still perpetuated by Aristotle. Ancient commentators such as Plutarch pondered the 'philosophical commonwealth' of Alexander. But the theme of the years either side of Alexander's death was fear and instability, both in Greece and in Asia. If reviewed dispassionately, ancient sources point a rather more complicated picture, which undermines these notions. Alexander's treatment of Greeks, both in Greece itself and on campaign, led to continuing national divides which were only widened by his campaign. The administration of the Persian Empire late in his conquest was never the homonoia some imagine he intended. This paper intends to outline, using ancient sources, modern scholarship, epigraphic and archaeological evidence, the upheaval caused both in the campaign years and in the decades that followed, in Greece, Macedon and Persia. It covers the choices the dispossessed campaign soldiers had to make, the drain on the economies by the Hellenistic armies and the resulting economic upheaval. Above all it serves to illustrate that Alexander never had more than immediate conquest in mind and operated through a 'reactive' system of flawed statecraft. The resulting questions that need to be asked: Did Alexander consciously spread Hellenic culture, or did he handcuff it? Did he unite the Graeco-Persian world, or, in fact divide it?

Alexander's Legacy.

PREFACE Recently, the history of Alexander and his Successors has attracted growing attention of modern academia. The Hellenistic world is not viewed anymore as a moment of decadence after the splendour of the Greek Classical age, enlightened by Athens' bright star, but as an engaging example of ante litteram globalization, the essential premise to the development of the Roman Empire. We have consequently considered opportune and significant to organise a conference meeting devoted to Alexander' s Legacy. We would like to thank all of the Italian and foreign Colleagues who have so valuably contributed to the success of our project. We would also like to thank the young scholars who have promptly examined through their posters some specific matters. A heartfelt thanks to the Dipartimento di Storia, Archeologia e Storia dell' Arte of our University, as well as to the Department Chair, Professor Giuseppe Zecchini. Without the support of the Department, nothing would have been possible. Finally, we are grateful to our Colleague Alberto Barzano and to Dr. Monica D' Agostini, who have effectively helped us to overcome the unavoidable linguistic difficulties. Atti del Convegno, Milano-Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, settembre 2015. CINZIA BEARZOT FRANCA LANDUCCI