Topic
Hellenization
About: Hellenization is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 141 publications have been published within this topic receiving 2764 citations. The topic is also known as: Hellenisation & Hellenism.
Papers published on a yearly basis
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Papers
TL;DR: The nature and reality of Romanization in the east of the Roman empire is controversial as discussed by the authors, with the most influential accounts of Romanisation in the western provinces pointing out that Greek was already the language of culture, of government and of inter-regional trade, and the Romans carried further the process of Hellenization.
Abstract: The nature, and indeed the reality, of Romanization in the east is controversial. One of the most influential accounts of Romanization in the western provinces notes that ‘by contrast, where Greek was already the language of culture, of government and of inter-regional trade, the Romans carried further the process of Hellenization … in general what was specifically Latin in the common civilization of the empire made little impact in the east’, the exceptions being the influence of Roman law and the popularity of gladiatorial games. That verdict endorsed the view that ‘the emperors made no attempt to romanise the Greek speaking provinces’, which saw the foundation of cities as a continuance of Hellenistic royal practice, and which regarded the establishment of the rare eastern colonies as motivated by practical considerations rather than any attempt at encouraging cultural assimilation. More recently, a fuller survey of exceptions to this general rule nevertheless concluded that ‘On the one hand, the culture and identity of the Greek east remained fundamentally rooted in the Classical past. On the other hand, the visible presence of Rome, outside those zones where the legions were stationed, was extremely slight.’
404 citations
Book•
1 Jan 1974
TL;DR: Hengel as mentioned in this paper argues that Hellenistic influences were, and had been for centuries, smoothly penetrating Judaism even in Jerusalem; there was respect on both sides between Jew and Greek, and the Greek party tried to go too fast, make Hellenization obligatory and outlaw the Law This occasioned a furious defensive reaction; Judaism clammed up, became xenophobic and rigoristic, producing the attitude which in its turn created the defensive reaction of anti-Semitism which has stained so many centuries.
Abstract: This is the fascinating story of a group of reformers who tried to go too fast, bungled their reform, and so changed the course of history Hengel's thesis is that Hellenistic influences were, and had been for centuries, smoothly penetrating Judaism even in Jerusalem; there was respect on both sides between Jew and Greek Then the Greek party tried to go too fast, make Hellenization obligatory and outlaw the Law This occasioned a furious defensive reaction; Judaism clammed up, became xenophobic and rigoristic, producing the attitude which in its turn created the defensive reaction of anti-Semitism which has stained so many centuries The defensive rigidity set up in Judaism made it unable to respond to Jesus' creative reinterpretation of the Law, and so led to the rejection of Christianity This is a truly important scholarly work The exhaustive collection of evidence will make it a fundamental textbook for the period' (The Tablet) 'A foundation book and essential as a source book and as a guide to trends in present research' (The Expository Times) Martin Hengel was Professor of New Testament and Early Judaism in the University of Tubingen
383 citations
Book•
1 Jan 1990
TL;DR: Nagy as discussed by the authors examined the Greek language as a reflection of society, with special attention to its function as a vehicle for transmitting mythology and poetics, and examined the development of Hellenic poetics in the traditions of Homer and Hesiod, including myths of the afterlife, rituals of fire, and symbols in the Greek lyric.
Abstract: Gregory Nagy here provides a far-reaching assessment of the relationship between myth and ritual in ancient Greek society. Nagy illuminates in particular the forces of interaction and change that transformed the Indo-European linguistic and cultural heritage into distinctly Greek social institutions between the eighth and the fifth centuries B.C. Included in the volume are thirteen of Nagy's major essays-all extensively revised for book publication-on various aspects of the Hellenization of Indo-European poetics, myth and ritual, and social ideology. The primary aim of this book is to examine the Greek language as a reflection of society, with special attention to its function as a vehicle for transmitting mythology and poetics. Nagy's emphasis on the language of the Greeks, and on its comparison with the testimony of related Indo-European languages such as Latin, Indic, and Hittite, reflects his long-standing interest in Indo-European linguistics. The individual chapters examine the development of Hellenic poetics in the traditions of Homer and Hesiod; the Hellenization of Indo-European myths and rituals, including myths of the afterlife, rituals of fire, and symbols in the Greek lyric; and the Hellenization of Indo-European social ideology, with reference to such cultural institutions as the concept of the city-state. A path-breaking application of the principles of social anthropology, comparative mythology, historical linguistics, and oral poetry theory to the study of classics, Greek Mythology and Poetics will be an invaluable resource for classicists and other scholars of linguistics and literary theory.
297 citations
Book•
15 Feb 1993
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that the Seleucid state is best understood as heir to the great Achaemenid Persian empire and earlier Middle Eastern states and investigate the economies, social structures, political systems, and cultures of the many peoples making up the empire, and analyze, in the context of colonialism and imperialism, such evidence as exists for cultural changes.
Abstract: The empire created by Alexander the Great's general, Seleucus, constituted the largest Hellenistic kingdom of the successor states: yet this is the first substantial treatment of Seleucid history to appear for fifty years. The authors approach this important and successful state from new perspectives, seeing it as part of the Middle Eastern world rather than solely in Greco-Roman terms, and arguing that the Seleucid state is best understood as heir to the great Achaemenid Persian empire and earlier Middle Eastern states. They investigate the economies, social structures, political systems, and cultures of the many peoples making up the empire, and analyze, in the context of colonialism and imperialism, such evidence as exists for cultural changes, including Hellenization. The book makes accessible the great variety of new and important documents that have been recently discovered. It will be welcomed by students, teachers, and all readers with an interest in Hellenistic and Middle Eastern history.
221 citations
Book•
1 Jan 1988
TL;DR: In this article, a superbly illustrated book is divided into three main sections: Greece and Rome, which covers the Hellenization of the Middle East by the monarchies established in the area conquered by Alexander the Great, the growth of Rome, and the impact of the two cultures on one another.
Abstract: This superbly illustrated book is divided into three main sections. The first, Greece , runs from the eighth to the fourth centuries BC, a period unparalleled in history for its brilliance in literature, philosophy, and the visual arts. The second, Greece and Rome , deals with the Hellenization of the Middle East by the monarchies established in the area conquered by Alexander the Great, the growth of Rome, and the impact of the two cultures on one another. The third, Rome , covers the foundation of the Roman Empire by Augustus and its consolidation in the first two centuries AD. An envoi discusses some aspects of the later Empire and its influence on western civilization, not least through the adoption of Christianity.
185 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
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| 2021 | 2 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2016 | 4 |