Hellenistic UrbanizationHellenistic Urbanization
The Culture of CitiesThe Culture of Cities
Monday, November 30/2005Monday, November 30/2005
SOSC 2730SOSC 2730
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• 7 7 Hellenistic Absolutism &Hellenistic Absolutism &UrbanityUrbanity
• 8 8 Megalopolis into Megalopolis into NecropolisNecropolis
Selected CivilizationsSelected Civilizations
City-BuildingCity-BuildingEconomic ActivitiesEconomic Activities
• local tradelocal trade• long-distance tradelong-distance trade• manufacturingmanufacturing• financefinance
Long-Distance TradeLong-Distance Trade
• merchantsmerchants–wholesale, retailwholesale, retail
• goods & flow of exchange mediumgoods & flow of exchange medium• customs duties/tax collection, customs duties/tax collection,
carters, warehousing activities, carters, warehousing activities, credit facilities, information credit facilities, information networknetwork
Strategic ImportanceStrategic Importance
• large cities were important large cities were important gathering pointsgathering points–AGGLOMERATIONAGGLOMERATION– information, markets, distributioninformation, markets, distribution
• large cities were important entry large cities were important entry pointspoints–GATEWAY FUNCTIONGATEWAY FUNCTION
Major Cities in theMajor Cities in theHellenistic WorldHellenistic World
CorinthCorinth AlexandriaAlexandria GazaGazaAthensAthens AntiochAntioch NicomediaNicomediaSpartaSparta BabylonBabylon PergamumPergamumThebesThebes DamascusDamascus PetraPetra
Dura-EuroposDura-Europos SeleuceiaSeleuceiaEphesusEphesus TyreTyre
Major Cities in theMajor Cities in theHellenistic WorldHellenistic World
• important centres ofimportant centres of–cultural disseminationcultural dissemination–cultural blendingcultural blending• Greek languageGreek language• art, architecture, scienceart, architecture, science
• agricultureagriculture• tradetrade• citiescities• architecturearchitecture
StoaStoa
TheatresTheatres
Council HallsCouncil Halls
PeristylePeristyle