ANHS1600 Lecture 21: Lecture 21
15 May 2018
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Department
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Professor
Lecture: Hybridity and the Hellenistic world 18/05/16
Lecture components:
- Hybridity in the Hellenistic world
- Look at the past through modern eyes – the idea of hybridity and fusion → Being conscious of how
our perceptions affect the past
- Hybridity abroad – the foreign, yet not completely unknown (Alexandria in Egypt)
- the unfamiliar foreign (Ai-Khanoum in Afghanistan)
- Hybridity at home (Delos in the Cyclades) → Home of Delian league
- Changed Macedonia and Greece just as much as the people
Post colonialism:
- Hellenism was seen as something superior which spread and “civilized” the world. This had to do
with British/Western imperialistic ways of thinking. This is a one-way conception of thinking.
- We naturally identify with the Western Greeks.
- The idea of Hybridity looks at new transcultural forms that arise from cross-cultural exchange.
- Key strength: Resists seeing cultures as monolithic combinable wholes. Emphasises mutual
flow of ideas and exchange. It also isn’t necessarily peaceful → Can be forced and disruptive.
Macedonian culture under Phillip was already blended. His control under Macedonia also started to
change Greece. There was many other blending and hybridity happening before Alexander
conquered the world.
Question at what point does the foreign become the familiar.
Rembetiko:
- Born out of these cosmopolitan cities
- A lot of people have claims to this.
- Alexandria is a city that has had cosmopolitan culture embedded throughout.
- Arts, identity, culture all evolved.
- Hybridity was tangled and not uniformed. Some of it was conscious, especially for the ruling class.
As time progressed, this process slowed down. There were whole populations and different class
levels moving, travelling more than they ever had before.
Alexander the Great:
- Young, fierce and educated. Travelled with many intelligent people → Took advice from a range of
people to make sure city foundations were set right.
- He knew that he needed to nestle Macedonian rule in the new cities.
Hellenistic Egypt:
332: Egypt surrendered to Alexander who posed as liberator from Persians.
- He is seen in Egyptian dress and royal iconography.
- His generals followed after.
Post Alexander – Scramble for Power
323: Ptolemy raced back to take Egypt from its governor and successfully retained it through
Document Summary
Look at the past through modern eyes the idea of hybridity and fusion being conscious of how our perceptions affect the past. Hybridity abroad the foreign, yet not completely unknown (alexandria in egypt) Hybridity at home (delos in the cyclades) home of delian league. Changed macedonia and greece just as much as the people. Hellenism was seen as something superior which spread and civilized the world. This had to do with british/western imperialistic ways of thinking. We naturally identify with the western greeks. The idea of hybridity looks at new transcultural forms that arise from cross-cultural exchange. Key strength: resists seeing cultures as monolithic combinable wholes. It also isn"t necessarily peaceful can be forced and disruptive. His control under macedonia also started to change greece. There was many other blending and hybridity happening before alexander conquered the world. Question at what point does the foreign become the familiar. A lot of people have claims to this.
