This course will explore the second half of the Classical Period of Greece, after the conclusion of the Peloponnesian War, which includes a period of significant changes in the socio-political settings in Greece. This period would see three separate city-states experience a time as geopolitical leaders in Greece through the fourth and third centuries BCE. This status as leaders of the city-states are known as the hegemonies. Sparta would have its hegemony immediately after the Peloponessian Wars. Thebes would replace this brief period of Spartan control of Greece as Athens rebuilt its influence and political strength, which would challenge Thebes for control of Greece. This prolonged period of these city-states would set the stage for the rise of Macedonia in the mid-third century BCE. Under the leadership of Phillip II, Macedonia would build arguably the greatest military force of the time and through conquest and shrewd and aggressive diplomatic strategy, would control a majority of Ancient Greece. After the mysterious and suspicious death of Phillip II, his then nineteen-year-old son, Alexander, would invade a long-standing enemy of Greece, Persia. After succeeding in Persia, the ambitious Alexander would build an empire of conquest that would extend into Egypt, North Africa, and partially into India. He would complete this monumentous goal by the age of thirty. This glorious achievement would be short-lived as Alexander “the Great” would fall ill and die in Babylon in 322 BCE when he was just thirty-two, ending the Classic Period of Greece.

After Alexander the Great's death, his vast empire was divided among his generals, who each claimed their own territories and went to war over control of the empire. These wars of the Successors (Wars of the Diadochi) would last from 322 to 281 BCE and would result in the creation of several kingdoms, including the Ptolemaic Dynasty in Egypt and the Seleucid Empire, which both would remain major independent kingdoms until the first century BCE, falling to Rome. Despite the growth of these kingdoms that were forged out of the dissolution of Alexander’s empire, the importance and influence of the city-states in mainland Greece would see a steady decline during the Hellenistic Period.

Guests will explore this complex web of cultural exploration, political intrigue, and military actions through a cross-disciplinary method, using archaeology, primary sources, secondary sources, interactive lessons, and multimedia presentations. This method aims to give students a deep understanding of the historical events, their circumstances and consequences, and how the cultural motivations and changes influenced these events and the people involved in them.

No class is held on: November 11, 2025 and November 25, 2025.

This course will explore the second half of the Classical Period of Greece, after the conclusion of the Peloponnesian War, which includes a period of significant changes in the socio-political settings in Greece. This period would see three separate city-states experience a time as geopolitical leaders in Greece through the fourth and third centuries BCE. This status as leaders of the city-states are known as the hegemonies. Sparta would have its hegemony immediately after the Peloponessian Wars. Thebes would replace this brief period of Spartan control of Greece as Athens rebuilt its influence and political strength, which would challenge Thebes for control of Greece. This prolonged period of these city-states would set the stage for the rise of Macedonia in the mid-third century BCE. Under the leadership of Phillip II, Macedonia would build arguably the greatest military force of the time and through conquest and shrewd and aggressive diplomatic strategy, would control a majority of Ancient Greece. After the mysterious and suspicious death of Phillip II, his then nineteen-year-old son, Alexander, would invade a long-standing enemy of Greece, Persia. After succeeding in Persia, the ambitious Alexander would build an empire of conquest that would extend into Egypt, North Africa, and partially into India. He would complete this monumentous goal by the age of thirty. This glorious achievement would be short-lived as Alexander “the Great” would fall ill and die in Babylon in 322 BCE when he was just thirty-two, ending the Classic Period of Greece.After Alexander the Great's death, his vast empire was divided among his generals, who each claimed their own territories and went to war over control of the empire. These wars of the Successors (Wars of the Diadochi) would last from 322 to 281 BCE and would result in the creation of several kingdoms, including the Ptolemaic Dynasty in Egypt and the Seleucid Empire, which both would remain major independent kingdoms until the first century BCE, falling to Rome. Despite the growth of these kingdoms that were forged out of the dissolution of Alexander’s empire, the importance and influence of the city-states in mainland Greece would see a steady decline during the Hellenistic Period.Guests will explore this complex web of cultural exploration, political intrigue, and military actions through a cross-disciplinary method, using archaeology, primary sources, secondary sources, interactive lessons, and multimedia presentations. This method aims to give students a deep understanding of the historical events, their circumstances and consequences, and how the cultural motivations and changes influenced these events and the people involved in them.

No class is held on: November 11, 2025 and November 25, 2025.