Hellenistic Period Begins

After Alexander's death in 323 BCE, his generals (the Diadochi) fought brutal wars over his empire and carved it into rival kingdoms — Ptolemaic Egypt, Seleucid Persia/Syria, Antigonid Macedon. Greek language, culture, philosophy, and architecture spread across the entire Near East. This Hellenization would massively shape Jewish culture, eventually leading to the Maccabean revolt when things got too Greek. The transition from Persian to Greek dominance changed everything about the world the Bible happens in.