Like the rest of the Persian Empire, Mesopotamia was conquered by the armies of Alexander the Great in the 330s and 320s BC. After Alexander’s death in 323 BC the region fell to Seleucus, one of his generals. Mesopotamia has since been ruled by kings of Seleucus’ line, under whom a Greek-speaking ruling class came to monopolises power. However, in recent years the region of Mesopotamia has become the scene of warfare between the Seleucid kings and a new power in the region, Parthia. These Iranian nomads from the steppe are gaining the upper hand in this struggle.
Under the Seleucid monarchs Greek-style cities – the largest of which is Seleucia-on-the-Tigris - have sprung up, settled by colonists from the Greek and Macedonian homelands. The cultural inter-mixing of Greek and native elements has led to the spread of a hybrid culture throughout the Middle East, which modern scholars label “Hellenistic”. The Parthians are careful to identify themselves as "friends of the Greeks".
Related Topics:
History of Ancient Mesopotamia
Related Timelines:
Timeline of Middle East History
Timeline of World History
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