Question

What did Alexander the Great do to unify the vast empire he inherited from his father? Why did this create conflict with the Jews?

Answer 1

Alexander the Great unified his empire through cultural assimilation, establishment of new cities, and intermarriage. This created conflict with the Jews due to the clash of religious and cultural practices.

Step-by-step explanation:

Alexander the Great employed several methods to unify the vast empire he inherited from his father:

1. He adopted a policy of cultural assimilation, encouraging the spread of Greek culture throughout his empire. This included promoting the Greek language, architecture, and education.
2. He established new cities, called Alexandria, as centers of Greek influence and as strategic hubs for trade and administration.
3. He married several non-Greek women, including Roxana, the daughter of a Bactrian nobleman, and encouraged his soldiers to intermarry with Persian noblewomen. This helped to bridge the cultural divide between the Greeks and the non-Greek subjects of the empire.

This policy of cultural assimilation created conflict with the Jews because it clashed with their religious and cultural practices. The Greeks viewed their gods and culture as superior and sought to impose their beliefs on other peoples. This led to resistance and resentment among the Jews, who maintained their own distinct religious and cultural identity.