Chapter I - DIADOCHICA
This chapter resumes the theme of Volume V, Chapter I, the struggle for Alexander's heritage, but in much more detail. There were bloody fights for the succession everywhere, while the several Graeco-Macedonian Empires fought endless internecine wars. The Macedonian kingdom and the Seleucid Empire succumbed to two mighty imperialisms, the Parthian Empire in the east and the Roman Empire in the west. The Euphrates became the `frontier of Europe'. Egypt was allowed a somewhat longer spell of life. (Length of this chapter, with notes, = 43 pp.)
Chapter II - HELLENISTICA
The new division of the world effected by Alexander is discussed, with the question of the dualism of Europe and Asia. The question of what is Hellenism is answered. There are paragraphs on what Alexander's intentions were, on what happened to his plans after his death, and on what was the impact of Hellenism. Mention is made of the Indo-Greeks, and a short description of the Graeco-Indian and Graeco-Bactrian kingdoms is given. The position of Hellenism in Asia Minor and in Syria is discussed; there was much resistance to in Egypt. There is a long paragraph on the problems the Jews had with it, problems that led to the Jewish war of liberation against the Syrian King Antiochus IV. (Length of this chapter, with notes, = 76 pp.)
Chapter III - PHILOSOPHICA
After Plato's early successors, Eudoxus, Speusippus, and Xenocrates, the great Hellenistic schools of philosophy are amply described: the Stoa, Atomism, Epicureanism, Scepticism, the Middle Academy, the New Academy, and the Middle Stoa. It is argued that all of them exhibit strong dualistic tendencies. (Length of this chapter, with notes, = 104 pp.)
Chapter IV - PRAECURSORIA GNOSTICA
In this chapter the Gnosis comes into our field of vision, not yet the Gnosis proper, but tendencies that led to its origination. The Gnosis forms a highly important part of our argument, because the Gnostic movement is based on irreconcilable, dualistic oppositions. The elements under consideration, which paved the way for the full development of the Gnosis, are : the slow demise of the polis with its sense of community and the consequent rise of individualism. Then there is the influence of the Hellenistic philosophy with its unorthodox and dualistic tenets. It was widely doubted that such a thing as objective truth could exist; the significance of a special, esoteric form of Knowledge was extolled. The problem of Devil began to play an ever greater role, leading to a strong desire of redemption. New forms of religiosity arose: the cult of the goddess of Fate and astrology. Occultism became popular. (Length of chapter, with notes, = 29 pp.)
This volume contains genealogies of three Graeco-Macedonian royal houses, maps, a Bibliography, and a General Index.
Published in 1991 by J.C. Gieben, Publisher.
ISBN 90 5063 076 6