Map of Hellenistic World, Cities & Empires, 240 B.C.E.

The Hellenistic period, which began after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C.E., is marked by the spread of Greek culture throughout the Eastern Mediterranean and Near East. By 240 B.C.E., the map of the Hellenistic world was dotted with influential cities and vast empires, each contributing to the rich tapestry of this era.

At the heart of the Hellenistic world was the Seleucid Empire, founded by one of Alexander's generals, Seleucus I Nicator. Stretching from Anatolia to the Indus River, this empire encompassed diverse regions and cities such as Antioch, Seleucia, and Babylon.

To the south, the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt thrived under the rule of the descendants of Ptolemy, another of Alexander's generals. Alexandria, the capital of Egypt, emerged as a center of learning and culture, home to the famous Library of Alexandria.

In Greece itself, the city of Athens retained its intellectual and cultural prominence, while the city of Corinth flourished as a bustling trade center connecting the Greek mainland to the wider Mediterranean world.

Further west, the island of Sicily was home to Syracuse, a powerful city-state known for its wealth and influence in the region. Meanwhile, the city of Carthage in North Africa rose to prominence as a formidable naval power, competing with the growing influence of the Hellenistic world.

Throughout this diverse map of the Hellenistic world, cities and empires interacted, traded, and sometimes clashed, shaping the course of history and leaving a lasting legacy on the cultures and societies of the ancient world.