The 4th Century BCE

The 4th century BCE is a hundred-year period beginning in 400 BCE and ending in 301 BCE. This period is marked by major shifts in political power in the eastern Mediterranean: the decline of Greek city-states, the rise of the Macedonian kingdom, and the collapse of the Achaemenid Persian Empire.

In the same period, China was experiencing the era of the Warring States, while eastern India saw the emergence of the Mauryan Empire. This century is also noted as a time when Greek philosophy and scientific knowledge reached a high level of development.

Greece and the City-States

Following the Peloponnesian War, Sparta held dominance over Greece for a time, but Thebes challenged this position. The city-states continued in constant conflict with one another, which weakened their ability to resist external enemies. Athens rebuilt itself to considerable influence, though it did not recover the power it had held in the previous century.

The Rise of Macedon

Philip II transformed Macedon into a disciplined military power by combining new military tactics with diplomacy. His son Alexander launched a conquest of the Persian Empire and brought vast territories under his control, extending from Egypt to eastern Iran. After his death, his generals divided the conquered lands, initiating the Hellenistic period.

Philosophy and Knowledge

Plato founded the Academy in Athens, while Aristotle established another school where he developed his work in logic, natural philosophy, and politics. Their writings became foundational to European thought and Islamic civilization in the centuries that followed.