| Character | Date B.C. |
Short Biography |
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Age of Alexander |
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| Alexander the Great | 356–323 |
Greatest general of ancient times. Conquered Persian Empire with 40,000 soldiers. |
| Parmenio | 410–330 |
Chief general of both Philip of Macedon and Alexander the Great. Eventually killed by Alexander. |
| Antipater | d. 319 |
One of Philip's most trusted generals. Left in charge of Macedonia during Alexander's conquests. |
| Olympias | d. 316 |
Wife of Philip of Macedon. Alexander's mother. Quarreled with Antipater over charge of Macedonia. |
| Darius III | d. 330 |
Last king of Persia, overthrown by Alexander the Great. |
| Porus | ~ 325 |
Proud King of India, defeated by Alexander, but then restored as Satrap of the region. |
Diadochi - Early Division of Empire |
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| Perdiccas | d. 321 |
Took over the empire of Alexander at his death, but couldn't keep it. |
| Ptolemy I | d. 283 |
General of Alexander, founded Egyptian Dynasty that lasted for 300 years. |
| Eumenes | 361–316 |
Enemy of Antigonus, allied with Perdiccas; controlled Asia Minor until killed by Antigonus. |
| Antigonus I | 382–301 |
Allied with Antipater and Ptolemy I in early Diadochi Wars. Won control of Asia Minor and Syria. |
| Cassander | 358–297 |
Son of Antipater. Wrestled control of Macedonia from Polyperchon. Enemy of Olympias. |
| Lysimachus | 355–281 |
Bodyguard of Alexander. Took control of Thrace on his death. Engaged in Wars of Diadochi. |
Later Hellenistic Empires |
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| Demetrius | 337–284 |
Son of Antigonus, active in the wars of the Diadochi. |
| Seleucus | d. 280 |
Son of a general of Alexander. Founded Seleucid Dynasty, in Syria and Central Asia. |
| Pyrrhus | 318–272 |
Renowned general, won victories in Macedon, Italy, and Greece, but failed to follow up wins. |
| Cineas | ~ 280 |
Minister of Thessaly, and friend and advisor of Pyrrhus of Epirus. |
| Antigonus II | 320–239 |
Son of Demetrius. After many battles, ended with control of Macedon and established Antigonid Dynasty. |
| Antiochus III | 241–187 |
King of Syria who warred with Rome in Thrace and Asia Minor. |
| Judas Maccabee | d. 160 |
Lead a Jewish rebellion during the reign of the Syrian King Antiochus V. |
Sparta vs. Achaean League |
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| Agis IV | d. 241 |
King who tried to reform Sparta and return to laws of Lycurgus. Killed for his efforts. |
| Cleomenes III | 236–220 |
Successfully implemented many reforms in Sparta, but was resisted by Achaean League. |
| Aratus | d. 213 |
Leader of Achaean League; First resisted Macedonia, then forced an alliance to defeat Sparta. |
| Philopoemen | 252–182 |
Lead the Achaean League. Tried to unite Greeks, shortly before Greece fell to Rome. |
Hellenistic Era Science |
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| Euclid | 340–300 |
Most eminent mathematician of his age, wrote Elements of Geometry. |
| Archimedes | 287–212 |
Eminent scientist and inventor. Held off Roman siege of Syracuse with clever defenses. |
| Eratosthenes of Cyrene | 275–192 |
Early Greek scientist from Alexandria who correctly predicted the precise size of the earth in 200 BC. |
| Polybius | 203–120 |
Taken as Greek hostage during Macedonian wars; historian of Punic Wars. |
Greco-Roman Science and Literature |
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| Strabo | 64–24 |
Greek Geographer and philosopher. Well known for a 17 volume geographic history of the world. |
| Plutarch | 46–122 |
Most outstanding moralist and biographer of ancient times. Wrote Lives of Greeks and Romans. |
| Ptolemy | 90–168 |
Greatest map-maker of Roman times. Renowned expert in Astronomy and Geography. |
| Galen | 129–199 |
Renowned physician and philosopher whose works on the human body were studied until the 17th century. |
| Hypatia | 380–415 |
Philosopher and teacher who lived in Alexandria. |
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