Identifier: briefhistoryofna01fish (find matches)
Title: A brief history of the nations and of their progress in civilization
Year: 1896 (1890s)
Authors: Fisher, George Park, 1827-1909
Subjects: World history
Publisher: New York, Cincinnati (etc.) American book company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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on, formed a plan to seize the empire for him-self. In a series of wars lasting for twenty-two years, Per-diccas, who was contending for the unity of the empire, wasdefeated by the rebellious satraps, of whom Antigonus was themost powerful. He, in his turn, attempted to make himselfsole ruler, and the formation of a league against him (315 b.c.)led to a treaty of peace by which Cassander, the son ofAntipater, was to retain Macedonia. By him Roxana and theyoung Alexander were put to death. In a second war againstAntigonus, Cassander was victorious at Ipsus (301 b.c). An-tigonus was slain, and his son Demetrius fled to Greece. Thefinal result of the protracted contest was the division of theMacedonian Empire into three principal monarchies, — Mace-donia, under the Antigonidae; Egypt, under the Ptolemies;and Syria, under the Seleucidae. I. The Kingdom of the Ptolemies Ptolemy Lagi (323-283 b.c). — When Alexander transferredthe seat of power in Egypt from Memphis to Alexandria, he 105
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SUCCESSORS OF ALEXANDER 107 accomplislied results which he could not at all foresee. TheGreek element became predominant in Egyptian affairs. Agreat stimulus was given to commerce and to foreign inter-course. The Egyptians themselves entered zealously intoindustrial pursuits. Ptolemy Lagi, the first of the new sover-eigns, was wise enough to guard his own territory, and even toestablish his rule in Palestine, Phoenicia, and Coele-Syria, but toavoid extensive schemes of conquest. He subdued Cyrenaica,on the west of Egypt, and the intermediate Libyan tribes. Ptolemy was an absolute monarch, but he retained promi-nent features in the old Egyptian adnunistrative system, gaveoffices to Egyptians, and protected their religion. In Alex-andria the Jews were very numerous. The Hebrew Scriptureswere there translated into Greek in the version called theSeptuagint. The most important civil and all military officeswere reserved for Graeco-Macedonians: Alexandria was aGreek city. From the beginning

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