The Hellenistic Age: The death of Alexander the Great and the break-up of his empire ushered in what is known as the Hellenistic Age. How did a cultural synthesis develop during this time? In the “big picture”, what was the long-term influence of this era on the spread of Greek culture and thought into western development? How did wars against Hellenistic kingdoms by the Romans further the spread of Hellenistic culture into what would eventually become Europe?