Ever wondered about the campaigns of Alexander the Great, the way Hellenism was spread throughout the ancient world? These four lectures on the foundations of Western civilizations will uncover all that and more.

Presented by the Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation at the University of Sydney, the lecture series: The Foundations of Western Civilisation: The Eastern Mediterranean in the 1st Millennium BC will examine the remarkable changes which swept through the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond and explore the mighty kingdoms which arose in the wake of Alexander’s conquests.

The campaigns of Alexander the Great extended far beyond the limits of the ‘known’ world. In the space of some ten years, he led his men from the familiar shores of the Aegean, across the great Iranian plateau and rugged Hindu Kush, to the banks of the Beas River. Archaeological and historical research has revealed how Alexander’s conquests created a fascinating amalgam of East and West.

The first lecture will be held on May 26 and is titled Egypt and Mesopotamia and will presented by Maree Browne.

The second lecture will be held on June 2 and is titled The Levant and is presented by Stephen Bourke.

The third lecture is on June 9 and is titled The Persian Empire, presented by Ben Chrucher.

The last lecture is titled The Hellenistic Period and is presented by John Tidmarsh.
Lectures will run from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm, and will cost $30 for individual session or $100 for all four lectures.

For more information, visit http://sydney.edu.au/arts/sophi/neaf/lectures/index.shtml