Hellenism
Hellenism, Hellenization,Greek culture and the diffusion of that culture, a process usually seen as active. The relation between the two modern words is controversial: should the longer word be avoided (see Orientalism) because of its suggestion of cultural imperialism? (Cf. G. W. Bowersock, Hellenism in Late Antiquity (1990) xi): ‘Hellenization is … a modern idea, reflecting modern forms of cultural domination.’)
The ancient terminology is interesting but treacherous. The earliest use of the verb ‘Hellenize’ is in a linguistic context: Thucydides 2. 68 says the Amphilochian Argives were ‘Hellenized as to their present language’ by the Ambraciots. But the extra words ‘as to … language’ perhaps (though see Classical Review 1984, 246) indicate that the word normally had a wider, cultural sense. Nevertheless, ‘Hellenism’ in the Classical period is not quite on all fours with ‘Medism’...
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