Greek vs Hellenistic

[Jester]

so what exactly is the difference if someone speaks about greek culture or hellenistic culture?

i mean, hellenistic is basically just another word for greek, isnt it?


Greece itself is called Hellas in their own language

[Smiling Hetairoi]

I believe hellenistic culture is hellenic with a bit of eastern culture mixed in.

[Cohors_Evocata]

IIRC hellenistic refers to the culture that developed after the Alexandrian conquests. There was a mixture to a certain degree with 'eastern' cultures (I don't think there was a singular one) , which created a culture that differed and took elements from both previous Greek/hellenic and 'eastern' cultures. Greek is (I think) most used to refer to Classical Greek culture.

again, this is from the top of my head, so you don't have to take my word for it.

[neoptolemos]

Greek/Hellenic= Related with the Greeks, Greece /Hellenes, Hellas
Hellenistic=Resembling/related in origin with the Greeks, Greece /Greek culture
In historiography Hellenistic is a term that describes the Greek world- Greece, Greek colonies and successor states-from Aleander's death until the sea battle of Actium in 33 BC.
It is also used to describe the culture and artistic style where the Greek style, aesthetics and culture are prominent or fused with local cultures but obtaining its character.

[Nesij]

Greek/Hellenic= Related with the Greeks, Greece /Hellenes, Hellas
Hellenistic=Resembling/related in origin with the Greeks, Greece /Greek culture
In historiography Hellenistic is a term that describes the Greek world- Greece, Greek colonies and successor states-from Aleander's death until the sea battle of Actium in 33 BC.
It is also used to describe the culture and artistic style where the Greek style, aesthetics and culture are prominent or fused with local cultures but obtaining its character.

Agree with this.
An interesting Pre-Alexander example is Bosporan Kingdom. A Helenistic Kingdom (start as a colony) was later influenced by local cultures though.

[Architect of Doom]

Interesting, I didn't know about that.

[Jester]

thx for the answers

[Carl Jung was right]

AFAIK the word is interchangeable. It's just like how "Eastern" or "Oriental" is used in modern speech. However, historians use the word "hellenic" in the context of the degree of spread of Greek culture and civilization outside of the borders of Greece through colonization, Alexandrian campaigns, etc.

[geala]

No, it is not exactly interchangeable. You cannot name f.e. the famous Peloponesian War a Hellenistic war. "Hellenism" is a term used for the time period from Alexander onwards. The term is heavily discussed in science from time to time but is still a good label if used with some restriction in mind. As far as the content goes, neoptelomos in #4 gave a good summary.

[Rinan]

But you could call the Peloponnesian War a Hellenic war. Hellenic is just another word for "Greek". Hellenistic could mean Greek-ish, perhaps?
At any rate, in Greek history the classical period of Perikles, Plato and Leonidas is followed by the Hellenistic age of Alexander the Great, Seleukos, Ptolemeos and so forth. It is the time of Rome 2, when Greeks practically rule the known world.