Fall of Persia

The Persian Empire fell to Alexander the Great of Macedon in the late 4th century before the common count, especially after his major victories over Persia between −334 to −331. This brought the Land of Israel under Greek influence after about two centuries of Persian rule. Alexander’s conquest did not immediately destroy Jewish religious life, but it introduced Hellenistic culture, Greek language, Greek political ideas, and new tensions between traditional Jewish life and foreign cultural influence. This period set the background for later conflicts between Judaism and Hellenism.