320–64 BC
The Seleucid Empire became the next significant state in Iran’s history. The emergence of the Seleucid Empire is directly linked to the policies of Alexander the Great.
After Alexander’s death and the subsequent uprising of the Diadochi, Seleucus — one of the satrap commanders — received the lands of Babylonia under his rule and established his own state. This state included Syria, Palestine, Phoenicia, Mesopotamia, Iran, and other territories.
The state founded by Seleucus became one of the last major kingdoms in the region at the turn of the eras. Its culture combined the best features of both Greek Hellenic and Persian cultural traditions.
Seleucid culture was primarily Hellenistic, especially in the western parts of the empire and in major cities. At the same time, it merged with Iranian culture — particularly in the eastern regions.
The Seleucids’ influence on Iran was more military and economic than cultural. The dynasty’s representatives did not seek to change the existing social, cultural, and political order. However, they introduced coinage, their own systems of weights and measures, construction technologies, and beliefs.
