The process of adopting or spreading Greek language, culture, customs, and ways of thinking to non-Greek peoples or regions.
From hellenize (to make Greek) plus -ation (a process or result). It emerged as historians needed to describe the massive cultural transformation that occurred after Alexander's conquests.
Hellenization was so powerful that thousands of years later, we still find Greek words embedded in languages from Turkey to Afghanistan—ancient trade routes and Greek colonies left linguistic footprints. It shows how culture can spread without armies, through merchants, students, and writers.
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