JabbaScrub
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Alexander the Great contributed hugely to the success of Hellenistic learning. In unifying Greece, he allowed cultures to intertwine and lend aspects to one another. The Hellenic ways offered a non-utilitarian way of research, while the Hellenistic supported patronage to science. Formerly non-patronized scientists now had a stronger motive and greater means to research, and the state-sponsored scientists now had a different way of thinking. The Museum at Alexandria was a vast wealth of learning. All over, patrons were delivered to combine their research and contribute to higher learning. Patronage was somewhat "fickle", but stipendiaries were well kept and had not a difficult life. Teaching was a good part of the Museum's anatomy, but for the most part it served for a center of ongoing thought. "Stipendiaries were often the targets of envious attacks as 'rare birds' fed in gilded cages". This statement sums the role of the Museum perfectly. The scientists were extraordinary minds, and well fed and sheltered for their contributions. Astronomy was the largest section in the chapter, explaining how the laws at the time hindered much progress. As problems were solved, more yet questions were asked. Most was based on then-known fact, but a lot of progress was lost on spiritual attributions. Sure, it would make sense that planets revolve around a sun, but how could we be among the heavens? Earth is corruptible, surely we aren't to believe ourselves in the same with gods. In the end, Hellenistic progress was more about sole knowledge, not utilitarian applications. There were several products that came, such as the aqueducts and better catapults, but mostly the knowledge gained was purely philosophical.
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