Seleucid Empire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Seleucid Empire
312 BC–63 BC
Tetradrachm of Seleucus I, the horned horse, the Elephant and the anchor were all used as symbols of the Seleucid monarchy.
The empire at its greatest extent and on the eve of the death of Seleucus I, 281 BC
Capital	Seleucia (305–240 BC) Antioch (240–63 BC)
Common languages	Greek(official) Persian Aramaic
Religion	Olympianism Babylonian religion Zoroastrianism
Government	Monarchy
Basileus
• 305–281 BC	Seleucus I (first)
• 65–63 BC	Philip II (last)
Historical era	Hellenistic period
• Wars of the Diadochi	312 BC
• Battle of Ipsus	301 BC
• Roman–Syrian War	192–188 BC
• Treaty of Apamea	188 BC
• Maccabean Revolt	167–160 BC
• Annexed by Rome	63 BC
Area
301 BC	3,000,000 km2 (1,200,000 sq mi)
240 BC	2,600,000 km2 (1,000,000 sq mi)
175 BC	800,000 km2 (310,000 sq mi)
100 BC	100,000 km2 (39,000 sq mi)
Preceded by Succeeded by Macedonian Empire Province of Syria Parthian Empire Greco-Bactrian Kingdom Hasmonean kingdom Magadha Osroene
Today part of	Various countries  Abkhazia  Afghanistan  Armenia  Azerbaijan  Georgia  India  Iran  Iraq  Israel  Jordan  Kazakhstan  Kuwait  Kyrgyzstan  Lebanon  Pakistan  Palestine  Saudi Arabia  Syria  Tajikistan  Turkey  Turkmenistan  Uzbekistan

The Seleucid Empire was a powerful kingdom that came after the huge empire of Alexander the Great. It was part of the Hellenistic period, which means it had a strong Greek influence. At its largest, the empire stretched across a vast area. This included parts of modern-day Turkey, the Middle East, Mesopotamia, Iran, Turkmenistan, and even parts of Pakistan.

This empire mostly took over from the Achaemenid Empire of Persia. Later, much of this land became part of big Islamic empires, like the Caliphates, starting around 650 AD.

The Seleucid dynasty had over 30 kings. They ruled from 323 BC until 63 BC.

How Alexander's Empire Was Divided

Alexander the Great had conquered the massive Persian Empire. But he died young, leaving his huge empire without a clear adult heir. His empire was a mix of Greek and local cultures.

In 323 BC, a general named Perdiccas became the regent (someone who rules for a king who is too young or absent). Alexander's generals, called satraps, divided the lands among themselves at the Partition of Babylon. Soon, these generals started fighting each other to gain more power and land. This led to many wars between the different parts of the empire.

The Rise of the Seleucid Empire

Seleucus I was one of Alexander's generals. He received a large part of the empire. His lands included Syria, Babylon, parts of Turkey, and even lands stretching towards India. When Perdiccas was killed, Alexander's empire completely broke apart.

The Seleucid Empire quickly grew. It expanded into parts of Thrace in the west and beyond the Indus River in the east. Seleucus I often fought with the Ptolemaic Dynasty from Egypt. The Ptolemies controlled Egypt and nearby areas. They frequently battled the Seleucids for control of Syria.

Seleucus I conquered much of Anatolia. He was planning to invade Macedonia when he was assassinated. This stopped the Seleucid Empire's plans to expand into Greece for a while. After Seleucus I died, his successors worked hard to keep control of the enormous empire. They were quite successful, but the empire was so vast that it was hard to manage effectively.

Images for kids

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  "Chandra Gupta Maurya entertains his bride from Babylon": a conjectural interpretation of the "marriage agreement" between the Seleucids and Chandragupta Maurya, related by Appian

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  Coin of Seleucus I Nicator

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  In Bactria, the satrap Diodotus asserted independence to form the Greco-Bactrian kingdom c. 245 BC.

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  Silver coin of Antiochus III the Great.

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  The Seleucid Empire in 200 BC (before expansion into Anatolia and Greece).

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  The reduced empire (titled: Syria, Kingdom of the Seleucids) and the expanded states of Pergamum and Rhodes, after the defeat of Antiochus III by Rome. Circa 188 BC.

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  Coin of Antiochus IV Epiphanes.

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  Seleucid Syria in early 124 BC under Alexander II Zabinas, who ruled the country with the exception of the city of Ptolemais

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  Bagadates I (Minted 290–280 BC) was the first native Seleucid satrap to be appointed.

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  Seleucid Bronze Coin depicting Antiochus III with Laureate head of Apollo Circa. 200 BC

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  Price of barley and dates per tonne

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  Episodes of Seleucid dispoliation from Michael J. Taylor's Sacred Plunder

See also

In Spanish: Imperio seléucida para niños