Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic Age 235 scientists of the world carried on their studies and researches, combined with some lecturing and teaching. The first great library of the Greek world containing many thousand rolls was attached to this institution. Under the direction of a pupil of Aristotle, an astronomical observatory was erected, though as yet without telescopes, which were unknown to the ancient world. Thus supported and encouraged, science reached a level not again attained until modern times, two thousand years later. Greek thought, which culminated in the teaching of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, had now developed into four systems, or "schools of philosophy" as they are called,^ which continued for a time to make some progress in original thought. Of all this the educated man of the time learned something, and two classes were now clearly distinguished — the educated and the uneducated. The real current of civilized life, as Aristotle taught, was in Hellenistic the cities. To be sure there were many differences between the cities of Egypt, Asia, Greece, and Macedonia in this age. In Egypt there were no free cities and no communities enjoying local self-government in the old Greek sense. On the other hand, the Antigonids granted to the cities of Elellas their old self-government in local affairs, and in Asia the numerous new cities founded by the Seleucids, as well as the older communi- ties, were given the same liberal privileges. The result was the greatest stimulation of productive activity in all the avenues of life, especially commercial and intellectual life. The cities of Asia continued to produce great names in the history of thought and art^ (Plate V, p. 224, and Figs. 99, 112), but such names were noticeably fewer in Egypt. Life in such cities was more comfortably furnished and Life in the equipped than ever before. There were roomy market places cities (Fig. 1 01), tree-shaded gardens around the temples, and stately 1 The four schools are : the Academy, Peripatetic, Stoic, and Epicurean. 2 A noble work of Hellenistic art will be found in the figure of the dying Gaul at the end of Chapter VIII (p. 214).
