Christy Potter, age 15, of Asbury Park, N.J., for her question:

WHEN WAS THE HELLENISTIC AGE?

The Hellenistic Age was a period in Greek history that started after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. and lasted nearly 200 years. The term Hellenistic is used to distinguish this period from the earlier classical or Hellenic period.

Marking the Hellenistic Age was the spread of Greek ideas and Greek culture into Egypt and throughout the Near East. There was even a Greek state as far east as India.

The Greeks developed and spread ideas on art, science, philosophy religion and social justice during the Hellenistic Age. Paintings and sculpture became more realistic. Scientists made great discoveries.

Philosphers of the Hellenistic Age were concerned with achieving peace of mind.

Aggressive Romans conquered the Greeks and most of the rest of the Hellenistic world in the 100s B.C. In 30 B.C., the Romans took Egypt, the last major survivor of the Hellenistic Age.