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Arguably the most important series of political events in this period were the conquests of Alexander, bringing about the collapse of the once formidable Persian Empire and spreading Greek culture far into the east. Alexander dreamed of an east/west union, but when his short life ended, his vast empire was plunged into civil war as his generals each carved out their own separate kingdoms. Thus began the Hellenistic age, a period characterized by a more absolute approach to rule, with Greek kings taking on royal trappings and setting up hereditary successions. While a degree of democracy still existed in some of the remaining independent Greek cities, many scholars see this age as marking the end of classical Greece.
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![The Church of St. George, dating back to 4th century Sofia was originally a Thracian settlement called Serdica, or Sardica, possibly named after the Celtic tribe Serdi[3]. For a short period during the 4th century BC, the city was ruled by Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110116103509im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/6a/35/c27ea93b3747d2fc09235f7c8eb3_grande.jpg "The Church of St. George, dating back to 4th century Sofia was originally a Thracian settlement called Serdica, or Sardica, possibly named after the Celtic tribe Serdi[3]. For a short period during the 4th century BC, the city was ruled by Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great.")
![The ancient fortress of Serdica Sofia was originally a Thracian settlement called Serdica, or Sardica, possibly named after the Celtic tribe Serdi[3]. For a short period during the 4th century BC, the city was ruled by Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110116103509im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/3a/a6/b9ca913586bd5cad6ea2c2611bd7_grande.jpg "The ancient fortress of Serdica Sofia was originally a Thracian settlement called Serdica, or Sardica, possibly named after the Celtic tribe Serdi[3]. For a short period during the 4th century BC, the city was ruled by Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great.")
![The Church of St. George, dating back to 4th century Sofia was originally a Thracian settlement called Serdica, or Sardica, possibly named after the Celtic tribe Serdi[3]. For a short period during the 4th century BC, the city was ruled by Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110116103509im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/6a/35/c27ea93b3747d2fc09235f7c8eb3_thumb.jpg "The Church of St. George, dating back to 4th century Sofia was originally a Thracian settlement called Serdica, or Sardica, possibly named after the Celtic tribe Serdi[3]. For a short period during the 4th century BC, the city was ruled by Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great.")
![The ancient fortress of Serdica Sofia was originally a Thracian settlement called Serdica, or Sardica, possibly named after the Celtic tribe Serdi[3]. For a short period during the 4th century BC, the city was ruled by Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110116103509im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/3a/a6/b9ca913586bd5cad6ea2c2611bd7_thumb.jpg "The ancient fortress of Serdica Sofia was originally a Thracian settlement called Serdica, or Sardica, possibly named after the Celtic tribe Serdi[3]. For a short period during the 4th century BC, the city was ruled by Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great.")
