400–300
B.C.
Pentateuch—first five books of the Old Testament evolve in
final form. Philip of Macedon, who believed himself to be a descendant of the
Greek people, assassinated (336 B.C.) after subduing the Greek city-states;
succeeded by son, Alexander the Great (356–323
B.C.), who destroys Thebes
(335 B.C.), conquers Tyre and Jerusalem (332 B.C.), occupies Babylon (330 B.C.),
invades India, and dies in Babylon. His empire is divided among his generals;
one of them, Seleucis I, establishes