Seleucid, << suh LOO sihd, >> dynasty refers to a series of kings who ruled in southwest Asia from 312 to 64 B.C. Seleucus I, a Macedonian general, had served under the Macedonian conqueror Alexander the Great. When Alexander died in 323 B.C., he controlled most of the former Persian Empire. Seleucus established the Seleucid Empire from part of this area. At its height, it extended from Asia Minor (now part of Turkey) eastward to India. The Seleucids established many cities that incorporated Greek culture. Greek was the common language of the empire. During the 200’s B.C., the Parthians took over the far eastern region of the empire. In 188 B.C., the Romans forced the Seleucid king Antiochus III to give up much of Asia Minor. Later during the 100’s B.C., the Seleucids lost control of Palestine to the Jews and Mesopotamia to the Parthians. Syria, the last Seleucid territory, fell to the Romans in 64 B.C.
See also Judah Maccabee ; Syria (History) .
