Greek Empire

Is it possible for a Greek Empire to occur around the same time as Rome, or maybe earlier? Once their borders meet, they fight similarly to how Carthage and Rome did, in the end with the Greeks winning, and conquering Rome. They later go to fill much of the same space as Rome did, except probably more eastern centered.

If a more eastern centered civilization did rise, would it be possible that we see the birth of Mediterranean countries in the west, like in Hispania? They eventually are conquered as well, but leave as great an impact as OTL ancient Greece did?

Europe's* culture becomes based around Greek, so similar culturally , but different languages. Would eastern Europe become more cultured and important than the west, a reverse to what happened OTL?
 
One possibility is to have Alexander the Greats empire survive him, lets say he either lives longer, or names a successor that allows the empire to (mostly) stay united.

Another way it could be done is to have one of the successor states of Alexander's empire eclipse and eventually conquer the others, as to which one it would be I have no idea.
 
Or have Alexander Die before he invades Persia leading Macedonia to explode in civil war.

Now all you need is for the Greeks to somehow get their act together and unite, which is one of the more Herculean not-actually-ASB things I can think of.

And for them on uniting to build an empire.
 
Now all you need is for the Greeks to somehow get their act together and unite, which is one of the more Herculean not-actually-ASB things I can think of.

And for them on uniting to build an empire.

Well, it would probably mean only one of them coming out on top. Allegedly only Athens would be in any shape at this time frame with all their neighbors having been beat down by Alexander and having their navy at largest in their history during the one frame.
 
Well, it would probably mean only one of them coming out on top. Allegedly only Athens would be in any shape at this time frame with all their neighbors having been beat down by Alexander and having their navy at largest in their history during the one frame.

Yes, but get them to accept the rule of any one city. Athens or whoever is going to have a lot of work with that.

Macedon at least has the advantage of being equally unwelcome by all.
 
Yes, but get them to accept the rule of any one city. Athens or whoever is going to have a lot of work with that.

Macedon at least has the advantage of being equally unwelcome by all.

I suppose that was why everyone but the Boetians joined with Athens against the Macedonians under Leosthenes. It would definitely take a cadre of statesmen capable of maneuvering things.
 
I suppose that was why everyone but the Boetians joined with Athens against the Macedonians under Leosthenes. It would definitely take a cadre of statesmen capable of maneuvering things.

Uniting to resist a foreign invader is one thing, uniting as in surrendering their independence - yeah, I'm betting you'd need the equivalent of the US's Founding Fathers and then some.
 
Uniting to resist a foreign invader is one thing, uniting as in surrendering their independence - yeah, I'm betting you'd need the equivalent of the US's Founding Fathers and then some.

Well, whoever, if Leosthenes, from Athens had been able to defeat any Macedonians trying to re assert their dominance they would have likely gained a great deal of fame and clout amongst the Allied Cities. The situation could come about but I don't have the information to know for sure totally who would be in place.
 
Well, whoever, if Leosthenes, from Athens had been able to defeat any Macedonians trying to re assert their dominance they would have likely gained a great deal of fame and clout amongst the Allied Cities. The situation could come about but I don't have the information to know for sure totally who would be in place.

Fame, yes, clout, I'm not sure. This is a pretty big step we're asking them to take.
 
Fame, yes, clout, I'm not sure. This is a pretty big step we're asking them to take.

It certainly wouldn't be "I lead you to victory so trust yourselves to me completely", there would probably be a deal of political dealing and wheeling.
 
Athens wins against Sparta, probably by not invading Syracuse? Its a stretch, but its a possible one at least.

On the other hand, I always thought it a novel idea to have Syracuse replace Rome as the premier Western European power of antiquity. Say, they have better luck against the Carthaginians and can take the whole of Sicily and even move into Africa, not to mention their considerable OTL influence in Italy magnified by such a victory... It would be very interesting indeed.
 
Athens wins against Sparta, probably by not invading Syracuse? Its a stretch, but its a possible one at least.

On the other hand, I always thought it a novel idea to have Syracuse replace Rome as the premier Western European power of antiquity. Say, they have better luck against the Carthaginians and can take the whole of Sicily and even move into Africa, not to mention their considerable OTL influence in Italy magnified by such a victory... It would be very interesting indeed.

Pyrrhus, King of Sicily!!!!!!!
 
Athens wins against Sparta, probably by not invading Syracuse? Its a stretch, but its a possible one at least.

On the other hand, I always thought it a novel idea to have Syracuse replace Rome as the premier Western European power of antiquity. Say, they have better luck against the Carthaginians and can take the whole of Sicily and even move into Africa, not to mention their considerable OTL influence in Italy magnified by such a victory... It would be very interesting indeed.

I think Athens winning against Sparta is the best candidate. And probably invading Syracuse and winning this siege would have made Athens a real Empire. Taking Syracuse is very challenging task but with a good luck and a good POD it is possible.
 
What if Sparta reformed itself into an expansive flexible military power uniting Greece under it's awesome might? :D
 
What if Sparta reformed itself into an expansive flexible military power uniting Greece under it's awesome might? :D

That would take a truly radical shake up of Spartan society, and would still have the issue of actually governing the place (Greece).

Easier said than done.
 
What if Sparta reformed itself into an expansive flexible military power uniting Greece under it's awesome might? :D

Next to impossible. Spartas military machine really was a very localized phenomenon based just as much on keeping the slave population from being able to take over the city. I really don't understand how that could successfully actually conquer even all of it's neighbors let alone all of the city states.
 
Next to impossible. Spartas military machine really was a very localized phenomenon based just as much on keeping the slave population from being able to take over the city. I really don't understand how that could successfully actually conquer even all of it's neighbors let alone all of the city states.

The issue that really destroyed the Spartan ability to fight apparently was their increasing dickish attitude toward the Helots and their laws on land division allowed for a smaller number of Spartan Elites to gain land thus making more Spartans lose their citizenship and therego inclusion in the fighting force.
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Which at one point they did try to remedy but it was too late
 
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