Wouldn't that pertain to a different era? I agree with him insofar as it's about the period after the heydays of Ptolemaic Egypt (and I even have some doubts about them doing it), since I don't really see anyone except a very powerful ATL Byzantine Empire pulling it off after that point. But if Alexander had actually lived long enough to conquer Arabia, I'd say it's very much a different ballgame.

If the Ptolemaics can conquer and hold the Hijaz and Yemen long enough perhaps. They could definitely influence the Arabs, however, it may turn out worse for them. Look to the example of Hellenism and the Jewish people for how these sorts of things can go south very fast.
 
If the Ptolemaics can conquer and hold the Hijaz and Yemen long enough perhaps. They could definitely influence the Arabs, however, it may turn out worse for them. Look to the example of Hellenism and the Jewish people for how these sorts of things can go south very fast.

The Ptolemies had relatively few issues holding Jerusalem historically. Also many Jews did Hellenize.

Also Nabataea and several other small Arab states did Hellenize to varying degrees.

Arabs, I think, would definitely Hellenize in time, with the right impeteus. Of course these cultural influences would not be ubiquitous and would effect certain areas far more than others and certain groups and social classes more than others. But it doesn't seem implausible to me at all.

Edit: the Arabs converting en masse to Christianity in the 6th century seems more outlandish to me than Arabs adopting some Hellenic influences to varying degrees.
 

Raunchel

Banned
Large parts of the area were Hellenised, as was the religion. The Jewish upper classes clearly wanted to be part of the wider wirld, which can also be seen in the Septuagint for instance.

Full Hellenisation in Arabia would be possible I think, but it takes a strong Hellenic kingdom to hold large parts for a long time. The Ptolemies might have done it, or at least, Western and Southern regions, while the Seleucids could have held northern parts. If this somehow replaces Syria as at least one of their main battlefields, there would be a strong incentive to also station troops, with all the advantages that entail for Hellenisation.
 
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