How did the Greeks deal with the loss of their cultural hegemony and assimilate into a larger ...

Some Greeks turned to philosophy to find answers to the questions of life in a larger perspective. Others turned to religion and mystery cults to find some meaning that differed from the traditional humanocentric point of view from the Archaic period. In turning to religion and philosophy for comfort and stability, Greeks, in some cases, turned to the very cultures they found problematic. For example, the use of Babylonian astrology was very popular, with a famous astrologer even moving to Greece and opening a school. Magical spells and incantations were popular and empowering. Others remained isolated and convinced that Greek culture was the finest in the world, even while they were entrenched in the heart of Persia or Egypt. Even after Alexander's death and the continuation of third-wave Greek colonization, cultural standards were maintained as Greeks struggled to adjust their perspective to the new reality of Greece in the larger world. In Persia, for example, Alexander immersed himself in Persian culture, taking on Persian styles of dress and insisting that his staff greet him in the Persian manner (they refused). However, many settled in these regions and began to assimilate. In some cases, syncretism helped bond two cultures together and eased the transition. People realized they were part of something much bigger when they saw the results of cultural diversity, such as hearing other languages, seeing new art forms, and being exposed to new literature and science that initially made them uncomfortable.