During the Hellenistic period, what happened to Alexander's empire?

During the Hellenistic period, after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE, his vast empire did not remain unified. Instead, it was divided among his generals and followers, known as the Diadochi. This division resulted from a power struggle as these leaders sought to assert control over different parts of the empire. Major kingdoms like the Seleucid Empire in the East and the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt emerged from this fragmentation, fundamentally reshaping political and cultural landscapes across the regions that were once under Alexander's singular rule.

This division was pivotal in shaping the subsequent Hellenistic world, characterized by the blend of Greek and local cultures, advancements in arts and science, and further territorial conflicts among the successor states. Understanding this fragmentation illustrates how the later developments of the Hellenistic period were influenced significantly by the legacy of Alexander and his followers, rather than the establishment of a cohesive territorial empire.