Three central periods must be analyzed to evaluate the influence of Hellenization on Jewish history, up to the period of the Roman invasion: the Ptolemaic period, the Seleucid period and the revolts of Maccabees and the Hasmonean state. Each of these historical events shaped Jewish society and had a profound influence on the religious beliefs of many Jews. But it was the conquests of Alexander the Great that were the main catalyst that led to the process of Hellenization, a process that was embraced by many Jews and rejected by others. All in all, it was a process that contributed greatly to Jewish history until the Romans took matters into their own hands. The Ptolemaic period begins with Alexander the Great, who before his death in (323 BC) had established a vast empire that stretched from Macedonia to Persia. He then conquered Egypt and Palestine to the south. As W Albright states, these conquests were the catalyst that led to the phenomenon known as Hellenization. Alexander wanted to export and impose Hellenistic culture on the rest of his empire. In (98 1 Macc. 1 20-4) we discover that once Alexander died his empire was divided among his generals. Judea, the ancestral land of the Israelites, fell under the rule of the Egyptian Ptolemaic ruler, Ptolemy, under whose rule the Hellenization of Judea began. The Jews living in Egypt were allowed to return to Palestine (Antiquities of Josephus, chapter 2) and the Pentateuch was translated into Greek. (1 Macc. 1 5-15) Greek became the language used by officials, Greek money began to circulate, Greek art was exported, and inter-ethnic marriage was encouraged, if not enforced. The tax system was based on the Greek one. Some members of the upper class were in favor of the Hellenization process as it benefited them in terms of power and money. Flavius ​​Josephus explains it in the Antiquities of the Jews Book 12 Chapter IV, with the example of Joseph the tax collector who betrayed his people because he was attracted by the Hellenistic style. In biblical literature there is also a Hellenistic influence with the appearance of Greek words in the Old Testament. The Book of Wisdom is another good example showing how the Hellenistic influence changed the lives of many Jews. The Book of Wisdom was also a response to a growing number of Israelites attracted by Hellenistic customs.