The Hellenistic Age of Philosophy

From the first century b c to the second century a d, aristotle began a comeback that would eventually see him crowned as the chief philosopher by all mediaeval traditions. Platonism also emerged as a force to be reckoned with. Hand in hand with this proliferation of schools went an institutionalization of those schools. Rich patrons and political rulers continued to influence the way philosophy was practised down to the last days of the western empire.