The Rise of Stoicism

Stoicism gained prominence during the Hellenistic period, which was marked by the breakdown of city-states and a sense of anxiety and insecurity. Stoicism offered a way to address this meaning crisis, providing practices and a coherent way of life for individuals to cultivate wisdom and find inner peace. Its focus on reason, ethical virtues, and a cosmopolitan orientation made it appealing to the aristocracy and the military, which fostered its influence and allowed it to potentially contribute to the stability of the Roman Empire.