Macedonia, Pergamon, Syria, Egypt were the most durable. Others came and went.
The four kingdoms were: the Kingdom of Macedon in mainland Greece, the Kingdom of Pergamun (which the Romans later called Pergamon) in western Turkey, the Seleucid Empire. and the Ptolemaic Kingdom, or Kingdom of Egypt. The Seleucid Empire covered Syria, Lebanon, Judaea, Iraq and Persia. It then lost Persia and Iraq to the Parthian Empire a reconstructed Persian Empire.
war
Dog
The Treaty of Verdun in 843 caused Frankish kingdom to divide into 3 kingdoms, which lead to decline of strong rulers. The dissolution of the Frankish empire caused the era to return into the Dark Ages, until feudalism arose.
Hellenism/Hellenic was their word for Greek. The kingdoms which arose from Alexander's empire after his death were called Hellenistic as they were based on Greek civilisation. However this was superficial as most of the peoples in the ex-Persian territories retained their old ways - only the upper classes adopted Greek culture. So the word Hellenistic is used instead of Hellenic to indicate the partial culture 'like Hellenic'.
Hellenism/Hellenic was their word for Greek. The kingdoms which arose from Alexander's empire after his death were called Hellenistic as they were based on Greek civilisation. However this was superficial as most of the peoples in the ex-Persian territories retained their old ways - only the upper classes adopted Greek culture. So the word Hellenistic is used instead of Hellenic to indicate the partial culture 'like Hellenic'.
Well, honey, after Alexander the Great kicked the bucket, his empire was like a bunch of kids fighting over a toy. His generals couldn't agree on who should be in charge, so they split the empire into pieces like a messy breakup. Plus, add in some rebellions here and there, and voila, you've got yourself a recipe for an empire falling apart faster than a cheap suit.
Pagan Rome
Conflict was his way of life - his success arose from it. Even in the year he died, he was planning to invade western Europe to extend his empire to all the known world.
Christian religious
I know of more than four: Seleucid (Turkey, Iraq, Iran), Ptolemeic (Egypt & Palestine), Antiginoid (Greece), Bactria (Afghanistan), Maurya (India/Pakistan), Parthians also appeared in northern Turkey/Georgia but they apparently moved in and established their kingdom. Addition: The Hellenistic Kingdoms (a modern terminology) were originally split up between Cassander (Macedonia), Egypt (Ptolemy), Asia Minor (Lysimachos) and the east (Seleucis). A geographical perspective is given in the map in: http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=hellenistic+kingdoms&meta= However these early divisions changed shape and size as Alexander's self-acclaimed heirs (diadochi) fought amongst each other, and particularly in the east, where the territories beyond Mesopotamia quickly returned to native rule.
The end of the Persian Empire, for a start, although whether that was a bad thing or not is debatable. And... The warring factions that arose after his death. His empire was torn into pieces and fought over. Much better to have let the Persians keep it, I think.