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it's also important to note that Greeks brought metallurgy innovations to the non-Greek world: iron, which dramatically increased strength of metal tools and weapons and cupro-nickel (used in coining). A number of Asian peoples also adapted Greek alphabet and papyrus.
But in many cases influence of Greeks was considerably obvious only in Asian kingdoms, as most of Mediterranean non-Greek cultures stood on the same level of development as Greeks. For such peoples as Jews and Assyrians Greek colonization mainly meant the threat of assimilation and loss of identity. Assyrians and Jews who in their majority were monotheists could not adopt Greek religion of polytheist as it was against their religious traditions. All the attempts of Greeks to convert Jews to polytheism failed. For example the attempt to convert Jewish Temple to Temple of Greek god Zeus under Antiochus IV Epiphanes only led tot he revolt of Jews led by Maccabees, which resulted with creation of independent Jewish kingdom of Hasmonaean (165 BCE to 63 BCE). So the primary reason which prevented Jews from Hellinization and assimilation with Greeks was their religious unity and monotheist religion of Judaism. Unity of Jews with God, fundamentalism and conservatism of their views in some respects isolated them from Hellenistic culture, which...
As most cultures stood on a lower level of development than Greeks, Hellenization was perceived by them as a chance of modernization and establishment of a more protected and secure societies which could resist nomadic hordes of invaders. In addition, most of Asian cultures were pagans and didn't have a clear system of religious values, so Greek culture with polytheist beliefs was close to them as it did not contradict with their world perception. But monotheist cultures of Zoroastrians and Jews successfully preserved their cultural and religious legacy, experiencing little influence of Hellinization.
References
Boardman, J. Griffin, J. Murray, O. The Oxford Illustrated History of Greece and the Hellenistic World Oxford University Press, 2001
Tarn, W.W. The Greeks in Bactria and India Cambridge University Press, 1997
Shuckburgh. Evelyn S. Histories. Polybius. London, New York. Macmillan. 1889. Reprint Bloomington 1962.
Greek
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