-Alexander the Great -founded 331

The City of Alexandria Good anchorage Healthy climate Fresh water Nearby limestone quarries Al exandria was intended to be a center of trade and learning!

Ptolemy- his dynasty ruled Alexandria for 300 years

Importance as a Center of Trade - as big as Rome (1,000,000) meeting place of trade routes Offered: -safe harbors -dockworkers to handle cargo -warehouses to store goods -busy market to sell goods

Imports and Exports Imports Luxury Goods (bronze statues, fine wine) Raw materials (wood, marble) Exports Wheat Papyrus Glassware

-Pharus- both island and lighthouse -440 feet tall -3 tiers, faced with marble -light could be seen 70 miles away

Great Harbor- in front of city Western Harbor- in front of city Lake Harbor- behind the city

Lake Harbor- connected by canals to Nile River, Red Sea, and eastern trade routes

-Alexandria- built on a grid system Canopus Street- more than 100 feet wide Royal Quarter- area with palaces, temples, gov’t buildings

Cleopatra Marc Antony Augustus Caesareum- shrine/ temple

Cleopatra’s Needles -obelisks erected in 1500 BC by Pharoah Thutmosis III -brought to Alexandria from Heliopolis by Cleopatra -one given to Britain in banks of Thames in London -one given to America in Central Park, NY

Alexandria- center of education and study Museum- University with largest library

Located in the Royal Quarter

Mathematics Astronomy Anatomy Geography Literature Languages Mapping techniques improved Euclid wrote famous geometry textbook The Elements Aristarchus- theorized that the Earth revolved around the sun

Problems in Alexandria Many ethnic groups (Egyptians, Jews, Romans, Africans, Indians, Greeks) Greeks- most powerful – Planned and built city – Greek was official language – Greeks had great wealth and special privileges RESULTS – Frequent riots, jealously between ethnic groups – the Romans kept close watch on the province- managed directly by the emperor – Rome needed to ensure a steady supply of grain travelled from Egypt to Italy