History of Alexandria | Short Documentary

Alexandria, a city steeped in the sands of time, bears witness to a rich tapestry of human activity dating back to the Old Kingdom and beyond. Radiocarbon dating of seashell fragments and traces of lead contamination reveal a complex history that unfolded over millennia. This video delves into the origins, foundation, and tumultuous events that shaped Alexandria into a cultural and commercial epicenter of the ancient world.
The earliest echoes of human presence in the vicinity of Alexandria can be traced to the Old Kingdom (27th-21st centuries BC) and a later resurgence from 1000 to 800 BC. Records from the time of Rameses the Great allude to a trading post engaging with Crete, although by the time of Alexander the Great's arrival, this outpost had vanished into the sands of history. In its place stood Rhakotis, a modest Egyptian fishing village since the 13th century BC, which gradually evolved into the Egyptian quarter of Alexandria.
East of Alexandria, where Abu Qir Bay now lies, ancient marshlands and islands once thrived. Notable port cities like Canopus and Heracleion flourished as early as the 7th century BC. Heracleion, lost to the depths of the sea, has only recently been rediscovered, adding a new chapter to the maritime history of the region.
In April 331 BC, the legendary Alexander the Great founded Alexandria as one of his many city foundations. The city was strategically placed on Egypt's coast, intended to surpass the older Greek colony of Naucratis. Alexander envisioned a grand Greek city with a causeway to the nearby island of Pharos, creating two natural harbors.
Following Alexander's departure, his viceroy Cleomenes continued the city's expansion under the guidance of the architect Dinocrates of Rhodes. Ptolemy Lagides, Alexander's general, eventually declared himself Pharaoh in 305 BC and moved the capital to Alexandria. Inheriting the trade of Tyre, Alexandria became the center of commerce between Europe and the Arabian and Indian East.
Within a century, Alexandria surpassed Carthage to become the world's largest city, second only to Rome. The city thrived as Egypt's main Greek city, fostering the creation of the Septuagint and nurturing its museum into a leading Hellenistic center of learning. The population, comprising Greeks, Egyptians, and Jews, lived in harmony under the early Ptolemies.
Ancient Alexandria, renowned for its cultural and architectural marvels, boasted two iconic landmarks: the Library of Alexandria and the Pharos Lighthouse. The Library, established in the 3rd century BCE, stood as a beacon of knowledge, housing countless scrolls and manuscripts from various civilizations, making it a center of learning and scholarship. Meanwhile, the Pharos Lighthouse, erected on the island of Pharos in the 3rd century BCE, was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, guiding sailors with its towering stature and beacon of light.
During the tumultuous battle between Julius Caesar, with the forces of Cleopatra VII, against Ptolemy XIII, the Pharos Lighthouse fell victim to the chaos. In the pursuit of victory, Caesar's forces inadvertently set fire to the structure, leading to its destruction and marking the end of its centuries-long service as a navigational aid.
As Rome solidified its control over Egypt, the Library of Alexandria faced a gradual decline. While it remained a symbol of intellectualism and culture, successive rulers neglected its upkeep, and parts of the library were repurposed or destroyed. Despite this, the Library endured.
However, tensions erupted in 38 AD between Jews and Greek citizens during the visit of King Agrippa I. The ensuing Alexandrian pogroms were marked by violence and desecration of synagogues, quelled only after Roman intervention. Violence would continue to be the norm for the city, especially as Chrisitianity began to spread, with the Library eventually being fully destroyed during a violent street-battle between the Christians and the Pagans. Alexandria faced further challenges during the Kitos War in 115 AD and the destructive tsunami of 365 AD, events that reshaped the cityscape.
SOURCES:
www.worldhisto...
www.britannica...
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MUSIC : by Alexander Nakarada
Music: by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License
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#Alexandria #ancientegypt #AncientHistoryGuy

[@ajavierb2078]

You are really pumping out content

[@Breakfast_of_Champions]

The pearl of the Mediterranean Sea. Btw, the exact fate of library is unknown to science, but is generelly attributed to neglect. It was however built in a bad location near the port where the humid air accelerated the aging of the scrolls. A section located futher inland survived the longest.

[@MuddieRain]

“You could tell how middle class you are by how aggrieved you are and how you wince every time someone mentions the fact that the library of Alexandria burn down”
-Lindy Beige

[@brokenbridge6316]

I like how Alexandria was depicted in Assassin's Creed: Origins.

[@ravager2-636]

The original city of dreams..

[@micahistory]

really sad how it ended up

[@yoya8191]

As an Alexandrian we love to joke around about establishing our own state... But now we hope that we won't be dead people walking

[@J4R0D]

0:47
Egyptians simped for Cretans?