Alexander the Great founded the city of Alexandria to leave his mark on the world, create a strategic cultural and commercial center, and strengthen his empire by connecting the East and the West.
Alexandre saw the city of Alexandria as a sort of showcase for Greek culture, marking his presence in the region. He genuinely wanted to spread what is called Hellenism, which encompasses all aspects of Greek culture: language, way of thinking, arts, and everything else. His idea was to leave a lasting Greek imprint in a region that was foreign to him, so that it would become a little Greek as well. Alexandria quickly became a symbol of Greek identity in Egypt, a place where local traditions blended with Greek customs. The result: a mixed culture that remained unique and lasted long after his death.
Alexandria was not chosen by Alexander by chance: its geographical location was perfect, right where Egypt meets the Mediterranean. The city, built near the fertile delta of the Nile, had direct access to the sea, allowing for easy trade with various regions, particularly Greece, Asia Minor, and even further afield. For a city destined to become powerful, it was essential to have a place that served as a commercial and military crossroads. Situated between various essential maritime routes, Alexandria controlled quite a few strategic paths, enabling Alexander to monitor the entire region and ensure the protection of his conquered territories. In short, it was a city ideally positioned to guarantee Alexander rapid control over the eastern Mediterranean and a central position for the deployment of his armies.
Alexander the Great wanted to make Alexandria the main meeting point for ancient knowledge. He initiated the creation of the famous Library of Alexandria, with the goal of gathering all the important books of the time in one place. It attracted intellectuals, researchers, and scholars from around the world who came to exchange ideas and advance knowledge. The renowned Museum of Alexandria also came into being: a place that was part temple, part laboratory, where scholars gathered to think, debate, and explore fields like mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and even philosophy. It was a kind of incubator for ancient talents! All of this allowed Alexandria to quickly become THE reference city for knowledge in the Mediterranean world of that time.
With Alexandria, Alexander the Great understood everything: by establishing his commercial port in Egypt, he opened a huge door to trade in the Mediterranean. His goal was clear: to build a strategic city, open to international commerce. And it works: the city quickly becomes a major commercial hub, connecting goods and wealth from the East to the West. Its famous port soon attracts ships and traders from everywhere. As a result, Alexandria rapidly accumulates a fortune through maritime trade, further boosting the already flourishing Greek economy.
Alexander the Great is said to have founded Alexandria at the exact spot where he had a vision of the ancient Greek god Homer, thus revealing to him the ideal location, according to certain mythical accounts.
The Library of Alexandria, founded shortly after the creation of the city, aimed to bring together all the texts of the ancient world and is said to have contained up to 700,000 manuscripts at its peak.
Alexander the Great himself outlined the main features of the city of Alexandria by indicating the location of the key buildings and the general layout of the streets, according to a well-documented account by certain ancient historians.
The famous Lighthouse of Alexandria, built after Alexander's death, was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, serving to guide ships to the harbor and attesting to the strategic and economic importance envisioned by Alexander.
Sure, here's the translation: "Yes, clearly. Thanks to its strategic port, Alexandria became a major commercial hub where goods from Europe, Africa, and Asia were exchanged. This thriving trade generated considerable wealth for Alexander's empire and contributed to the city's economic power long after his death."
Alexandria was located on the Mediterranean coast, favorable for navigation, and also had direct proximity to the Nile. This unique combination allowed Alexander the Great to effectively control Mediterranean maritime trade while exploiting a land access to the heart of Egypt and the African continent.
By founding Alexandria, Alexander wanted to spread Greek culture and ideas throughout the known world. Alexandria quickly became a place where knowledge was mixed, attracting Greek scholars, philosophers, and artists, which allowed for the embodiment of Hellenic spirit and heritage on a very large scale.
Alexandria was famous for its Library and Museum, collectively known as 'the center of ancient knowledge.' This place attracted the brightest minds of the time and became an important center for research in mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, and medicine, making Alexandria a major intellectual city of antiquity.
Alexander the Great chose Egypt because of its favorable geographical location. Situated at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia, Alexandria's location provided important maritime and land trade routes, allowing his empire to further expand its economic and cultural influence.
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