Among all Egyptian cities, this large settlement takes the second place in size, of course, after the capital. At the same time, the history of Alexandria shows that no one can move this city from the position of the main seaport of the state.
Since the city quarters are located in the Nile Delta and along the southern Mediterranean coast, such a good geographical position has determined the history of Alexandria from the moment of its foundation.
Origins
The name of the city comes from the name of the greatest political and military leader Alexander the Great. Thanks to him, in 332 BC, a new settlement appeared in the Nile Delta. It received the name of a regular city, which was built strictly according to the plan. This is an important period in the history of Alexandria, since it is the main city of the so-called Ptolemaic Egypt. Moreover, it is one of the important centers of the Hellenistic world.
The history of Alexandria can be briefly presented through the following periods (chronologically):
- the Hellenistic period, which lasted until the 1st century AD;
- as part of the Roman Empire (until the IV century AD);
- under the rule of the Byzantine Empire (up to the 7th century);
- Arab rule (up to the XII century);
- the era of the Ayyubids and Mamluks (up to the 16th century);
- as part of the Ottoman Empire (throughout the 16th – 20th centuries);
- recent history (up to the present).
From antiquity to the present day
Three hundred years of Greek rule ended with the arrival of Emperor Octavian, and the Roman period of Alexandria's life began. At this time, the city competes with Rome, because it has a better geographical position. It plays an important role as the center of Christianity. Although the struggle for power does not stop throughout the entire period, it is often very tough.
In 395, after the entry of Egypt into Byzantium, a new life begins in Alexandria. The city is still the center of Christianity; to the political struggle is added the clarification of relations between different confessions, supporters of one Church or another.
In 641, Alexandria was captured by the Arabs, the Byzantines tried to recapture the city, but finally lost. The Arabs are building a new capital, so this city is beginning to lose its significance and decline. Since 1171, the period of the reign of representatives of the Ayyubid and Mamluk dynasty begins, which are replaced in 1517 by the Ottomans, the period of their reign lasted until the beginning of the twentieth century.
In the XIX-XX centuries. power in Egypt began to change much faster, Alexandria survived the occupation of the French troops of Napoleon, saw the British army (under British protectorate until 1922).
