Alexander the Great Transforms Egypt

In 331 B.C., an ambitious Alexander arrived in Egypt and was greeted cheerfully by the Egyptians that were desperate to free themselves from their Persian rulers. After arriving, Alexander was crowned pharaoh by the Egyptians and he later on denied a peace treaty that the king of Persia, Darius III, offered him, stating that he wanted to conquer the entire Persian Empire, rather than simply having a part of it. On the other hand, though, while in Egypt, Alexander ordered a city to be found and named after him. This city would come to be known as Alexandria. Leaving aside its name, Alexandria grew to become one of the most renowned cultural centers in the world that witnessed the magnificent life of the Hellenistic culture, a culture formed by the blending of Egyptian, Greek and Eastern influences. This attractive new culture was adopted by many new people and allowed its followers to modernize to some extent and learn of new customs. More importantly, Alexandria, the residence of the Hellenistic culture, was the home of many advances. To begin with, the world’s first museum was opened in Alexandria that also served as an observatory for astronomers. Additionally, one Hellenistic astronomer was able to closely calculate the circumference of the Earth. Furthermore, Alexandria’s marketplaces served as sites for cultural blending where people from all around the world would meet to buy Egyptian goods and learn about other cultures. Hence, by demanding a city to be found and named after him, Alexander was able to help pave the way to many worldly advances being made.