Professor Islam Issa joins Dan Snow to discuss Alexandria, the city that changed the world. They explore its origins, its role as a global trading hub, its reputation as a haven for diversity and freedom of expression, the magnificent lighthouse, and the rise and fall of its famous library.
Alexandria was intentionally built by Alexander the Great as a symbol of his empire and focused on trade and knowledge.
The great library of Alexandria attracted renowned scholars and became a seat of knowledge, but eventually declined due to various factors.
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The founding of Alexandria and its purposeful construction
Alexandria was founded by Alexander the Great on the island of Ferros. It was a purposefully constructed city, not organically created, and aimed to be a totem of his empire with a focus on trade and knowledge.
The significance of the Alexandria lighthouse
The Alexandria lighthouse, one of the wonders of the world, was a symbol of power and showcased the city's wealth. Standing at potentially 100 to 170 meters tall, it served practical purposes as a navigational aid and was a spectacle to behold.
The rise and decline of the great library of Alexandria
The great library of Alexandria became a seat of knowledge and a treasure trove of books with a mission to gather all the books in the world. It attracted renowned thinkers and scholars such as Euclid and Hypatia. However, the library gradually declined over time, with various factors contributing to its demise, including wars and shifts in power.
This is the story of a city that laid the foundations for our modern world. Sitting at the intersection of East and West, Alexandria has been home to many of humanity's greatest architectural and cultural achievements, like the famous Lighthouse and the storied Great Library. Some of history's most illustrious figures have left their mark there, from Alexander the Great and Aristotle to Julius Caesar and Cleopatra.
Dan is joined by Islam Issa, Professor of English at Birmingham City University and author of 'Alexandria: The City that Changed the World'. Islam explains how a city that started as a vision in Alexander the Great’s mind became a global capital of knowledge.
Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.
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