Timeline of Alexandria

The city of Alexandria in Egypt has a long and interesting history that goes back thousands of years. It was founded by the famous explorer Alexander the Great around 331 BCE. Alexandria quickly became a key place for trade, learning, and culture.

Alexandria was famous for its Library of Alexandria, one of the most well-known libraries of the ancient world. Scholars and thinkers from many places came to study there. Even though the library is no longer there, its legacy still inspires people today.

Over time, Alexandria was ruled by different groups, including the Ptolemaic dynasty and later the Roman Empire. Each of these times left its mark on the city, shaping its buildings, culture, and daily life. Today, Alexandria remains a lively and important city, remembered for its amazing history and its ongoing influence on the world.

Greek era (331–30 BC)

In 331 BC, the place called Rhacotis was renamed Alexandria by Alexander the Great. Around 330 BC, Cleomenes of Naucratis was made the ruler of Egypt by Alexander and started to grow the small village into the country's capital.

After Alexander died in 323 BC, Ptolemy I Soter became the leader of Egypt. In 305 BC, Ptolemy I declared himself king. The famous Library of Alexandria likely opened around 283 BC, and the Lighthouse of Alexandria was built around 247 BC. In 170 BC, a ruler named Antiochus IV Epiphanes from a different country took control of Egypt for a short time. The Romans came into the city in 168 BC. Also, during the 1st century BC, a grand building called the Caesareum was built.

Main article: Ptolemaic dynasty

48 BC–365 AD Romans in power

Between 48 BC and 365 AD, Alexandria had many important events. Julius Caesar took over the city in 48 BC, and the Great Royal Library of Alexandria burned that same year. Later, Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII died after the Battle of Alexandria in 30 BC. Augustus became the ruler and chose Cornelius Gallus as the first leader of Egypt.

Many famous people visited Alexandria, like the Greek geographer Strabo in 25 BC and Germanicus in 19 AD. The city had hard times, such as conflicts and a revolt. Emperor Hadrian helped rebuild the city in 122 AD, and the first school to teach Christian beliefs, the Catechetical School of Alexandria, was started around then. In 365 AD, a big earthquake caused a tsunami that affected the coasts of Libya and Egypt, including Alexandria.

Byzantine rule 390–650

During this time, many important events happened in Alexandria. In 391, the ruler Theodosius I ordered old temples to be torn down. By 395, the Roman Empire split into two parts, starting the Byzantine Empire. In 415, a respected teacher named Hypatia was sadly harmed. Later, in 619, Persian forces took control of the city. Between 641 and 642, Arab forces took over, and the capital of Egypt moved to a new city called Fustat. There were more changes in power over the next few years.

Main article: Byzantine Empire

Muslim Rule 700–1800

Alexandria changed a lot between 700 and 1800. Important buildings like Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral and the Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue were built. The famous Pharos lighthouse fell down in 1323 after an earthquake. In 1798, French forces led by Napoleon Bonaparte took control of the city. By 1800, Alexandria was a small city with only about 8,000 people.

19th century

In the 1800s, Alexandria experienced many important changes. In 1801, a battle happened between French and British forces, and British forces later surrounded the city. By 1807, British troops controlled the city.

Many new buildings and places were created during this time. The Mahmoudiyah Canal was built in 1819. By 1821, the city's population was about 12,528. Over the years, new docks, a palace, synagogues, and theaters were built. The population grew quickly to about 170,000 by 1863. New ways of transportation like horse-drawn trams and railways started, and gas lighting was introduced. In 1882, there were riots, and the city was bombed by British ships. By the end of the century, the first cinema showed films in Alexandria.

20th century

In the 1900s, Alexandria grew and changed a lot. Important buildings and schools opened, such as the Green Synagogue, Victoria College, and the Alexandria Opera House. Trams started running on electric power, and new sports clubs like the Hellenic Football Club Alexandria and Al Ittihad Alexandria Club were formed.

The city’s population grew from around 330,000 in 1907 to nearly 3.4 million by 1992. New places like the Alexandria Aquarium and the Alexandria Zoo opened, and important events took place, including a meeting of the Arab League in 1964. Leaders such as Siddiq Abdul-Latif and Ismail El-Gawsaqi served as mayors during this time.

21st century

The 21st century brought many changes to Alexandria. In 2001, the Alexandria Center of Arts opened, followed by the grand opening of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in 2002. That same year, Alexandria was named the World Book Capital by UNESCO. In 2003, Harras El-Hedoud Stadium and the Alexandria National Museum opened to the public.

More buildings were added in the following years, including Borg El Arab Stadium in 2007 and San Stefano Grand Plaza the same year. The Sadat Museum opened its doors in 2009. The city saw big events like the Africa Cup of Nations in early 2006. By 2017, the urban population had grown to about 5 million people.