The Rise and Fall of Alexandria: Birthplace of the Modern Mind (Hardback)
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Short Description for The Rise and Fall of Alexandria The astonishing story of the ancient city that invented the modern world Founded by Alexander the Great and built by Greek pharaohs, the city of Alexandria at its height dwarfed both Athens and Rome. It was the marvel of its age—legendary for its vast palaces, safe harbors, and magnificent lighthouse. But it was most famous for the astonishing intellectual fluorescence it fostered and the l...
Full description- Publisher: Viking Books
- Published: 01 November 2006
- Format: Hardback 329 pages
- See: Full bibliographic data
- Categories: Ancient History: To C 500 CE
- ISBN 13: 9780670037971 ISBN 10: 0670037974
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Full description for The Rise and Fall of Alexandria
The astonishing story of the ancient city that invented the modern world Founded by Alexander the Great and built by Greek pharaohs, the city of Alexandria at its height dwarfed both Athens and Rome. It was the marvel of its age—legendary for its vast palaces, safe harbors, and magnificent lighthouse. But it was most famous for the astonishing intellectual fluorescence it fostered and the library it produced. If the European Renaissance was the “rebirth” of Western culture, then Alexandria, Egypt, was its birthplace. It was here mankind first discovered that the earth was not flat, originated atomic theory, invented geometry, systematized grammar, translated the Old Testament into Greek, built the steam engine, and passed their discoveries on to future generations via the written word. Julius Caesar, Anthony and Cleopatra, Jewish scholars, Greek philosophers, and devout early Christians all play a part in the rise and fall of the city that stood “at the conjunction of the whole world.” Compulsively readable and sparkling with fresh insights into science, philosophy, culture, and invention, this is an irresistible, eye-opening delight.
