Post Two

The library of Alexandria

The library of Alexandria was situated in Egypt and was the biggest and most significant library of the world, so significant that it was charged with collecting all the worlds’ knowledge.

The library of Alexandria was considered so important because it was the most important centre of learning in the world as this was the place men from all over the world came to learn about the size of the earth, the stars and more. This library educated so many brilliant minds and lasted over six centuries. The library was considered the world research centre. Dignitaries were invited to study in the halls, there they stayed and brought more knowledge to the library.

It is such a tragedy what happened to this library because it came to an end through Julius Caesar. During the attack on Pompey the library was set a light and 400,000 scrolls were burned to nothing but ashes- so much knowledge lost! Because of this tragedy no one today really knows what it looked like, where it exactly was, what books/scrolls were kept in there and more.

To learn more about the library please watch the below video:

Now that we know about the library itself let us look at the man it was named after; Alexandria the Great.

“Alexander III of Macedon, better known as Alexander the Great, single-handedly changed the nature of the ancient world in little more than a decade.

Alexander was born in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia in July 356 BC. His parents were Philip II of Macedon and his wife Olympias. Alexander was educated by the philosopher Aristotle. Philip was assassinated in 336 BC and Alexander inherited a powerful yet volatile kingdom. He quickly dealt with his enemies at home and reasserted Macedonian power within Greece. He then set out to conquer the massive Persian Empire.

Against overwhelming odds, he led his army to victories across the Persian territories of Asia Minor, Syria and Egypt without suffering a single defeat. His greatest victory was at the Battle of Gaugamela, in what is now northern Iraq, in 331 BC. The young king of Macedonia, leader of the Greeks, overlord of Asia Minor and pharaoh of Egypt became 'great king' of Persia at the age of 25.

Over the next eight years, in his capacity as king, commander, politician, scholar and explorer, Alexander led his army a further 11,000 miles, founding over 70 cities and creating an empire that stretched across three continents and covered around two million square miles. The entire area from Greece in the west, north to the Danube, south into Egypt and as far to the east as the Indian Punjab, was linked together in a vast international network of trade and commerce. This was united by a common Greek language and culture, while the king himself adopted foreign customs in order to rule his millions of ethnically diverse subjects.

Alexander was acknowledged as a military genius who always led by example, although his belief in his own indestructibility meant he was often reckless with his own life and those of his soldiers. The fact that his army only refused to follow him once in 13 years of a reign during which there was constant fighting, indicates the loyalty he inspired.

He died of a fever in Babylon in June 323 BC.”- [Alexander the Great (356-323 BC)]. 

I found this information through using Google which led me to various websites referenced below, I think these websites were very helpful and interesting because I discovered things I had no idea about.

Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) 2012, BBC History Channel, viewed 22 April 2012, <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/alexander_the_great.shtml>

The mysterious fate of the great library of Alexandria 2003, BEDE’S LIBRARY, viewed 22 April 2012, <http://www.bede.org.uk/library.htm>

Library of Alexandria 2012, Wikipedia, viewed 22 April 2012, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Alexandria>

History channel 2010, History Channel-Ancient Mysteries-The lost treasure of the Alexandria library 1/5 2010, viewed 22 April 2012, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwc_KmzFYDk>