Keys to this period
1) Macedonian empire expanded into Egypt with arrival of Alexander the Great.
2) Alexandria began to flourish as the jewel of the Ancient World
3) Famous for Great Library and Lighthouse (Seven Wonders of the Ancient World)
4) Cleopatra commits suicide in 30 B.C.
Summary
The Egyptians welcomed Alexander after all the troubles of Persian occupations. On the western side of the Delta, construction began on the city of Alexandria. Alexander died suddenly in 323 BC and control of Egypt fell into the hands of Philip Arrhidaeus and Alexander II. By 305 BC, the Macedonian general Ptolemy became the first in a long line of Ptolemaic rulers.
During the 3rd century B.C., Alexandria began to flourish as the jewel of the Ancient World. The city became famous for its Great Library and the lighthouse which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Ptolemaic rule lasted until the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 B.C. after a period of increasing Roman influence.
The occupation of Egypt by the forces of Alexander the Great in 332 BC brought an end to Persian rule. Alexander appointed Cleomenes of Naucratis, a Greek resident in Egypt, and his Macedonian general, known later as Ptolemy I, to govern the country. Although two Egyptian governors were named as well, power was clearly in the hands of Ptolemy, who in a few years took absolute control of the country.
Rivalries with other generals, who carved out sections of Alexander's empire after his death in 323 BC, occupied much of Ptolemy's time, but in 305 BC he assumed the royal title and founded the dynasty that bears his name (see PTOLEMAIC DYNASTY). Ptolemaic Egypt was one of the great powers of the Hellenistic world, and at various times it extended its rule over parts of Syria, Asia Minor, Cyprus, Libya, Phoenicia, and other lands.
Partly because native Egyptian rulers had a reduced role in affairs of state during the Ptolemaic regime, they periodically demonstrated their dissatisfaction by open revolts, all of which were, however, quickly suppressed. In the reign of Ptolemy VI, Egypt became a protectorate under Antiochus IV of Syria, who successfully invaded the country in 169 BC. The Romans, however, forced Antiochus to give up the country, which was then divided between Ptolemy VI and his younger brother, Ptolemy VII; the latter took full control upon the death of his brother in 145 BC.
The succeeding Ptolemies preserved the wealth and status of Egypt while continually losing territory to the Romans. Cleopatra VII was the last great ruler of the Ptolemaic line. In an attempt to maintain Egyptian power she aligned herself with Julius Caesar and, later, Mark Antony, but these moves only postponed the end. After her forces were defeated by Roman legions under Octavian (later Emperor Augustus), Cleopatra committed suicide in 30 BC.
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