Chapter 12, Student Web Activities, Human Heritage: A World History, Glencoe, 2001-03

Student Web Activity

Chapter 12: The Hellenistic Period
"Alexandria, the Great City"

Introduction
In this chapter you learned that Alexander founded about 70 cities, the greatest of which was Alexandria, Egypt. Alexandria became an important cultural, economic, and technological center. Use the Internet to learn why Alexander chose to establish his city in this particular area of Egypt.

Destination Title: The Egyptian Ministry of Travel

Note: Clicking on the link above will launch a new browser window.
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Directions
Start at the Egyptian Ministry of Travel Web site.

Click on Egyptian Antiquities.
Click on the History of Egypt.
Scroll down to the Ptolemaic Dynasty and click on it.
Using the information you gathered from this site, answer the following questions.

1. What did Alexander build to connect the island of Pharos to the mainland?

2. What architectural and natural features were already present at the site of Alexandria when Alexander visited for the first time?

3. How did Alexandria's location contribute to its success?

4. How did Ptolemy, Alexander's general and successor, achieve Alexander's desire to bring Greek culture to Egypt?

5. Based on what you have learned about Alexandria, imagine you are Dinocrates, the Greek architect whom Alexander charged with constructing his great city. On a separate sheet of paper, write a letter to Alexander, who has returned with his army to Syria, as to the project's progress. Include information on the structures and environmental characteristics that were already present in Alexander's time, and tell Alexander of the structures you plan to build, including drawings and layouts of the proposed city.