Alexandria and Sea in Hellenistic and Roman Periods

Brief
The sea played a vital role in the creation and development of Alexandria during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The birth of the city in the fourth century BC was linked to the sea. Moreover, Alexandria's growth as the most important emporium in the Hellenistic world was also linked to the sea. Even when Egypt became a Roman state, and lost its independence, Alexandria was the second largest seaport in the Mediterranean. Alexandria was, for nearly a thousand years, a crossroads for a huge number of sprawling shipping lines, expanding from India in the east to France in the west. Alexandria’s relationship with the sea was reflected in the city’s economy and  culture.
Therefore, this lecture is an overview of Alexandria's role as a central harbour in the Mediterranean during the period from the fourth century BC to the late Roman era.