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'''Learn about the major economical role of [[Alexandria]] during ancient times.''' | '''Learn about the major economical role of [[Alexandria]] during ancient times.''' | ||
<tabber> | <tabber> | ||
|-|A Major Commerce Hub= | |-|A Major Commerce Hub= | ||
The ports of Alexandria were a major commercial hub, effectively connecting Egypt with the Mediterranean regions and beyond. | [[File:DTAE Overview of Alexandria - Jean Claude Golvin.png|thumb|250px|Overview of Alexandria / 1995]] | ||
The ports of Alexandria were a major commercial hub, effectively connecting [[Egypt]] with the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] regions and beyond. | |||
À tremendous amount of materials and goods flowed through the city on a daily basis. The large port market was called the Emporion. It was there that the merchandise was traded by the ship owners, called naukleros. | À tremendous amount of materials and goods flowed through the city on a daily basis. The large port market was called the Emporion. It was there that the merchandise was traded by the [[ship]] owners, called naukleros. | ||
|-|Exchange Hub= | |-|Exchange Hub= | ||
[[File:DTAE - Shirt & Sheets.png|thumb|250px|Shirt & Sheets (various qualities of woven linen) / 18th Dynasty]] | |||
Food and other artisan work streamed out of Egypt; ceramics, glass, golden rings and minted coinage. The local potters, using traditional Egyptian techniques, competed with those from abroad, and the textile industry flourished. | Food and other artisan work streamed out of Egypt; ceramics, glass, golden rings and minted coinage. The local potters, using traditional Egyptian techniques, competed with those from abroad, and the textile industry flourished. | ||
What Egypt did not produce itself was acquired through trade using local resources such as wheat and papyrus. Most sought after was pine wood from Syria, iron and marble from the Greek islands, gold from Spain, and exotic fruits from Europe. | What Egypt did not produce itself was acquired through trade using local resources such as wheat and papyrus. Most sought after was pine wood from [[Syria]], iron and marble from the [[Greece|Greek]] islands, gold from [[Spain]], and exotic fruits from [[Europe]]. | ||
All this commercial activity contributed to the already decadent wealth of the city. | All this commercial activity contributed to the already decadent wealth of the city. | ||
|-|Shipyards= | |-|Shipyards= | ||
The wood imported to Port Mareotis through Alexandria's seaward ports was used in the nearby shipyards, where most of Egypt's ships were built. | [[File:DTAE - Drawing of Thalamegos.png|thumb|250px|Thalamegos (Palace catamaran of the Ptolemies) / 2016]] | ||
The wood imported to [[Lake Mareotis|Port Mareotis]] through Alexandria's seaward ports was used in the nearby shipyards, where most of Egypt's ships were built. | |||
Employing tens of thousands of ship builders, the shipyards contributed to establishing the Egyptian fleet as one of the mightiest of the era. | Employing tens of thousands of ship builders, the shipyards contributed to establishing the Egyptian fleet as one of the mightiest of the era. | ||
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|-|Mareotis Port= | |-|Mareotis Port= | ||
[[File:DTAE - Detail on Alexandria and Lake Mareotis.png|thumb|250px|Overview of Alexandria (Detail on Alexandria and Lake Mareotis, above / 1995]] | |||
(Behind the scenes) | (Behind the scenes) | ||
The southern port of Lake Mareotis was the biggest in Alexandria. | The southern port of Lake Mareotis was the biggest in Alexandria. | ||
Save for a branch angling westward, the lake's size in the Ptolemaic era was roughly 40 to 50 kilometers, from north to south. Its waters were maintained by a steady runoff from the Nile. | Save for a branch angling westward, the lake's size in the [[Ptolemaic dynasty|Ptolemaic era]] was roughly 40 to 50 kilometers, from north to south. Its waters were maintained by a steady runoff from the Nile. | ||
In addition to the lake, a man-made canal was created to assist in the transfer of goods from the city to the port using barges, though it is not represented in the game due to its size. | In addition to the lake, a man-made canal was created to assist in the transfer of goods from the city to the port using barges, though it is not represented in the game due to its size. | ||
|-|Banking= | |-|Banking= | ||
[[File:DTAE - Oktadrachm of Ptolemy IV.png|thumb|250px|Gold oktadrachm of Ptolemy IV Philopator / 221-204 BC]] | |||
Banking was one of the most distinctive innovations brought by the Greeks to Egypt. | Banking was one of the most distinctive innovations brought by the Greeks to Egypt. | ||
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|-|Lake Mareotis' Reduction= | |-|Lake Mareotis' Reduction= | ||
By the late 12th century, the channel feeding the lake from the Nile silted up. Lake Mareotis lost its connection to the Mediterranean as well as most of its water, as the lake slowly evaporated to a fraction of its former size. | [[File:DTAE - Al Iskandariya.png|thumb|250px|Alexandria (Al Iskandariya), Egypt / 1998]] | ||
By the late 12th century, the channel feeding the lake from the [[Nile]] silted up. Lake Mareotis lost its connection to the Mediterranean as well as most of its water, as the lake slowly evaporated to a fraction of its former size. | |||
In modern times Lake Mareotis is being kept alive through irrigation. However, only about 17% of its original size remains. | In modern times Lake Mareotis is being kept alive through irrigation. However, only about 17% of its original size remains. | ||
</tabber> | </tabber> | ||
[[Category:Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]] | [[Category:Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]] | ||
Learn about the major economical role of Alexandria during ancient times.
The ports of Alexandria were a major commercial hub, effectively connecting Egypt with the Mediterranean regions and beyond.
À tremendous amount of materials and goods flowed through the city on a daily basis. The large port market was called the Emporion. It was there that the merchandise was traded by the ship owners, called naukleros.
Food and other artisan work streamed out of Egypt; ceramics, glass, golden rings and minted coinage. The local potters, using traditional Egyptian techniques, competed with those from abroad, and the textile industry flourished.
What Egypt did not produce itself was acquired through trade using local resources such as wheat and papyrus. Most sought after was pine wood from Syria, iron and marble from the Greek islands, gold from Spain, and exotic fruits from Europe.
All this commercial activity contributed to the already decadent wealth of the city.
The wood imported to Port Mareotis through Alexandria's seaward ports was used in the nearby shipyards, where most of Egypt's ships were built.
Employing tens of thousands of ship builders, the shipyards contributed to establishing the Egyptian fleet as one of the mightiest of the era.
Any wood not used in shipbuilding was further disseminated through Egypt for various purposes.
(Behind the scenes)
The southern port of Lake Mareotis was the biggest in Alexandria.
Save for a branch angling westward, the lake's size in the Ptolemaic era was roughly 40 to 50 kilometers, from north to south. Its waters were maintained by a steady runoff from the Nile.
In addition to the lake, a man-made canal was created to assist in the transfer of goods from the city to the port using barges, though it is not represented in the game due to its size.
Banking was one of the most distinctive innovations brought by the Greeks to Egypt.
The centerpiece of Alexandria's wealth was the royal systematisation of taxes on almost everything. Basic items such as salt, oil, beer, wheat and linen were heavily taxed.
Às a result, the royal treasury of Alexandria was able to insure the economic stability of most of the administrative areas of Egypt.
By the late 12th century, the channel feeding the lake from the Nile silted up. Lake Mareotis lost its connection to the Mediterranean as well as most of its water, as the lake slowly evaporated to a fraction of its former size.
In modern times Lake Mareotis is being kept alive through irrigation. However, only about 17% of its original size remains.