Alexandria

On July 1, 1798, Napoleon Bonaparte led French forces in capturing Alexandria during his Egyptian campaign. The occupation was part of a larger plan to weaken British trade routes to India and to establish a French presence in the Middle East. Napoleon's arrival in Egypt initiated a period of scientific exploration and documentation by the accompanying scholars, known as the Commission des Sciences et des Arts, which greatly expanded European understanding of Egyptian culture and antiquities.

The Bombardment of Alexandria on July 11, 1882, occurred during the British military intervention in Egypt following civil unrest. The British fleet under Admiral Seymour shelled the city to neutralize the forts protecting the harbor. The attack was a decisive moment leading to British occupation and control of Egyptian affairs, formally establishing a colonial presence that persisted until the mid-20th century. The event underscored the strategic importance of Alexandria for Mediterranean maritime power.

On July 26, 1952, King Farouk of Egypt abdicated the throne following a coup d'état by the Free Officers Movement, a group of military officers led by Muhammad Naguib and Gamal Abdel Nasser. Farouk was exiled to Italy, and the event marked the end of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty, which had ruled Egypt since the early 19th century. The revolution led to significant political and social changes in Egypt, including the establishment of a republic and a shift towards Arab nationalism and socialist policies.

Alexander the Great founded the city of Alexandria on April 7, 332 BC during his conquest of Egypt. The city was to serve as a link between Greece and the rich Nile Valley, establishing a trading hub that allowed the transfer of goods, culture, and knowledge from across the Mediterranean. Under Alexander and subsequent rulers, Alexandria grew to become one of the most important cultural and intellectual centers of the ancient world, renowned for its library and the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

In 115 AD, during the reign of Emperor Trajan, a major uprising occurred within the Jewish community in Alexandria as part of the larger Kitos War. The violence erupted due to tensions between different cultural groups within the city, part of the Roman province of Egypt. The rebellion, brutally suppressed by Roman forces, led to significant casualties and destruction, particularly of the Jewish quarter. This unrest reflects the broader instability and challenges of managing diverse populations within the Roman Empire at the time.

The Battle of Alexandria, occurring on August 1, 30 BC, marked the end of both Mark Antony and Cleopatra's attempts to challenge Octavian (later Augustus) who laid siege to the city. Following their defeat, both Antony and Cleopatra chose suicide over capture. Alexandria became part of the Roman Empire as Egypt was made a province, bringing an end to the Ptolemaic Kingdom. This defeat and subsequent annexation were pivotal in marking the transition from the Hellenistic period to Roman domination of the Mediterranean basin.

In 391 AD, the Christian Roman emperor Theodosius I ordered the destruction of the Serapeum in Alexandria, a temple dedicated to the god Serapis. This event signified the decline of pagan religious traditions and the rise of Christianity as the dominant force across the Roman Empire. The Serapeum, once a magnificent library and cultural center, was a pivotal location in the intellectual life of the city. Its destruction marked a critical turning point in the transition from classical to medieval society in the Mediterranean world.

In 48 BC, during the Roman civil wars, Alexandria was the site of the famous siege in which Julius Caesar supported Cleopatra's claim to the Egyptian throne against her brother Ptolemy XIII. The city became an arena of conflict between Roman and Egyptian forces. Caesar's decisive involvement and the subsequent naval battles at the delta of the Nile helped Cleopatra secure her rule. This pivotal moment led to the close association between Rome and Egypt. The political dynamics established during this conflict played a significant role in shaping the future of both Rome and Egypt.

On July 20, 641 AD, the Muslim army led by Amr ibn al-As captured Alexandria, effectively bringing an end to Roman Byzantine control of Egypt. The city's surrender marked the expansion of Islamic rule into North Africa following the initial spread of Islam from the Arabian Peninsula. This event ushered in centuries of Muslim influence over the cultural and economic life of the city, transforming it into a major center of Islamic learning and commerce during the following centuries.

The Egyptian Revolution of 2011 began on January 25th with mass protests in Alexandria and other cities, demanding the end of President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule. The demonstrations were part of the broader Arab Spring movement across the Middle East and North Africa. The revolution's initial sparks were fueled by widespread social dissatisfaction, economic disparity, and political repression. Protesters called for democratic reforms, leading to Mubarak's resignation on February 11, 2011. Alexandria played a pivotal role with intense demonstrations at places like Al-Qaed Ibrahim Mosque square, highlighting the city's historical importance.