Ptolemaic Egypt

The Ptolemaic Kingdom (305-30 BCE), founded by Ptolemy I Soter - one of Alexander's generals - ruled Egypt from Alexandria for nearly three centuries. Under Ptolemaic patronage, Alexandria's Library and Museum became the world's leading centre of scholarship. Cleopatra VII, the last Ptolemaic ruler, allied with Julius Caesar and then Mark Antony; her defeat at Actium (30 BCE) ended the dynasty and made Egypt a Roman province.

• Existed: 305 BCE – 30 BCE
• Type: Entity
• Government: Hellenistic absolute monarchy: Greek-Macedonian administrative elite ruling Egyptian peasant majority
• Capital: Alexandria