In the New Kingdom Egypt began realizing the importance of military power in defending the country. An Egyptian strong army was built, thus making it possible to build a great empire extending from the Euphrates in the east to the Fourth Cataract on the River Nile in the south. Thus, Egypt became a great power and a vast empire, which is the oldest in history. Kings and queens of the Twelfth Dynasty, in particular, attained a great progress in areas of politics, war, culture and religion. For instance, there was Ahmus the hero of liberation, Amenhotep I, the just king who issued a law to ban forced labor and apply fair criteria for wages and incentives. Tohotmus I was known as the warrior who expanded the Egyptian borders towards the north and south, spread education and expanded mining industry. Tohotmus III was known as a unique military genius and the first great conqueror in history. In addition, there was Tohotmus IV known as the diplomat, the first to have international treaties documented. Queen Nefertiti was the most famous queen of Egypt; she was wife of King Akhenaten who ruled Egypt for about twenty years. During her reign, Egypt reached top peaks of civilization, architecture and world trade. She sent her commercial fleet and scientific missions to the land of "Pont". In addition, she built one of the greatest and marvelous architectural monuments namely, Ad-Deir Al-Bahari on the west bank of the Nile, facing Luxor.

The Greek Era

Alexander the Great arrived to Egypt in the late autumn of 332 BC. He founded Alexandria in 331 BC as a gateway to his motherland, Greece. Alexandria became a major center for trading. Its Library became a cultural center that made an important contribution to civilization.

The Ptolemies ruled Egypt until 30 BC and were succeeded by the Romans until 642 AD when the Arabs arrived. It was during the Roman period when Christianity came to Egypt.  It was in Alexandria where the great Catechtical School, which   produced the early fathers of the Church, emerged.

During this era Alexandria became the capital of the Ptolemic rule in Egypt, where stately palaces and gardens were built. Alexandria was well-known not only as a centre of outstanding achievements in arts, science, industry and trade but also the prime sea harbour on the Mediterranean Sea, thanks to its well-known lighthouse, considered by the Greeks as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Alexandria was further well-known for its university, which symbolized a great Hellenistic-Egyptian civilization.

- Alexandria University :

 At Alexandria University, founded by the Ptolemies, scientists arrived to scientific facts concerning the earth's rotation around the sun and approximate circumference of the planet. The university was also famous for the study of medicine, particularly anatomy and surgery. Most famous scientists of the university were the geometrician Euclides, the geographer Ptolemy and the Egyptian historian Maniton.

- Library of Alexandria (Bibliotica Alexandria) and its Cultural Influence:

The Ptolemies established in Alexandria a large library, which was considered the greatest in the world at that time. The library contained more than 500,000 papyrus rolls. The Ptolemies ordered that each visiting scientist should donate to the city a copy of his works, thus bringing the number of books at the Alexandria library to more than 700,000.

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