033: Ptolemaic Egypt - Ptolemy I: Son of Lagus, Son of Ra

Ptolemy I Soter, a former commander of Alexander the Great turned King and Pharaoh of Egypt, was perhaps the craftiest out of all of Alexander’s Successors. A talented commander and even more brilliant politician, Ptolemy would wield diplomacy and intrigue with a deft hand, founding what would become the longest lasting Hellenistic Kingdom in his nearly 40-year reign.

Website/Episode Notes:

Support the Show:

Social Media:

[undead]

Wow. An in depth podcast about one of my favourite civilization, in the most interesting of its time periods. Lovely

[QalOrt]

I never really thought much about Ptolemy before listening to your video, now I can see the man was an epic legend!

[JayWayne-yqlh]

I went a year with no phone or web. I sure missed my Hellenistic Age Podcast, most of all 😂

[quillblood]

You're awesome can't wait to explore your channel more!!

[staubfinger]

Oh I waited for a podcast like this! There so many about roman history but I found nothing yet about the hellenistic kingdoms.

[DNS-FRANK]

I love this podcast ❤❤❤❤ It reminds me of another podcast I used to listen to called the history of Rome podcast ❤❤❤❤

[dardo]

Glad to have found your channel, will you ever make some specific content about Massilia and the other Green colonies in their region in terms of culture, politics, military and economy?

[paulmentzer]

One Comment on geography of Egypt. First the prevailing winds in the northern Red Sea is right down its length. Thus it was an easy sail from Egypt to the Indian Ocean but a wind you have to fight to go the other direction. Thus the Camel route from Aden to Mecca to Medina to Jerusalem to Damascus then to the Mediterranean Sea was competitive to the sea route given the lack of water on both coasts, the need to use oars going north for the Red Sea (Tacking against the wind was a dark age invention along with the Keel and Lateen sail). Thus the Red Sea was not used for trade till the invention of the steam ship in the 1800s (through, during the reign of Augustus trade via the Red Sea was done with oars but did not last long, such trade ended after Augustus was dead).
Just a comment the Red Sea was a barrier and NOT a trade route for Egypt.
The other restriction on Egypt was the First Caracaks (Rapids) of the Nile. That prevented any invading army to March around those rapids not sail down or up the Nile. Thus Egypt was protected from any invasion from the south, Red Sea, of Libya. The only way to invade Egypt was by the Mediterranean Sea (if you have the ships) or from Palestine, provided you have the oxen to haul water over the Sinai as the Army marched to or from the Nile.

[InvisibleCitizen]

I share dna with the Ptolemy Family among others.

[MikeScott-eziw]

I know people who visit the museums in Egypt and told me that the mummies were pure African people period the art and statues and writing language is of pure African people I look online and noticed that the mummies were pure African people not Egyptian and Mediterranean dark 🌑 skin bs 💯 true facts

[MikeScott-eziw]

Egypt is in Africa 🌍 it was known as kemet civilization not Egyptian civilization period 💯 true facts

[MikeScott-eziw]

King 👑 Tut mummie was a pure African brother not Egyptian and Mediterranean dark 🌑 skin bs i know people who visit the museums in Egypt and saw King 👑 Tut mummie was a pure African brother not Egyptian and Mediterranean dark 🌑 skin bs 💯 true facts

[chrisb]

ptolemy was macednian anient macedonian greek is modern history macedonian invasion of ancient greece and ancient greek is english invented as per thwir romanticism not exist today its hellenic republic greece is english word this is a macedonian invention by ancient macedonian nothing to do with modern day where are your ancient finds with words greece exhibited

[MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

Octavian destroyed Egypt. Mark Antony knew how corrupt and evil the Roman empire could be, and he didn't want to see the greatness of Hellenic Egypt lost, that was one of the reasons he rebelled against Octavian's plans. The Roman empire only cared about taxes and they wanted to weaken the territories under their claws, while the Greeks only improved Egypt and respected the Egyptian civilization