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Alexandria
- The City That Changed the World
- Narrated by: Islam Issa
- Length: 20 hrs and 15 mins
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Alexandria
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Summary
An original, authoritative and lively cultural history of the first modern city, from pre-Homeric times to the present day.
My dad had always told me about our city's magnificence, and as I looked at the new library in Alexandria it finally hit home. This is no ordinary library, I reflected. And this is no ordinary city.
Combining rigorous research with myth and folklore, Alexandria is an authoritative history of a city that has shaped our modern world. Soon after being founded by Alexander the Great, Alexandria became the crucible of cultural exchange between East and West for millennia and the undisputed global capital of knowledge. It was at the forefront of human progress, but it also witnessed brutal natural disasters, plagues, crusades and violence.
Major empires fought over Alexandria, from the Greeks and Romans to the Arabs, Ottomans, French and British. Key figures shaped the city from its eponymous founder to Aristotle, Cleopatra, Saint Mark the Evangelist, Napoleon Bonaparte and many others, each putting their own stamp on its identity and its fortunes. And millions of people have lived in this bustling seaport on the Mediterranean. From its humble origins to its dizzy heights and its latest incarnation, Islam Issa tells us the rich and gripping story of a city that changed the world.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jim
- 24-08-24
History in miniature
The history of Europe, the Levant and the Middle East told through the lens of a single fascinating city. Read by the author which is always nice but he’s so slow I had to turn the speed up and some of the pronunciation was distractingly eccentric
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 02-11-23
Incredible book
This is a monumental book that covers histories of inventions, wars. religions and personal stories from Islam Issa making this history of Alexandria authentic and compelling. Read by the author with passion, which is extra special! 5 stars!!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Daniela Barani
- 11-12-23
Fascinating history of Alessandria
An incredible city with an even more incredible history. So expertly recounted, it bought the city’s past back to life. Definite 5 stars.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr. Andrew Dennis
- 21-01-24
Brilliant
Brilliant broad sweep without losing the details of a truly human history. An amazing city with a unique past.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- kvac
- 12-09-24
Atmosphere of a beautiful city
great insight into history and culture of Alexandria a city I have visited and would love to see again. Beautifully read evoking the atmosphere of ancient and modern Alexandria.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Well That Aged Well
- 12-04-24
Not quite what I expecred, and felt rushed
This book was sadly not quite what I expected. Though I agree that Alexandria in Antiquity is important, just because of the fact that he spend the 12 hours talking about Ancient Alexandria it feels rushed when it comes to the rest of the history. Can you really tell almost 2000 years in 7 hours? In my honest oppinion this book had great potential but it falls in the trap of so many other books like this where it focus too much on the early part, and then rushes through the rest. I think this book would have been better off hsd it been either longer, or in two volumes. As anyone fascinated by islamic history I could not wait to reach that part. But sadly it feels like it is just a minor part of the book when the 12 first hours are focused on BC not ADo. Not in a bad book by any means. I just think it could have been better
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