Ptolemy, << TOL uh mee, >> I (367?-284? B.C.) founded a family of rulers who reigned in Egypt from 323 to 30 B.C. This family became known as the Ptolemies. Ptolemy I, who took the title of king of Egypt in 305 B.C., ruled until 284 B.C.
Ptolemy was born in Macedonia, a region north of Greece. He became a leading general in the army of Alexander the Great, a Macedonian king who built an empire that included Egypt and most of western Asia. After Alexander died in 323 B.C., Ptolemy gained control of Egypt. He extended his rule to the island of Cyprus, Judea (in the southern part of ancient Palestine), and Cyrene, a Greek colony in northern Africa.
Ptolemy helped Egypt become a strong, independent country. He introduced new crops and improved existing ones. He encouraged trade and regulated imports and exports. Ptolemy recruited Greek and Macedonian settlers for his army, navy, and administration. He gave the settlers land and encouraged the development of Greek culture in Egypt. In addition, Ptolemy founded a museum and library in Alexandria that helped make the city one of the world’s great centers of culture and learning. He also founded the cult of the god Serapis, which combined Greek and Egyptian practices (see Serapis ).
