Antiquity

Ptolemaic Kingdom

Period
331 BC – 28 BC
Duration
approx. 303 years
Greatest extent
around 326 BC
Area (max.)
approx. 4.8 million km²
Ptolemaic Kingdom at its greatest extent (around 326 BC) · Borders: Cliopatria
▶ View on the interactive map

Profile

Strength

Greek-Macedonian mercenary armies and a strong fleet; Alexandria with its library and lighthouse.

Famous figures

  • Ptolemy I
  • Ptolemy II
  • Arsinoë II
  • Cleopatra VII

Wars & battles won

  • Battle of Raphia (217 BC)
  • Third Syrian War (246–241 BC)

Wars & battles lost

  • Battle of Panium (200 BC)
  • Battle of Actium (31 BC)
  • Annexation by Rome (30 BC)

Languages

  • Greek
  • Ancient Egyptian

Period and duration

Ptolemaic Kingdom — according to the map data from 331 BC to 28 BC, roughly 303 years. The dates refer to the time the empire is drawn as its own territory on the world map; historians sometimes date its founding and end differently.

Greatest extent

Ptolemaic Kingdom — greatest extent around 326 BC: the mapped borders then cover about 4.8 million km², roughly 3.2% of Earth's land area. The area is calculated from the border lines of the map and is therefore an approximation.

331 BCArea according to the map data (max. 4.8 million km²)28 BC

Predecessors and successors

States that ruled the same territory directly before and after:

Before (332 BC)

After

Neighbours around 326 BC

The largest states in the region at the same time:

Learn more

Borders and dates: Cliopatria / Seshat Global History Databank (CC BY 4.0). Coastlines: Natural Earth. Text: Centaurian.