For Western Civilization class we read pages 146-149, and took notes.  Hellenistic Culture in Alexandria.  As a result of Alexander's policies, a vibrant new culture emerged.  Greek culture blended with Egyptian, Persian, and Indian Influences.  This blending became known as Hellenistic Culture.  Alexandria, Egypt became the foremost center of commerce and Hellenistic culture.  Aristarchus of Samos, reached two scientific conclusions: He estimated the sun to be 300 times the size of Earth.  Although he was way off, he disproved the belief that the sun was smaller than Greece.  He also came to a conclusion that Earth and the other planets revolved around the Sun.  But it was not accepted.  Astronomers accepted Ptolemy's view of the solar system that the earth was at the center for 14 centuries.  Archimedes, studied at Alexandria, and accurately estimated the value of pi, the ratio of the circumference of a circle to it's diameter.  Aristotle and Plato also played a huge role in philosophy and teachings back then.