Islam Issa Duotone copy

Professor Islam Issa

Islam Issa is professor of literature and history at Birmingham City University, and the author of 'Alexandria: The City that Changed the World' (Sceptre, 2023)

From excess soil to resurrection: the many ways Egyptians used wine. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

An engraving of John Milton in 1670. By that time he’d been blind for nearly two decades – but continued to express strong views on religion and the monarchy in his writing (Photo by Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images)

Long road to paradise: the life of John Milton and how he created his masterpiece, Paradise Lost. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Video podcastAlexandria: the first modern city. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Alexander the Great is shown founding Alexandria in an 18th-century painting.

Alexandria: the ancient world's greatest city. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Alexandria: the first modern city. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.