The ancient civilization that developed the Great Library of Alexandria was the ancient Egyptians, specifically during the Hellenistic period. Established in the city of Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE, the library became a center of learning and scholarship in the ancient world. It housed a vast collection of works from various cultures, including Greek, Egyptian, and Persian texts, aiming to preserve and advance knowledge. Scholars from different fields gathered there, making significant contributions to mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy. The library's eventual destruction marked a great loss to human knowledge but remains a symbol of intellectual pursuit.