What was lost when the library of Alexandria was burned?

Question:

What was lost when the library of Alexandria was burned?

Do you think it significantly hindered social and technological development?

What major writings were presumed lost?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Originally there were two section of the Great Library of Alexandria which was started by Ptlomey I and greatley built up by Ptolomey II. The SEPHORIUM(the arts, history and literally section)containing 400,000 volumes and the BOCCHORIUM(the scientific and technical section)containing 300,000 volumes. All told 700,000 volumes which made it the greatest library up till the zenith of the Roman Empire and was not matched, except for this, until the middle of the nineteenth century.

The first burning was accidental. When Caesar was fighting the Egyptian fleet, to preserve his two legions and fulfill Rome's contract with Egypt-a ship caught fire, fell on the shore and spread the fire to amonst other things, the great library. However Caesar orginised fire fighters who saved almost all of it. The second burning was in the in the fifth century under the likes of fanatical christians as Cyril of Alexandria and Peter the Reader(who led a band to murder the scholar Hypatia). This destroyed most of it. The second was in the seventh century when the Arabs conquered the country. When asked if they should spared the contents(that which was left) the reply was either they were of the Koran- and having the Koran-there was no need of them OR they were not of the Koran-therfore they were an abomination and had to be burnt. What was left of the contents of the great library after the first deliberat burning fueled the bath houses of Alexandria for months. Hence barbarians-one religous and one political-religous destroyed a great legacy.

In the arts/history section there were books (scrolled volumes) of the early history of Mespotamia and the history before the flood(the Mespotamians had a legend of the flood too). In the scientific section there were lost books on machines invented and theorised in the ancient world-machines that could have added much more development. There were scientific discourses and blueprints for such things as the steam engine. Yes, much was lost on a technical and scientific nature which could have improved development and given society much more advancement in the comming dark age after the fall of the roman empire. Much much more was lost in the history/arts cateorgory. Knowledge that we would have had about very ancient history. A wealth of knowledge. Also the wealth of plans and ideas of a technical and scientific nature was an invaluelbe and tragic loss to humanity as a whole. The east, after the fall of Rome, kept what it could and monks in the west faithfully copied what they could. However the knowledge(both scientific and literal) that has been lost ensured centuries of lost time in the progess of humanity. In the whole scheme of history(and history is pretty large) it is but a bump. But consider the few centuries we could be more advanced than we are now-today. It is significant to us. However, in the end knowledge and science always win. This is how we are made. It gives the great advantages. For ignorance and fanatisism can howl and cackel all it likes. But knowledge and civilization will win in the end and will bury ignorance and fanatisism in the rubbish pit of history where they belong. For ignorance and fanatisism are but a phase in the development of a species. But knowlege and civilization-have all the eras, epochs and aeons-all of history to come. Hope this helps.