30 B.C. - A.D. 330
Following the death of Cleopatra on August 12, 30 B.C., Rome, under Augustus, assumed control of Egypt. Roman Egypt was divided into 30 administrative units called nomes with capital towns, the governors of which were responsible to the provincial governor or prefect.Rome was economically interested in Egypt because it supplied grain and minerals, especially gold.
It was in Egypt's deserts that Christian monasticism took hold.
