Alexander the Great was responsible for spreading Greek culture, language, knowledge and philosophy to the East. This process is known as Hellenization and it started in 334 BCE when Alexander began his conquests. Greek culture spread throughout areas as diverse as India, Afghanistan and Egypt, and in places as far as Central Asia. These areas saw the establishment of Greek institutions, the diffusion of the Greek language and ways of thinking and the promotion of intermarriage and trade. Alexander also founded many cities, such as Alexandria in Egypt, which became major centres of learning and cultural centres of Hellenistic civilization.