Camryn Cook History 337 Dr. Overtoom 02/26/23 Reading Summary #3 Group 2: Cleopatra Chapters 7-9 and Epilogue This summary paper examines chapters 7 “The Operation of the Kingdom”, 8 “Scholarship and Culture at the Court of Cleopatra”, 9 “Downfall”, and the Epilogue of Cleopatra by Duane W Roller. Chapter Seven “The Operation of the Kingdom” begins with the section titled “Royal Administration” which highlights the financial and political struggles of the empire the Cleopatra inherited and ruled over. Her father owed major debts to officials of the Roman Empire, which had not entirely been paid off, most notably to Caesar. These debts are one of the primary reasons for Octavian’s eventual attempts of conquering Egypt and ending Cleopatra’s
Cleopatra was born around 70 B.C. and was 18 when she and her brother (Ptolemy Vlll) inherited the throne (she was a co-regent meaning that there were at least two rulers). Shortly after she took the throne, her brother turned his advisers on her and she fled to Syria. About a year later she returned. Her brother died, and Caesar was able to give the throne back to Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIV. She and Julius Caesar had a son and named him Caesarion.
From a young age, Cleopatra was exposed to the complexities of Egyptian politics. Her father, Ptolemy XII Auletes, ruled Egypt but faced challenges to his authority within his
Pompey was assassinated in Egypt. Caesar chose to follow him, and became romantically entangled with the Egyptian queen, Cleopatra. Caesar was ruler of Rome and made himself consul and dictator. He used his power
However, Cleopatra benefited more out of the relationships. One of the main things she gained is fame and power. After her marriage with Caesar she has a statue built as a reincarnation of Isis in Rome even though she was hated by the people. The second thing that she gained was from her marriage with Antony. In her marriage with Antony, she was able to get land territory grant and will of Antony.
Her administration indicated talented utilization of open correspondence and strategy. Cleopatra's most noteworthy achievement amid her time as ruler was to join a torn Kingdom, and enhance its economy. She achieved this by using her insight and political ability and manufacturing power partnerships with Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony. She fortified exchange with the Eastern countries to keep up autonomy from Rome.
Cleopatra’s Influence on the Roman Empire Cleopatra VII has become one of the most well-known ruler and Egyptian in era of the Roman Empire because of her suppose beauty, cunning personality and her influence on the Roman Republic which turned into an Empire shortly after her death. While she is not Roman citizen herself, her relations with Julius Caesar and later Mark Antony are what brought her influence of power into Roman society and expanded her own in Egypt. Just like any ruler in history she sought power which was not something easily done as a woman in that time, however primary sources such as Josephus and Cassius Dio often do not refer to her as a great ruler, but as a seductress
“She was naturally a ruler, with a rich, velvety voice, a dominant presence and a tendency to interact with her citizens. Co-reigning with her father, Ptolemy XII, for a limited amount of time before he died was the most effective thing Cleopatra did in her life. From that experience she learned how to build a fleet, control, change, and improve a currency, keep a stable government through a famine, and do more than anyone else to unite the eastern and western mediterranean countries. Along with building a fleet, she knew how to pick her relationships wisely, Caesar and Mark Antony knew that she had the money for their military needs and that they could help secure her time and safety in the throne. Cleopatra knew how to make a profit, she taxed everything from salt, to pastures, to dikes, to oil, and kept the economy strong when she resold products, helping her with Caesar and Antony’s military needs.
After the death of Pompey, Caesar had decreed that both Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII should settle their differences before him in Alexandria. But Cleopatra met him first by smuggling herself in a rug and appearing before him to gain his favor. Ptolemy didn’t have a chance once this happened. With Caesar on her side as a lover and ally, Cleopatra didn’t have to assert herself in the Alexandrian War as the effects of it was that most of her rivals were eliminated, including her sister Arsinoe. With Caesar announcing her as Queen over Egypt through her joint rule with her 12-year-old brother Ptolemy XIV.
Cleopatra’s family was not any different, she did what she had to do to restore the country she loved. Although she was not fit to be the ruler of Egypt, Cleopatra did restore Egypt to former glory because of her determination, strong alliances, and hunger to keep her family’s dynasty alive. Because of her passion and undeniable love for her country and people, Cleopatra was the best leader of the Ptolemaic
Cleopatra VII, the last reigning queen of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt, was an ancient leader who developed a relationship with powerful Roman leaders to consolidate her rule. Cleopatra alliance with Julius Caesar was significant in restoring her place to the throne, however his death resulted her to align with another powerful Roman to avoid Annexation. Her alliance with Mark Antony gained the territorial expansion needed to consolidate her rule through the Eastern Acquisition and Donations of Alexandria. Thus, the ancient historian Appian and other historians give us an insight into these relationships. Cleopatra political relationship with Julius Caesar was significant to the consolidation of her rule.
Since the fortune had it that Rome’s imperial regime was born from her defeat, Cleopatra played the role, as a unique as it was involuntary, of link between the Hellenistic and the Roman world. Her relationships with Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony permanently have impacted on Ancient Rome and Egypt. Her being with Caesar and Anthony led to deaths, Cleopatra had been part of Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony deaths. He began to make unwise decisions. Cleopatra was thus heir to a line of determined women who were often the object of sincere devotion on the part of the Egyptian people of inept or discredited.
Cleopatra (69-39 B.C.) was not only a real, live person, she was an extrradordinary person who beguiled Julius Caesar, and after his death taking as her lover the successor to Caesar, Mark Antony. The famous story begins in mighty Alexandria, at that time the grandest city in the knownn world, surpassing Athens and Rome at that time. At this time the Roman Empire did not control Egypt, who was an equal power in the areas around Egypt, to the east. But Roman rulers were allowed full free access, and it was on his resting after another victorious foe, that Julius Caesar first met Cleopatra. Rug merchants entered the Palace of the Pharaos at Alexandria that rug merchants came in with some rugs for Caesar.
To begin with, Caesarion was 17 when he, Antony, and Cleopatra died, but in the film he looks about 12, and Caesarion died after Antony and Cleopatra did, though not long after. Moreover, Cleopatra gave birth to three children with Antony, 9- or 10-year-old twins Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene II and a 6-year-old son Ptolemy Philadelphus; and Antony had a son Marcus Antonius Antyllus, whom all were not in the film. Furthermore, her entry to Rome scene is meant to indicate that Cleopatra entered the heart of the city and was received in the Forum, which is not correct.
Queen Cleopatra V was the queen of Egypt who ruled during the Ptolemaic dynasty until her death in 30 BCE when she saw her city defeated by the Romans and decided to take her life. It is stated, “She was simply on the wrong side of a power struggle” (Wasson, 2016) and rightly so since she was an Egyptian Greek whose territory was subdued by the Romans for their own benefit and selfish interests. The power struggle referred to is between the Egyptian army with CLeopatra V as the Queen and the Roman army under Gaius Julius Octavius as their leader in Rome. Rome as a strong empire in the region was subduing all territories on all sides of the Mediterranean especially if it had interests in the region. Egypt strategically located to the mediterranean sea and next to the Nile was advantageous with very fertile soils and were thriving in grain and wheat, Rome saw this as an opportunity to take over a region that would benefit them for trade and supply the region with grain for the growing population.
