Cleopatra Informative Speech

Meanwhile, there were issues in Rome between Marc Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus (Julius Caesar’s allies), and Caesar's’ assassins, Brutus and Cassius. Both sides seeked Egypt’s support and Cleopatra joined forces with Caesar’s allies. In 42 B.C., Mark Antony and Octavian divided the power in Rome after defeating Brutus and Cassius in the battles of Philippi. Like all divided thrones, only one wants to be in charge. Marc Antony and Octavian, which was Caesar’s great-nephew became rivals. Marc Anthony sent for Cleopatra to get answers about Rome’s former leader, Caesar. Cleopatra accepted the request and welcomed him. Soon, Marc Antony fell in love with Cleopatra’s beauty and how she was as a person, then fell into a love affair with her. They had three children,there were twins named Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. She had motivations of her own, in exchange for her help, she seeked for the eastern eastern Egypt’s empire to be under her power once again, that also included large areas of Lebanon and Syria. Marc Antony returned to Alexandria triumphant with Cleopatra by his side, in 34 B.C. People were all over them to take a look at the couple that were seated on golden thrones where they looked down upon everyone and sitting beside them were their

Cleopatra not only ruled Egypt but also influenced Roman politics during a crucial period. Her legend also consists

Political turmoil also shaped this period. Soon after they assumed power, complications arose between Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII. Eventually Cleopatra fled to Syria, where she assembled an army to defeat her rival in order to declare the throne for herself. In 48, she returned to Egypt with her military might and faced her brother at Pelusium, located on the empire’s eastern edge. Most of what we know about Cleopatra was written after her death when it was politically expedient to portray her as a threat to Rome and its stability. Thus, some of what we know about Cleopatra may have been exaggerated or misrepresented by those sources. Cassius Dio, one of the ancient sources that tells her story, summarizes her story as “She captivated the two greatest Romans of her day, and

Furthermore, another influence that determined Cleopatra’s rule as queen stems from her lineage. As has been discovered, the Ptolemies, the family Cleopatra belonged to, were not Egyptian. Rather, they were Macedonian Greek. After Alexander the Great’s death in 323 BCE, his empire was divided among his generals (Harold, Anton, Duca, Henefin 28). Ptolemy Soler I claimed Egypt and thus the Ptolemaic Dynasty flourished. However, it has been noted that during the reign of the “first three Ptolemaic Pharaohs” had “Egypt prospered” (Harold, et. al 28). Thereafter, Cleopatra, daughter to Ptolemy XII Auletes and possibly Cleopatra V Tryphaena of Egypt, inherited an Egypt in decline (Harold, et al 28). It would be up to her to restore Egypt.

Cleopatra is one of the most significant historical figures when it comes to beauty. Known as the prototype of the femme fatale, her image has prevailed throughout history. “The story of Cleopatra has influenced many historians, painters, writers and filmmakers... She is often described as an evil and sexy beauty who liked to take control of men.” During ancient times recounts of Cleopatra were told by Romans who may have seen her as a threat and wanted to ruin her image.

1. Based on your selected book, very briefly describe the scope and focus of your historian work, then, state the historian’s thesis/core argument and sub-thesis.

Cleopatra was one of the most famous female rulers in history. She was born in 69 BC and became the queen of Egypt at the age of eighteen. Her brother was ten at the time, and it is likely that the two siblings married, because it was customary at the time. The next few years Egypt faced an unhealthy economy, many floods, and severe famines. Complication quickly arose between the two, and Cleo fled to Syria to defeat her rival to declare the throne.

Cleopatra Vii Philophator was born August.12,30 BC,known to History simply as Cleopatra was the last active pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt,shortly survived as Pharaoh by her son Caesarion.After her reign,Egypt became a province of then-recently established Roman Empire.Cleopatra was a member Ptolemaic Dynasty ,a family of Macedonian Greek,origin that ruled Egypt . After Alexandra The Great’s death,during the Hellenistic period.The Ptolemies,throughout their dynasty spoke Greek language,and they refused to speak Egyptian,which is the reason that Greek as well as Egyptian languages were used on official court documents such as Rosetta Stone case,

After Ptolemy XIII has his guardians revolt against Cleopatra, she was forced to flee to Syria, leaving the throne open to her brother and meaning she had to work to gain her power back. Cleopatra found an opportunity when Julius Caesar, one of the most powerful men in Rome at that time, arrived at Alexandria during his war with Pompey the Great. It was soon clear that Caesar and Ptolemy XIII were not amicable after Ptolemy presented the head of Pompey to Caesar, who, instead of being pleased with the defeat of his enemy, believed this move to be an insult to the greatness of his opponent. This gave Cleopatra the chance to create a connection between herself and Caesar, who prolonged his stay in Alexandria. Cleopatra smuggled herself in a rug into the palace where the Roman leader was staying, and impressed him with her intelligence, scheming and desirability that ran further, making her stand out from the rest of the women who tempted Caesar. It was not long before Caesar and Cleopatra began an affair, and he reinstated her power over Egypt, causing an end to the ruling of Ptolemy XIII and with it came the birth of Caesarion, their child and intended heir to the throne. Throughout this whole ordeal, it becomes apparent how calculating and knowledgeable Cleopatra was on how to influence the leader of Rome and to become appealing in a way that would

Cleopatra was an important figure in a pivotal age of Rome, when the empire’s entire political sphere was unstable; several men were vying for the ultimate control of Rome and ultimately the world at that time. Cleopatra VII became the queen of Egypt when she was only a teenager. She was different from past Egyptian rulers, because she was committed to seeing all sides of a situation and then calculating what to do. For example, Cleopatra’s family was actually of Greek descent, but Cleopatra tried to immerse herself in the Egyptian customs by

Mother, lover, warrior, femme-fatale. Mother of a country, lover of all that brings beauty, warrior of the state, femme-fatale over all men; this was Cleopatra Queen of the Nile. Cleopatra’s intelligence, wit and beauty are still remembered and written about to this day. Born a Greek, Cleopatra adapted to the Egyptian ways and even learnt their native tongue, a feat which had not been ccomplished since the Ptolemies had first ruled. Although not a “true Egyptian”, she utilized her tremendous aptitude and cunning female ways to gain and provide, for her country that she so loved. Cleopatra was a born ruler and did so with a flourish that would later be her undoing. Cleopatra’s seductive, yet absolute ability to keep

Queen Cleopatra VII was a powerful, intelligent, and passionate woman born from royal blood of the Ptolemaic Dynasty. As a successor of Hellenistic people and Alexander the Great she was not of an Egyptian blood but born in Alexandria and speaking Egyptian language. When her father Ptolemy Auletes died, Cleopatra was in the age of eighteen. She had three sisters Cleopatra VI, Berenice IV, Arsinoe IV two of them were older than her and one younger, and two younger brothers named Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV too. Cleopatra VII and her brother Ptolemy XIII inherited the kingdom of their father as it was written his will. Because of the law in Egypt of that time Cleopatra was unable to rule by her own without the presence of a male coruler, a brother or son. As a result she ruled together with her brother who she get married to although he was only twelve years old.

Everything seemed to fall into place after her brother angered Caesar after he ordered the death of Pompey, a powerful Roman. Cleopatra used this feud between her brother and Caesar to manipulate Caesar into helping her to regain her throne. The main goal was to have an heir to the throne and soon enough Cleopatra yet again got her way. He son, like mentioned before, became co-ruler after the death of her second brother in 46 B.C. “In her adult life Cleopatra would have met few people she considered her equal.

After Ptolemy XIII’s death, Caesar restored Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIV, her youngest brother, as rulers of Egypt. In 47 B.C., Cleopatra gave birth to a child that was believed to be Caesar’s. The child was Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Caesar, but was known to the Egyptian people as Caesarion, which means “Little Caesar.” In 46 to 45 B.C. Cleopatra, Ptolemy XIV, and Caesarion traveled to Rome to be with Caesar. He was murdered soon after in March of 44 B.C. They returned to Egypt where Ptolemy XIV died soon after their return. (“Cleopatra VII’s Childhood…”) Cleopatra feared for their lives because of the Caesarion posed to Octavian. (“Cleopatra: The Woman…”)

Cleopatra chose to go back to Egypt. On her way back to Egypt she made a stop in Cyprus which had been granted to her younger sister Arsinoe and her younger brother and co-ruler Ptolemy XIV, in order to ensure that she was known as their true ruler. As Cleopatra arrived in Egypt she immediately took steps to consolidate her rule. A document dated July 26 44 BC, Ptolemy XIV’s name appeared, but after that date he “disappeared” many say that Cleopatra ordered for him to be poisoned and it is notable that around this time she dropped the epithet “brother- loving” from her titles. Cleopatra confirmed her son by Julius Caesar, Caesarion, co-regent. Cleopatra also continued to build the Caesareum in honor of Caesar. In Dendera, Caesarion was depicted in front of images of Cleopatra, asserting him as the primary ruler (Ancient Egypt Online.) Cleopatra and Marc Antony spent the winter of 41 to 40 BC in Alexandria. In the spring of 40 BC, Marc Antony left Cleopatra to return home. Marc Antony did not see her for four years. Fulvia, Antony’s ex-wife had gotten into a movement against his wife Octavian over veteran’s allotments of land. In the meantime Cleopatra had given birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Their twin children were officially recognized by Antony and were given names of Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. Marc Antony gave her much land which was very essential to Egypt. He gave her Cyprus, the Cilician coast, Phoenicia, Coele – Syria, and Judea and Arabia. In 34 BC, Antony had a campaign into Armenia which had been successful and financially rewarding. Antony celebrated his triumph with a parade. He presented himself as the New Dionysus. Ptolemy XV (Caesarion) was made the co-ruler with his mother and was also called the King of Kings, Cleopatra was called the Queen of Kings, Alexander was named Great