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Cleopatra Research Paper

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Cleopatra was the last Pharaoh of Egypt. She was beautiful, highly educated, wealthy, and could speak various languages. She was a powerful woman who ruled for nearly 30 years and made strong alliances with Rome through relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. In 69 B.C., Cleopatra VII was born in Egypt. (Bio) She had three sisters and two younger brothers. Her father was Ptolemy XII and her mother’s identity is unknown. Cleopatra and all of the Ptolemies were of Macedonian Greek descent. The line of rule was set in 323 B.C., after the death of Alexander the Great. Cleopatra was knowledgeable in mathematics, writing, and in the laws and customs of Egypt, Greece, and Rome. She could speak the native language of Egypt along with Greek …show more content…

She then returned and set up her army outside the capital of Egypt.(Crawford) In 48 B.C., Julius Caesar had traveled to Egypt and Ptolemy XIII arranged for the murder of Caesar’s rival, Pompey, to please the Romans. Meanwhile, Cleopatra snuck herself into the palace where Caesar was. She was wrapped up in a Persian carpet and a soldier presented the carpet to Caesar. He unrolled the carpet and Cleopatra came out of it. Caesar, the great Roman leader, was impressed by her bravery and beauty. Ptolemy saw Cleopatra with Caesar and called her a traitor. Cleopatra’s younger sister, Arsinoe IV, and Ptolemy XIII fought against Cleopatra and Caesar in attempt to gain control of Egypt. In 44 B.C., Ptolemy XIII died during the war and Caesar captured Arsinoe IV and sent her to Rome. Cleopatra then married another brother, Ptolemy XIV, who was about ten 10 years old. …show more content…

They agreed to divide the empire between them and Antony received the eastern part of the empire which included Egypt. He arranged a meeting with Cleopatra and she came dressed as the goddess Isis. Antony fell in love with Cleopatra and they became lovers.. Antony killed Arsinoe XV and possibly Ptolemy XIV in the name of love because they were a threat to Cleopatra’s rule. Antony helped Cleopatra gain Syria, Phoenicia, and Cyprus. In Rome, Octavius accused Antony of giving Roman property to a foreign woman. Antony defeated Octavius in a battle in 34 B.C., and then returned to Alexandria, Egypt with Cleopatra. They then returned to Rome again to fight against Octavius once more and they lost the battle. Antony fled to Macedonia and Cleopatra returned to

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