Lowery, Zoe and Julian Morgan. Cleopatra. Part of the Leaders of the Ancient World series. 2017. 112p. ISBN 978-1-5981-7254-3. Available at B CLE on the library shelves.
Cleopatra is one of the most well-known figure of Antiquity. The last queen and last Pharaoh of Egypt, Cleopatra was a contemporary of Julius Caesar, Mark Anthony and Augustus, and more than anything else tried to preserve Egypt’s independence in an era where Roman power was spreading throughout the Mediterranean.
Egypt at the time was considered the breadbasket of the world, and produced important surpluses. These were sold throughout the Mediterranean, generating large wealth for the Egyptian rulers. Since Alexander the Great’s conquest, Egypt had been ruled by the Ptolemy dynasty, who descended from one of Alexander’s generals. These Greek rulers did not mix in with the local Egyptian population.
When Cleopatra was born, the country was being squeezed on all sides by Rome’s expansion. Accepting to become a vassal state of the Roman Republic, Cleopatra’s father paid 6,000 talents to the first triumvirate, made up of Caesar, Crassus and Pompey, around 60 BCE. This bought peace between the two states, but when civil war erupted between Pompey and Caesar following the death of Crassus and Caesar’s crossing of the Rubicon with his legions, Egypt found itself on the wrong side. By this time Cleopatra had ascended the throne, succeeding her father.
A triumphant Caesar entered Alexandria and was smitten by the Egyptian queen. Their torrid love affair became a scandal in Rome and eventually contributed to Caesar’s downfall. A second triumvirate, made up of Octavian, Caesar’s heir, Mark Anthony, and Lepidus, emerged following the defeat of Caesar’s assassins, and Egypt once again found itself in the middle of a conflict between Roman factions. Unfortunately for Cleopatra, Egypt chose the wrong side, and Octavian’s army forced Cleopatra and Mark Anthony back to Egypt, where they both committed suicide.
Always seeking to protect Egypt from the world, Cleopatra ultimately failed but continues to be remembered for her dedication and powerful personality. Fans of Roman history and of strong women will love reading about the life of the last Pharaoh.
Titles in the Leaders of the Ancient World include:
No comments:
Post a Comment