Year 11 Ancient History: Historical Investigation.
1) This task requires you to complete a research on a chosen topic. You are to write an essay based on your research with a minimum of 1000 words. You may also include relevant maps and illustrations.
Topic: “Why the Romans hated Cleopatra VII.”
“Rome, who had never condescended to fear any nation or people, did in her time fear two human beings; one was Hannibal, and the other was a woman.”
Cleopatra VII, born 69 B.C., is easily recognised as one of the most influential and eminent queens of ancient Egypt. Dubbed ‘Queen of Kings’, Cleopatra was not of Egyptian blood, however, was of Macedonian and believed to have been a descendent of a Macedonian called Ptolemy, hence the name of her father and brothers. Cleopatra was one of seven children. She had two older sisters Bernice IV and Cleopatra VI who both died early in life, one younger sister Arisnoe, and two young brothers Ptolemy XIII XIV. She was remarkably intelligent. She was very well educated and knew exactly what was expected of her. Cleopatra was in fact the first person of her family to learn and fluently speak the native Egyptian language. She was a vivid mathematician and shrewd business woman. From young ages, Cleopatra was known to be constantly studying Greek literature, philosophy and allegedly spoke various languages such as Syrian and Egyptian. Cleopatra’s suicidal death marked the end of the Hellenistic period and beginning of the Roman period.
Cleopatra wasn’t necessarily a surpassing beauty; it was her irresistible charm that was her most influential characteristic. The charm was thought to be strongest in when she spoke. "For (as they say) it was not because her [Cleopatra's] beauty in itself was so striking that it stunned the onlooker, but the inescapable impression produced by daily contact with her: the attractiveness in the persuasiveness of her talk, and the character that surrounded her conversation was stimulating. It was a...