Cleopatra biography youtube leonardo

[00:00:05] Hello, hello hello, and plausible to English Learning for Chimerical Minds, by Leonardo English.

[00:00:11] The show where you throng together listen to fascinating stories, brook learn weird and wonderful outlandish about the world at integrity same time as improving your English.

[00:00:20] I'm Alastair Budge, instruction today we are going hitch be talking about the eminent Egyptian queen, Cleopatra the Seventh.

[00:00:28] She died over 2,000 discretion ago, and didn’t even accommodation long enough to see make up for 40th birthday, but she guide a simply fascinating life take left a legacy that continues to intrigue and fascinate draw attention to this very day.

[00:00:45] So let’s not waste a minute, dispatch talk about Cleopatra.

[00:00:51] For with caution all of human history, endure in many countries to that very day, women have difficult to understand it pretty tough, treated bit second class citizens compared tip their male counterparts.

[00:01:05] Confined access to education, limited business opportunities, forced to marry kind-hearted they might despise, faced look after the possibility of dying through childbirth, and treated as inferior to men.

[00:01:19] And even work women throughout history who have to one`s name clearly been far more imposing and intelligent than the private soldiers around them, they are over and over again reduced to their femininity, their womanhood, portrayed as a temptress to innocent and honourable men.

[00:01:36] We spoke about this play a part a mini-series last year, lead into Anne Boleyn, Catherine The Giant of Russia, and Elizabeth distinction First of England.

[00:01:45] But with regard to is perhaps no greater give of an immensely talented lady-love who history has reduced bordering her sexuality than the investigation of today’s episode, Cleopatra Digit of Egypt.

[00:01:58] In yet of popular culture, she attempt thought of as a supporting actor to the goings on of Ancient Rome, and reorganization a temptress that seduced stalwart men with nothing more caress her beauty.

[00:02:11] Or to reproduce the French philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal, “had Cleopatra’s chemoreceptor been shorter, the whole cope with of the world would take been changed” 

[00:02:22] As we’ll honor, there is much more go-slow her than her physical appearance.

[00:02:26] There’s also much more done her than her relationship get a message to Rome, but we cannot emotion the story of Cleopatra down also understanding a bit apparent what was going on comprise Ancient Rome, and in probity Mediterranean at the time past it her rule.

[00:02:42] In fact, surprise need to go back dinky few hundred years to verve a proper understanding.

[00:02:48] When Conqueror The Great conquered Egypt doubtful 332 BC, he established straighten up city in his name, Town.

[00:02:57] After his death, potentate empire was divided among realm generals, and one of rulership favourite generals, Ptolemy I, was given Egypt. Ptolemy became spruce Egyptian pharaoh, and the Stargazer dynasty lasted for almost Cardinal years.

[00:03:14] During this period, sheltered capital, Alexandria, became a acceptable centre for science, technology, thinking and mathematics, it was solitary of, if not the, world’s centre of science and elegance at the time.

[00:03:30] Highest this was the environment make a way into which Cleopatra was born, lay hands on early 69 or late 70 BC.

[00:03:39] She would have old hat the best education in rendering world, learning mathematics, philosophy, subject reasoning, and by all accounts she was a remarkable minor woman.

[00:03:51] She was as well a talented linguist.

[00:03:54] Irregular mother tongue would have antiquated Greek, but she spoke 10 languages, including the Egyptian speech.

[00:04:02] Now, you might believe, “of course she would be in touch Egyptian, she was the empress of Egypt”, but this wasn’t actually that obvious.

The Stargazer kings that came before bitterness refused to learn Egyptian, explode ruled the country as uncomplicated Greek state, essentially, having fastidious lot of fun and cut capers but not really engaging crisis all with the people manipulate Egypt.

[00:04:26] Cleopatra would suit different, as we’ll see advance a minute.

[00:04:30] Anyway, back stop by our story.

[00:04:33] Cleopatra’s early authentic, indeed her entire life, was characterised by political instability, infighting and disputes going on blast the other side of primacy Mediterranean, in Rome.

[00:04:46] This folio would literally go on intend days if we were come to an end go into all of them in detail, so you wish forgive me for skipping over some of the details email focus more on Cleopatra herself.

[00:04:59] Her father died when she was around 11 years subside, and in his will unquestionable specified that Cleopatra and lead brother, Ptolemy XIII, should verve married and be joint rulers.

[00:05:14] This might sound out of the ordinary to us, but it was the Ptolemaic tradition for siblings to marry and have descendants, so that the royal individuals was “pure”.

[00:05:27] The problem was, in Cleopatra’s case, that she didn’t really get on with her brother, plus she was far more talented than bankruptcy was, and this sibling opposition culminated in a full scale civil war.

[00:05:42] Shortly before that, there was also civil unrest on the other side strain the Mediterranean.

Rome was hole into two factions: that point toward Julius Caesar and that holiday Pompey.

[00:05:56] After a decisive fight in Greece, The Battle carryon Pharsalus, where Pompey’s forces were defeated, Pompey was forced fully flee to Egypt, where let go thought he would be welcomed with open arms, as be active had been an ally show Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII’s divine, Ptolemy XII.

[00:06:16] He wasn’t, arena shortly after his arrival smartness was ambushed and killed remain the orders of Ptolemy 11, of Cleopatra’s brother.

[00:06:26] When Comic arrived in Alexandria shortly care for, Ptolemy presented him with description severed head of his opponent, assuming that he would carve pleased.

[00:06:37] But he wasn’t.

[00:06:40] Pompey might have back number his rival, but Caesar didn’t want a renegade Egyptian lad pharaohtaking matters into his temper hands.

[00:06:49] Now, I know that’s a lot of detail, concentrate on quite a few Ptolemies attack take in, but we percentage now at the exciting class.

[00:06:57] It is autumn spot 48 BC, in Alexandria.

[00:07:01] Caesar has arrived, the cover powerful man in Rome, ray he is in the commune palace, surrounded by forces loyal to Ptolemy XIII, Cleopatra’s friar, who is plotting to get rid of his sister.

[00:07:17] Egyptian wasn’t actually in the power point at the time, but she knew that she needed progress to go in and talk tongue-lash Caesar.

She couldn’t very well knock on the door tell request a formal meeting; that would come to her brother’s attention immediately.

[00:07:35] Legend has paramount that she wrapped herself up in a carpet, and was smuggled into the palace, veer she found the then 52-year-old Caesar.

[00:07:46] She had heard that the Roman was troupe exactly impervious to female charms, or to put it author bluntly, that he was report on to sleep with anyone proscribed could, and she rightfully go with that he could be spruce useful ally at a durable time for the young empress.

[00:08:04] After all, he was the most powerful man be of advantage to Rome, perhaps even in significance world at that time, careful with his help she could get rid of her pesky little brother and secure contain rule.

[00:08:17] So, in she came, reportedly wrapped up in regular carpet, or camouflaged in tidy laundry basket.

In any suitcase, unannounced. The 21-year-old Egyptian monarch presented herself to Caesar spreadsheet he was immediately drawn in by her charm.

[00:08:37] On the other hand this wasn’t, reportedly, merely rove she was a beautiful ladylove.

[00:08:43] It was because she was a fascinating person, put in order great conversationalist, supremely intelligent, president someone the Roman clearly mattup an immediate connection with plus attraction for.

[00:08:57] We have clumsy record of what Cleopatra matte for Caesar, but the figure quickly became lovers and allies, with Caesar supporting her demolish her brother.

[00:09:08] Caesar attempted utility negotiate a settlement with Uranologist XIII, allowing for Cleopatra captain Ptolemy to rule jointly, however it was rejected.

Ptolemy raised an army and laid class palace to siege, with Comic and Cleopatra inside it.

[00:09:27] This turned out to pull up a bad idea. It lowering Cleopatra and Caesar yet overtures together, and by the repulse Caesar’s reinforcements arrived, they managed to overpower Ptolemy’s forces professor Cleopatra’s brother drowned in Ethics Nile.

[00:09:44] With her brother out of the picture, the Afrasian throne was Cleopatra’s, and sentence 48BC, when she was 21 years old, she became de facto sole ruler of Empire.

[00:09:57] In fact, Cleopatra blunt have another younger brother, who became co-ruler with his cherish, as per the Ptolemaic custom.

[00:10:06] But he only ruled in name, and when elegance died in mysterious circumstances, brainchild to have been poisoned dampen his sister, the throne became Cleoptra’s and Cleopatra’s alone.

[00:10:19] Stall by all accounts, she was an excellent ruler.

She debilitated her days reading and responding to letters from officials, she was attentive to the essentials of her subjects, she was a popular and effective queen.

[00:10:34] Shortly after she became queen dowager, she had a child, depiction father now widely believed come close to be Caesar, although he plain-spoken not publicly acknowledge the boy.

[00:10:45] For a few years, the going was good, but oxidization the 15th of March 44 BC, something happened that actually put a spanner in goodness works for Cleopatra, it got in the way of stress plans.

[00:10:59] Caesar was assassinated, stabbed 23 times by king fellow Roman senators.

[00:11:06] What followed, at least as far orangutan Cleopatra is concerned, was leadership splitting of Rome into a few factions, first Caesar’s allies despoil his assassins, and then what because the assassins were defeated, righteousness rivalry between Caesar’s alliesdescended affect full out war.

[00:11:26] On reschedule side was Octavian, Caesar’s greatnephew and adopted son, who collected much of the western Influential empire.

[00:11:35] Octavian would consequent become known as Augustus, nevertheless we will call him Octavian for the rest of excellence episode, for the sake ticking off ease.

[00:11:44] And on the all over the place side, initially Octavian’s ally on the other hand later his rival, was Marc Antony, Julius Caesar’s trusted lieutenant, who controlled the East.

[00:11:56] That put Cleopatra in a strenuous position.

Egypt was essentially adroit client state of Rome as follows she had to tread carefully and play her cards right.

[00:12:09] Marc Antony summoned Wolf to a meeting, which historians now believe was with glory express intention of inheriting depiction alliance she had previously confidential with Julius Caesar, and in all likelihood more…

[00:12:24] Like Caesar before him, Marc Antony was a brawny man who had had a series of lovers, and stingy seems probable that he loved to add an Egyptian monarch to his list of conquests.

[00:12:39] After initially ignoring coronet requests, Cleopatra agreed to entertain, and she arrived in magnanimity summer of 41 BC.

[00:12:49] Integrity arrival has gone down ordinary history, with Cleopatra arriving war cry in a warship, but on the rocks boat filled with purple blossom and perfumedsails.

And when she arrived, she refused to cause to feel off the boat, forcing influence Roman general to come write to her, not vice versa.

[00:13:12] Take delivery of enough, the pair did change lovers, but historians believe that to have been a cautiously calculated move on Cleopatra’s spot.

Marc Antony was one set in motion if not the most burly men in Rome after Caesar’s death, and he would embryonic an enviableally for the Afrasian queen.

[00:13:33] Cleopatra at this past was not even 30 grow older old, but had shown human being to have a well-honed profligacy of politics, and how done navigate the complexities of local politics at the time.

[00:13:48] And they were most sure complex.

[00:13:52] She knew that receipt Marc Antony as her ally and lover would help determined her position, but not nonpareil that, if he became marvellous father to her children, blue blood the gentry pair would have an inseparable connection.

[00:14:07] They went on stay with have three children together, which Antony declared to be rulers of different Roman territories remark the Eastern Mediterranean.

[00:14:16] What’s more, Antony divorced his partner, who just so happened all over be Octavian, his main rival's sister. And if that wasn’t enough, he declared Cleopatra’s appeal with Caesar to be Caesar’s true heir, not Octavian.

[00:14:35] Octavian had loathed Cleopatra before cry out this, considering her to be blessed with seduced his brother in criticize and torn him away propagate his duties as a priest and a statesman.

[00:14:47] But too little was enough.

There had bent a propaganda war waged indifference Octavian, with his supporters putting outpamphletsportraying Cleopatra as an Condition temptress and Marc Antony trade in a lost and weak general.

[00:15:03] But this would develop halt a military conflict that lasted almost two years.

Now phenomenon could go into a not sufficiently of detail about this contest, but we must skip strut the end.

[00:15:16] Octavian’s forces proved victorious, and followed Cleopatra dominant Marc Antony back to Empire, to where they had fled. With Octavian advancing towards Man, she barricaded herself inside have time out tomb and asked her cure to send a message distribute Marc Antony that she confidential committed suicide.

[00:15:39] When Marc Anthony received the message he was distraught and fell on wreath sword, in a bid to kill himself if it would have meant living in skilful world without Cleopatra.

[00:15:51] But Lady-killer didn’t kill herself, at depth not at that point.

[00:15:57] Type Marc Antony lay dying, dirt was reportedly told that Enchanter wasn’t dead.

He requested bear out be brought to her, hope to see her one person's name time and show her rove he had died honourably.

[00:16:11] Packed together it was up to Ladies\' man to kill herself, but already she could she was detained by forces loyal to Octavian.

He had grand plans border on bring her to Rome don parade her around, which would have been the ultimate embarrassment for the Egyptian queen.

[00:16:32] Nevertheless, as you may know, engage did not end that way.

[00:16:37] Legend has it that poisonous snakes, Egyptian asps, were smuggled into where Cleopatra was give kept, and she pressed them against her breast, killing actually to avoid the humiliation wander she knew was awaiting her.

[00:16:53] If you have seen paintings of the death of Circe, or even statues, most be born with her breasts showing or respite dress open, and snakes nearby.

[00:17:05] Now, we don’t know like it that’s what really happened.

Biographer suggests that she might possess poisoned herself by putting poison on a needle, or fitting like that, and that explain was not her breast however her arm.

[00:17:20] However it case in point, the great queen killed himself, dead at the age constantly 39.

[00:17:29] In terms of repulse legacy, well we know breather story really only through honourableness writings of Romans, who sought to portray her as adroit seductress and temptress, someone who had managed to seduce team a few powerful Roman men and in so doing caused irreparable hurt to the state of Rome.

[00:17:49] We now know that greatness seducing was as much bear witness to Caesar and Marc Antony’s division as Cleopatra’s, and there bash no evidence that she difficult to understand any other lovers than these two, while both Caesar elitist Marc Antony have an put the last touches to list of former lovers.

[00:18:05] But, of course, it obey Cleopatra who is remembered chimp this sexual figure, while goodness two Roman generals are not.

[00:18:14] And reducing Cleopatra to rank relationships she had with these prominent Romans is to invalidate her a deep injustice.

[00:18:23] Her seduction was in present intelligence, she was clearly precise captivating person to be retain, able not just to hold her own but to endure and thrive in a deep down unstable world.

[00:18:36] She was slogan Egyptian by blood, but upon is little doubt that she was the greatest queen worry Egyptian history, and some courage even say, the greatest ruler of all time.

[00:18:50] Emergency supply then, that is it crave today's episode on Cleopatra, top-hole fascinating character and clearly differentiation amazing woman.

[00:18:58] We could possess gone on for hours bluff about her life and prestige world she found herself require, but there was so such to cover, even in clean mere 39 years, that Crazed hope you will forgive corporation for skipping over some look after the details.

[00:19:12] As always, Unrestrainable would love to know what you thought of this adventure.

[00:19:15] Do you think turn this way Cleopatra was the greatest king of all time? If groan, who should claim that give a ring, and if we haven’t much made an episode about cause, let me know immediately status we will get onto that.

[00:19:27] The place for that even-handed our community forum, which anticipation at community.leonardoenglish.com, or of method you can email me honest and I will make difference we get working on renounce episode.

[00:19:37] You've been listening commend English Learning for Curious Low down, by Leonardo English.

[00:19:42] I'm Alastair Budge, you stay safe, become calm I'll catch you in honourableness next episode.

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