The Secrets Behind Cleopatra’s Rise to Power

Three leading Egyptologists explore how Cleopatra became one of the most influential and powerful women of the ancient world.
We trace how Cleopatra's learning and intelligence enabled her to gain control of her own Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt; skilfully and ruthlessly overcoming her own family and manipulating Egyptian politics and religion to her own advantage.
We discover the influence that the magnificent city of Alexandria exerted over the eastern Mediterranean and how Rome's growing power impinged on Egypt. Cleopatra played a difficult and skilful game negotiating relations with Rome, engaging both diplomatically and personally first with Julius Caesar and then Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony). Our experts consider how Cleopatra's remarkable personality enabled her to play such a key role in the first century BCE.
The film uses imagery from the worlds of art and motion pictures, as well as key Egyptian artefacts and locations, to investigate the representation and story of this remarkable and much misunderstood leader - unpicking the fact from the myth.
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#historyhit #cleopatra #ancientegypt

[@maximiliand2544]

Id say she used everything and everyone at her disposal to ensure the survival of Egypt. Many countries didnt fare so well against Rome.

[@kartos.]

Yeah, they witnesses first hand what happened to Carthage.

[@Maria-co9eg]

And I have absolutely no problem with that.

[@danorris5235]

Survival of Egypt? More like attaining and maintaining personal wealth and power, which is clearly all she was interested in from the get go. Seeing how she treated her subjects it's not exactly hard to see. Getting wasted and pranking randos outside the walls for sport, shipping the products of their labor (to include food) to Rome during times of famine (free of charge, mind you), hosting lavish feasts while people around her are literally starving to death, taking one helluva extended vacation (years), and even poisoning people to personally study how long and agonizing it was for them to die, etc. She was awful, and only cared about herself (maybe her children, but you could easily call that personal legacy, which would be textbook for a nut ase narcissistic inbred lunatic like her).

[@Bella-wl6fn]

Yes exactly. That's one reason why she's so fascinating to me. Not to mention, she was the end of an age. They also killed her baby and before that, they took out the library. That entire Tolemy gang was a mix of non Egyptian blood in 300 yr dynasty. But, she was exceptional and rose above. I will always feel sorry for her in certain ways. I doubt she was ugly either, she was probably actually more unusual looking to Romans since she wasn't Egyptian. Beauty standard culture clashes and the ugly depiction of her coin may not be an accurate representation of her. Cleopatra is way up there on my list of fav ancient people and let's not forget Hetchepsut to, another legendary female ruler.

[@pendragonsxskywalkers9518]

@@Bella-wl6fn I don't think Caesarion would be classified as 'baby'. He was adult, 17 years old. As for small children of Cleopatra and Antony, fortunately nothing happened to them.

[@spankflaps1365]

HBO’s “Rome” has an excellent depiction of Cleopatra, not completely accurate but very well produced and performed. I also recommend “Carry on Cleo” (1964).

[@user-lv7ph7hs7l]

Yeah the show is not super accurate but I like it a lot it makes Rome seem very alive and they got the essence right, though a lot had to be left out. Too bad Season 3 never happened, would have been cool to see Augustus.

[@darriendastar3941]

Ah yes. The classic line uttered by Caesar:"Imfamy, imfamy. They've all got it in for me."

[@bernicia-sc2iw]

I am still waiting for a realistic portrayal of Cleoptra onscreen. i have a big soft spot for Rome , but one of its least convincing aspects was its portrayal of Cleopatra who would likely be spinning in her tomb in indignation and confusion after seeing the series. Too 21st century , too cliched , too inaccurate basically ( ie a manipulative, super sensual , sexy , Egyptian - not Greek- queen ) .

[@pendragonsxskywalkers9518]

@@bernicia-sc2iw Check excerpts from docudrama "Ancient Empires" here on YT. I think they casted very good actress for Cleopatra (she has aquiline nose, light skin and brown hair). I don't know if documentary is good itself, since I was unable to watch it whole, but I think from all actresses who played Cleopatra, Simone, is one of best resembling her (Lindsey Marshall from Rome was also similar in look, but that was terrible representation of her).

[@SKILLIUSCAESAR]

@@pendragonsxskywalkers9518wow thanku for mentioning the series, thought I’d seen them all!

[@chris.asi_romeo]

She must have done something so spectacular that we're still talking about her more than 2000 years later.

[@Chiefqueef91]

True

[@Chiefqueef91]

@@hopefulfortomorrow1039do you not understand societal mechanisms

[@andyroo9381]

Queen Cleopatra, we still talk about you to this very day (2023). We still want to know more.

[@GROK99]

Cleopatra is definitely one of my favorite historical figures.

[@EthanKnight97]

Great documentary. Netflix should be embarrassed.

[@vociferon-heraldofthewinte7763]

Netflix is shameless.

[@UkrainianPaulie]

History Channel should be. No history in Yawn Stars.

[@xXScissorHandsXx]

🍻

[@user-lv7ph7hs7l]

They would be but Disney+ exists so it's hard to do worse than them. Though apparently it works with new TVs but try am older one and it's constant problems. Barely able to play stuff wothout 3 attempts. Finally canceled it...

[@Bos_Taurus]

Well, since we don't know much about her patetnal grandmother and her own mother, there is still posibility that she had balck skin.

[@geoffroydegodefroy2374]

Thank you for this. If anyone's interested in Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt I hotly recommend Schwerpunkt's videos on it

[@DryNox]

24:00 what did Cleopatra look like? 27:00 Ptolemy XIII dead 47 BC 31:00 Cleopatra goes to Rome 33:00 Caesar assassinated 44 BC 39:00 Roman civil war 42 BC 43:00 new lover Mark Antony 45:00 Antioch 37 BC 48:00 Donations of Alexandria 34 BC

[@Lucius1958]

Currently re-reading Michael Grant's biography of Cleopatra; so this video comes at an opportune time.

[@brettcurtis5710]

Wow, a young English actor Richard O'Sullivan played Ptolemy XIII in the the 1964 epic! First time he played as Man About the House, huh?? Richard is still alive and retired but still remembered for his popular British TV series Robin's Nest and Man About the House!

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

It was an informative and wonderful introduction documentary about Cleopatra. Shared by an excellent (History Hit )channel...thank you for sharing

[@Chipoo88]

Brilliant engaging documentary

[@PapriceP]

Yeah, right pal.

[@indigocheetah4172]

An excellent production , thank you .

[@BMack37]

It's a damn shame this video only has 327 likes, great film.

[@tomsenior7405]

Thank you for this. Excellent.

[@katherinecollins4685]

Fantastic documentary

[@Dabski97]

My favourite channel ❤

[@thesrow1056]

According to Netflix and someone's grandma this series is wrong 😆😆😆

[@amh9494]

I just knew when baldy Smith was involved it would be shockingly bad

[@thesrow1056]

@@amh9494 yeah I think everyone knew but was too polite to call it out. "A historical document/reimagining of a famous person" they marked it as fact then claimed it was fiction when they got called out

[@amh9494]

@@thesrow1056 I'm so glad I don't give Netflix any money

[@thesrow1056]

@@amh9494 yeah they just keep making terrible business decisions like backing politically motivated content that just gets mocked, but cancelling successful shows that don't fit thier agendas

[@amh9494]

@@thesrow1056 they seemed to have got the message around a year ago but here we are

[@TNTHistory]

Once again other outstanding film production!🙂✅

[@HistoryHit]

Wow, thank you!

[@hannahsdrawings8664]

Egyptian people are so lucky to have all these remnants of their past. Other nations respected their heritage, not many communities in the world were that lucky.

[@nafiarumman1330]

Chleopetra- 1.beautiful 2.powerful

[@chris.asi_romeo]

If the Senate didn't murder Julius Caesar, she would be the empress. I think that's Cleopadra plan from the beginning and her son will be the next emperor and her lineage would survived as the emperor's of Rome and Rome Egypt United but unexpected things change everything and now she is remembered as the last ruler of Egypt and one of the most remarkable queen in history.

[@amh9494]

😂😂😂 no. Was she black too? Cancel the Netflix subscription.

[@chris.asi_romeo]

@@amh9494 She's Greek. She's Caucasian.

[@Lucius1958]

Roman law did not recognize a union between a citizen and a foreigner. Besides, Julius was, iirc, already married to Calpurnia, and bigamy was illegal under Roman law. Cleopatra's hope appears to have been the survival of the Ptolemaic dynasty as an equal partner with Rome, and to the restoration of its hegemony over the eastern Mediterranean states.

[@chris.asi_romeo]

@@Lucius1958 Woow didn't know that. You know much more. But when Caesar is the emperor he could just change the law anytime.

[@SKILLIUSCAESAR]

@@chris.asi_romeoI think that’s exactly what the Senate was terrified of...

[@hannahsdrawings8664]

Pleasant music but I find it somehow distracting from what is being said.

[@lianefehrle9921]

28:45 sailing was cooler and less bugs.

[@aanchaallllllll]

0:48: 👑 Cleopatra's rise to power and her impact on Egypt and the ancient world. 5:50: 🏛 The video discusses the architecture and diversity of Alexandria, a Mediterranean city with Greek and Egyptian influences. 10:00: 👑 Cleopatra's father, Ptolemy XII, is forced into exile by the Romans, leading to his brother's suicide and Cleopatra's potential rise to power. 14:56: 👑 Cleopatra sought to emulate the rulers of Egypt and establish herself as a significant figure in religious events. 19:37: 💀 Julius Caesar is presented with the head and signet ring of his enemy, Pompey, upon his arrival in Alexandria. 24:05: 🔍 Contemporary depictions of Cleopatra are limited, but her coinage is considered the most accurate representation of her appearance. 28:29: 🚢 Cleopatra's Nile cruise was a clever move to strengthen her position with the Egyptian people and Julius Caesar. 33:01: ! Cleopatra becomes a solo ruler of Egypt after the assassination of Caesar. 37:57: ! Cleopatra associates herself with Isis and presents herself as the mother of the rightful heir to the throne, making it difficult for her rivals to claim legitimacy. 42:39: 👑 Cleopatra forms an alliance with Mark Anthony and uses her political acumen to entrap him. 47:30: 🎉 Mark Anthony returns to Alexandria after a victory and celebrates with a lavish display of wealth and power, known as the donations of Alexandria. Recap by Tammy AI

[@kartos.]

lol at the video game music being used at one point (the game Pharaoh by Sierra, ofc)

[@carolbuzelim]

They all have the same name, most be so confuse to study that Thanks for break down for us. Im very passionate about history even tho is not my field of study

[@mm-yt8sf]

i was wondering if cleopatra's contemporaries still thought of her as a foreigner/invader? though i'd imagine back then no one would write about it or say it since they'd probably be killed..and 300 years of the same family is a super long time to get used to things... and do modern egyptians think of her as fully egyptian in their history or an unfortunate chapter of foreign rule?

[@SKILLIUSCAESAR]

Foreign rule was common at that point, Alexander’s Macedonians took over from a Syrian dynasty. Alexandria itself only allowed Greeks to have citizenship, so native Egyptians seemed to be very “other” from the Ptolemaic reign.

[@pendragonsxskywalkers9518]

As you said - 300 years is very long time. Ptolemies were viewed as egyptianized. As for today Egyptians, it seems Cleopatra is viewed as honorary Egyptian and national hero (which is evident from country reaction on Netflix parody). Kemet Queen/Nora in her video said: "This is my history we are talking about, this my queen, this is my hero". In documentary "Cleopatra" by Curtis Ryan Woodside (you can see it on yt), Egyptian egyptologist Sahar Saleem says "She was born in Alexandria, Egypt - the only Ptolemaic ruler who learnt and spoke Egyptian lanagugae. So to me, in one way or another, she was an Egyptian queen. As Egyptian, this is how I see Cleopatra".

[@alvarogoncalveslemos]

She was an amazing woman.

[@heenapatel2537]

She was beautiful.. brilliant...brave ...

[@pheart2381]

"Stories get exasperated over time". Hmmm..experts in short supply that day?

[@lauraskovbo]

Cleopatra used Caesar as pawn in her game, but likewise Caesar used her too, he wanted a great deal of territory to build and continuation of roads and connection to the rest of the world through the Nile, presumably. So Caesar was tempted to strengthen this plan, by only having Cleopatra ruling over Egypt, and likewise, she could keep him at bay by doing her scheme to become the sole ruler of Egypt. Forsaken her and him both knowing their positions wouldn't be compromised.

[@gwenmarshall9855]

Enjoying this but at times the music soundtrack drowns out the dialogue.

[@Nicksonian]

But my grandma told me, “don’t believe what they tell you, Cleopatra was black.” LMAO

[@amh9494]

😂 kangz

[@snowuk1472]

I know a true moron moment when we could just look at the historical evidence, Netflix has done this a lot lately like ancient aliens for history

[@SKILLIUSCAESAR]

I swear I have ptsd when I see her as a talking head in documentaries now 😂

[@CheifR0cka]

"Normal" people "Netflix and chill". _My_ kind of people History Hit and chill.

[@mm-yt8sf]

hmm what if ptolemy just imprisoned pompey and sent a message to caesar that he could pick him up. then it would look like the foreigner was just aiding rome. though i guess that might have led to a fight with pompeys remaining army since they'd probably want to get him back... i assume if he was killed they just...left (that doesn't seem very loyal)? or was there a fight either way? in that case better to just jail the guy

[@mm-yt8sf]

would the people in the previous ptolomaic empire who considered themselves romans have been dismayed to find out they were given back to egypt? or did local people's feelings not matter so much long ago 🙂

[@bruce3ist]

The coinage, is it just me or do they seem to represent almost a romanesque feature? The 'roman nose' , strong chin etc, might they be portrayed in that way to align closely with Rome and caeser? I don't know, but she seems to look a bit caeser-y on them?! 😆

[@pendragonsxskywalkers9518]

You were almost correct - they indeed tried align closely to Rome, - but when she was with ANTONY, not Caesar. Coins from late part of her reign show her basically as female version of Antony. Check Cleopatra's coin from Askalon from her early reign - she looks on the different, has more softer face.

[@bruce3ist]

@@pendragonsxskywalkers9518 ah, interesting, thanks

[@SKILLIUSCAESAR]

@@pendragonsxskywalkers9518to me it looks as if they used Antony’s exact stencil for her coin, just smaller w a few feminine alterations... (very few 😂)

[@pendragonsxskywalkers9518]

@@SKILLIUSCAESAR They probably did. Cleopata presumably wanted to show she is now extension of Mark Antony, who is co-creator her new empire, father of her children and (de facto) prince consort of Egypt.

[@SunalieRatnayakeUSA]

#cleopatra 🩷👸

[@Russiagirl]

❤

[@mikedignum1868]

What happened to Cleo and Mark's children?

[@pendragonsxskywalkers9518]

They were raised in Rome by Mark's ex-wife, Octavia. We don't know what ultimately happened to boys, but Princess Selene became Queen of Mauretania and lived to have children of her own. Her descendants intermarried with Middle Eastern aristocracy and few centuries later Queen Zenobia of Plamyra claimed to be descendant of her.

[@murrayscott9546]

Some so-called " men" fear/despise powerful women - Cleo, Liz I, etc. What these women had to do merely to survive let alone achieve greatness, the men of this world do onna daily basis yet only debase themselves.

[@jakobsmith1396]

Very one-sided explanations of her relationships! They didn't really talk about what Ceasar and Mark Antony got out of their association with her. These were men who were trying to gain power in the transition period from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire. If you're trying to position yourself as a sole ruler, it helps a great deal to be seen/known as someone who has a relationship and children with someone who is both a queen and living goddess. Ceasar wanted her to live in Rome with him for a reason. Sure, it's possible there was sexual attraction, and maybe even love between one or both (that's a stretch), but it's abundantly clear that these relationships were highly calculated on both sides.

[@j.d.8162]

These comments will be somethin

[@MsCDante]

The representation they continue to use for Cleopatra... why? When many of us were also taught why they did this.

[@pendragonsxskywalkers9518]

What's your problem with them?

[@MsCDante]

@pendragonsxskywalkers9518 when you do your research, you'll understand what I mean. I've been studying this for a long time and there's no way Cleopatra looked the way they kept portraying her to look.

[@MsCDante]

@pendragonsxskywalkers9518 it often happened to all ppl of color the most especially ones of darker tones. This has actually happened everywhere but where they would completely change the race to white or mostlt white were Egyptian movies.

[@pendragonsxskywalkers9518]

@@MsCDante Cleopatra was white woman. She was depicted as such in her times. She was NOT person of colour, and you would now this if you actually have done research. There are Roman portraits from her times that show her with light skin and auburn hair 👩🏻‍🦰 and her statue from Vatican museum still have traces of light pigment on her face. As fo Egyptias - they were diverse people, with most having brownish skin and it is true in past Egyptians were often depicted as too white, however thta is changing. In TV series about Tutankhamun "Tut" (2015) they have incredible diverse cast 🧑🏾👩🏽🧑🏼🧔🏻👨🏿‍🦱 and I think you should live present day, not what was in 50s.

[@MsCDante]

@pendragonsxskywalkers9518 I won't argue. I've done my research for many yrs on specific areas of different continents. Before traveling after and why humans and animals were traveling. Also did research on what the original artwork looked like before the images today. Some of those images are even still where I live in the mountains untouched. A lot of research because I'm interested in correcting history and not just race. I also want to be a teacher after having inspiration from at least two teachers who were trying to do the same since our history books weren't corrected then. Also take some time to do some anthropology studying. You'll learn a lot.

[@nickkerr8775]

They take the very very small amount of information known and ad 45 minutes of basically there opinions on her an her every day life and power struggles etc..

[@54032Zepol]

Cesar got honey potted

[@matthewmatt5285]

Antony also~

[@Readyteddygo]

We know exactly what Cleopatra looked like. There’s an accurate bust of her in the Altes Museum in Berlin.

[@pendragonsxskywalkers9518]

And there is painting showing her as Venus in Pompeii that was made diring her life.

[@kathyheyne6030]

Did Cleopatra seduce Caesar? Or did she simply point out she had been ruling Egypt for a few years already? Did Caesar (apparently a legendary lover - for quantity at least) believe he could control her far more easily than her brother simply because she was a woman?

[@UkrainianPaulie]

She was an opportunist who manipulated Roman leaders who listened to their " johnson", and not their brains.

[@mikeypiros6647]

she was'nt blk,just like everybody,said so....

[@kaceydillin7367]

Being a jezebel helps 😎

[@robertstrong6798]

You remove perfectly polite and reasonable comments why ? Bad channel

[@me67226]

What a nose😮

[@user-pm4fp6re2t]

This one is a fabricated icon unlike Her!!!!!

[@PapriceP]

She was a 5 at best.

[@user-lv7ph7hs7l]

Nefertiti was 10.

[@Chiefqueef91]

Grow up?

[@nokomarie1963]

"Cleopatra...oversaw a golden age for her people." Really? I beg to differ. After engaging in a civil war with her husband/brother, Ptolemy, she valiantly attempted to doggie paddle her way clear of full subjugation by the Roman Empire. She failed.

[@pendragonsxskywalkers9518]

That is unfair view. Yes, her reign WAS golden age for Egypt. She managed save Egypt for bankrupcy and was able manouvered during time of famine effectively enough that Egyptians NEVER rebelled against her. 'After engaging in a civil war' - Why you place blame on her? Why you blame woman for actions that was caused by men around her? It was her brother - or rather his advisors, as he was kid - that ousted Cleopatra and engage in war. She only was taking back what was hers to begin with. But I guess according to you, people should left their inheritence in hands of thieves and women should not fight back with patriarchy... 🙄 Cleopatra also chose the most powrful Roman ledaers as her allies and fathers of her children to ensure Egypt safety. Antony returned her most lands Egypt lost. Her plan was brilliant. She couldn't perdict that her partners will lose their power.

[@goldenvulture6818]

A Jew isn't a race or ethnicity

[@amh9494]

Yes it is

[@murrayscott9546]

It's on again. Here we go, hpld on ,!

[@murrayscott9546]

​@@amh9494It's on again. Hpld on, here we go.

[@amh9494]

@@murrayscott9546 ... what?

[@murrayscott9546]

Jews , like Arabs , I were originally Semitic , an off-zhoot of the Caucasian Race. After the diaspora inter-marriage occurred with other no - Semitic Caucasian branches. Ethnicity relates more to do with culture and identity, I think.

[@tottereff8615]

Ofcourse she did. No woman can do anything without a man

[@tahsinaaron5563]

In 2024, They both would have used protections/ Contraceptive pills 💊 💊

[@pendragonsxskywalkers9518]

She wouldn't - she wanted have children to pass her throne and also needed them to have influence on her partners.