The Reign of Cleopatra - Burstein, Stanley

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Résumé :
Ambitious, intelligent, and desired by men and emperors, Cleopatra VII came to power at a time when Roman and Egyptian interests increasingly tended to concern the same object: the Egyptian Empire itself. Cleopatra lived her whole life at the center of this complex and persistent power struggle, and her death simultaneously heralded the end of the Ptolemaic dynasty, the loss of Egyptian political independence, and the beginning of Caesar Augustus's Roman rule in Egypt. Cleopatra's legacy has since lost much of its former political significance, as she has come to symbolize instead the potent force of female sexuality and power. In this engaging and multifaceted account, however, Stanley M. Burstein displays Cleopatra in the full manifold brilliance of the several cultures, countries, and people that surrounded her throughout her compelling life, and in so doing develops a stunning picture of a legendary Queen, and a deeply historic reign.

Designed as an accessible introduction to Cleopatra VII and her time, this book offers readers and researchers an appealing mix of descriptive chapters, biographical sketches, and annotated primary documents. An overview of the Ptolemaic Dynasty is presented in the introduction, and is followed by chapters on Cleopatra's life, the reality of Ptolemaic Egypt, Cleopatra's multicultural Egyptian society, and Alexandria's culture and conflicts. The narrative chapters conclude with a section discussing Cleopatra's significance as a person, a queen, and a symbol. An annotated bibliography and index are also included in this work....

Sommaire:

Series Foreword
Preface
Chronology of Events
Historical Background
Cleopatra's Life
Ptolemaic Egypt: How Did It Work?
Cleopatra's Egypt: A Multicultural Society
Alexandria: City of Conflict and Culture
Conclusion: Queen and Symbol
Biographies: Significant Figures in the Reign of Cleopatra VII
Primary Documents Concerning Cleopatra VII
Glossary of Selected Terms
Appendix: The Ptolemies
Annotated Bibliographies