CLEOPATRA
EARLY LIFE
Cleopatra was born in 69 BC as a princess of Egypt. Her
father, Ptolemy XII, was a Pharaoh. She was smart and
cunning. Cleopatra was her father’s favorite child. The family
lived in Alexandria which was a center for learning. Scholars came from all over
the world to study there. Most girls did not attend school at the time, but
Cleopatra got a good education as a member of the ruling family. She could
speak at least seven languages, including Greek and Egyptian. She studied
science, history, medicine, and math. Cleopatra learned a lot about how to rule
a country from her father.
FIGHT FOR POWER
Cleopatra’s father died in 51 B.C. when she was 18 years old.
He left the throne to her and her 10-year-old brother,
Ptolemy XIII, as co-rulers. Since Cleopatra was much older,
she quickly took control as the main ruler of Egypt. As her
brother got older, he desired more power. His advisers helped
him take control of the throne. Cleopatra was eventually
forced from the palace and Ptolemy XIII took over as
Pharaoh. She went to the country of Syria and raised a
small army. She was ready to return to Alexandria by 48 B.C.
to fight her brother for control of the throne.
A powerful Roman named Julius Caesar arrived in Egypt in 48 BC. Legend says
Cleopatra snuck back into her former palace hidden inside a rolled carpet and was
placed in front of Caesar as a gift. She hoped to get his help to win back the
Egyptian throne. Her meeting with Caesar did not go well though because many
people at the time did not believe women should rule a country without a king.
Caesar wanted to end the fighting between Cleopatra and her brother. Ptolemy
XIII and his advisers did not like this idea and wanted to get rid of her. They
could not do this if Caesar helped her though, so they went to war against
Caesar. Ptolemy’s army was defeated by Caesar’s soldiers at the Battle of the
Nile after a hard fight. Cleopatra’s brother, Ptolemy, drown in a river.
©Teaching to the Middle
BATTLE OF THE NILE
CELEBRATION
Caesar and Cleopatra celebrated their victory by cruising down
the Nile River in a long, flat boat called a barge to show
Egyptians that Cleopatra was queen again. Caesar went back
to Rome after a few weeks. Before leaving, he made
Cleopatra a co-ruler with her youngest brother, Ptolemy He
was about 12 years old. Egyptians believed their rulers were
gods and goddesses. Cleopatra claimed to be the
reincarnation of the Egyptian goddess, Isis. People liked
Cleopatra because she brought prosperity to Egypt.
SON
Cleopatra gave birth to a son named Caesarion in June 47 B.C. He was named for
Julius Caesar. Caesar wanted Cleopatra to join him in Rome, so she and her son
went there a year later in 46 B.C. Her brother, Ptolemy XIV, came too. They
were not welcomed by Romans. Rumors spread that Caesar planned to make
himself king of the empire of Rome with Cleopatra as his queen. People also
feared Alexandria would replace Rome as the empire’s capital.
ANTONY
Members of the Roman Senate turned against Caesar and stabbed him to
death at a meeting on March 15, 44 BC. Cleopatra and her family returned to
Egypt. Mark Antony emerged as one of three rulers of Rome after Caesar’s
death. Cleopatra and Antony met in 41 BC and fell in love. They formed a
military alliance against Octavian, another ruler of Rome. Cleopatra wanted her
son to become the ruler of Rome and hoped Antony could help her. Cleopatra
and Antony joined their armies to fight Octavian. They were defeated at the
Battle of Actium and forced to retreat to Egypt.
Cleopatra’s death is a mystery. It is said Antony returned to the
battlefield in hopes of beating Octavian, but realized he was going
to be captured instead. He heard false news that Cleopatra had
died, so he took his own life. It was rumored that Cleopatra then
allowed a poisonous snake, known as an asp, to bite and kill her.
Octavian took control of Egypt after her death. This brought an
end to the Ptolemy dynasty and Egyptian Empire. Octavian
changed his named to Augustus and became the Emperor of
Rome. Cleopatra was the last Pharaoh of Egypt. Many movies
and plays have been written about her mysterious life.
©Teaching to the Middle
DEATH
Name_________________________________________
Use the word bank to identify each description.
Ptolemy XII
Antony
Ptolemy XIII
Octavian
Caesarion
Isis
Caesar
Pharaoh
asp
Actium
1. Ruler of Egypt
2. Son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra
3. Poisonous snake
4. Cleopatra was defeated in this battle
5. Cleopatra’s father; Pharaoh of Egypt
6. Roman with whom Cleopatra had a son
7. Lover of Cleopatra who took his own life
8. Person who defeated Cleopatra and Antony
9. Cleopatra’s brother who put her out of
power
10. Cleopatra claimed to be the reincarnation
of this goddess
©Teaching to the Middle
IDENTIFY:
CLEOPATRA
MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer.
11. How did the people of Egypt view Cleopatra?
A. They did not like her because they thought she lived extravagantly.
B. They liked her because she brought prosperity to Egypt.
C. They would have rather her brother or son rule than her.
D. They wanted her to join the Roman Empire.
12.Which best describes Cleopatra’s relationship with her father?
A. She never knew her father.
B. She had a troubled relationship with her father.
C. She was her father’s favorite child and learned from him.
D. She was jealous of her father’s relationship with her brothers.
13.Why did Marc Antony reportedly take his own life?
A. He lost the Battle of Actium.
B. Octavian took over as Roman Emperor.
C. He thought Cleopatra had used him.
D. He thought Cleopatra had died.
14. How did Julius Caesar mainly help Cleopatra?
A. He allowed her to become part of the Roman Empire.
B. He allowed her to seek refuge in Rome.
C. He assisted her in defeating her brother, Ptolemy XIV.
D. He defeated the Romans in the Battle of the Nile.
16. How did the author mostly organize the passage?
A. She compared the lives of Cleopatra and Caesar.
B. She compared the lives of Cleopatra and her brother.
C. She described the major events of Cleopatra’s life in chronological order.
D. She described what caused Cleopatra to become the Pharaoh of Egypt.
©Teaching to the Middle
15.Which best describes the life of Cleopatra?
A. Simple
B. Mysterious
C. Spoiled
D. Uneventful
CLEOPATRA
EARLY LIFE
Cleopatra was born in 69 BC as a princess of Egypt. Her
father, Ptolemy XII, was a Pharaoh. She was smart and
cunning. Cleopatra was her father’s favorite child. The family
lived in Alexandria which was a center for learning. Scholars came from all over
the world to study there. Most girls did not attend school at the time, but
Cleopatra got a good education as a member of the ruling family. She could
speak at least seven languages, including Greek and Egyptian. She studied
science, history, medicine, and math. Cleopatra learned a lot about how to rule
a country from her father.
FIGHT FOR POWER
Cleopatra’s father died in 51 B.C. when she was 18 years old.
He left the throne to her and her 10-year-old brother,
Ptolemy XIII, as co-rulers. Since Cleopatra was much older,
she quickly took control as the main ruler of Egypt. As her
brother got older, he desired more power. His advisers helped
him take control of the throne. Cleopatra was eventually
forced from the palace and Ptolemy XIII took over as
Pharaoh. She went to the country of Syria and raised a
small army. She was ready to return to Alexandria by 48 B.C.
to fight her brother for control of the throne.
A powerful Roman named Julius Caesar arrived in Egypt in 48 BC. Legend says
Cleopatra snuck back into her former palace hidden inside a rolled carpet and was
placed in front of Caesar as a gift. She hoped to get his help to win back the
Egyptian throne. Her meeting with Caesar did not go well though because many
people at the time did not believe women should rule a country without a king.
Caesar wanted to end the fighting between Cleopatra and her brother. Ptolemy
XIII and his advisers did not like this idea and wanted to get rid of her. They
could not do this if Caesar helped her though, so they went to war against
Caesar. Ptolemy’s army was defeated by Caesar’s soldiers at the Battle of the
Nile after a hard fight. Cleopatra’s brother, Ptolemy, drown in a river.
©Teaching to the Middle
BATTLE OF THE NILE
CELEBRATION
Caesar and Cleopatra celebrated their victory by cruising down
the Nile River in a long, flat boat called a barge to show
Egyptians that Cleopatra was queen again. Caesar went back
to Rome after a few weeks. Before leaving, he made
Cleopatra a co-ruler with her youngest brother, Ptolemy He
was about 12 years old. Egyptians believed their rulers were
gods and goddesses. Cleopatra claimed to be the
reincarnation of the Egyptian goddess, Isis. People liked
Cleopatra because she brought prosperity to Egypt.
SON
Cleopatra gave birth to a son named Caesarion in June 47 B.C. He was named for
Julius Caesar. Caesar wanted Cleopatra to join him in Rome, so she and her son
went there a year later in 46 B.C. Her brother, Ptolemy XIV, came too. They
were not welcomed by Romans. Rumors spread that Caesar planned to make
himself king of the empire of Rome with Cleopatra as his queen. People also
feared Alexandria would replace Rome as the empire’s capital.
ANTONY
Members of the Roman Senate turned against Caesar and stabbed him to
death at a meeting on March 15, 44 BC. Cleopatra and her family returned to
Egypt. Mark Antony emerged as one of three rulers of Rome after Caesar’s
death. Cleopatra and Antony met in 41 BC and fell in love. They formed a
military alliance against Octavian, another ruler of Rome. Cleopatra wanted her
son to become the ruler of Rome and hoped Antony could help her. Cleopatra
and Antony joined their armies to fight Octavian. They were defeated at the
Battle of Actium and forced to retreat to Egypt.
Cleopatra’s death is a mystery. It is said Antony returned to the
battlefield in hopes of beating Octavian, but realized he was going
to be captured instead. He heard false news that Cleopatra had
died, so he took his own life. It was rumored that Cleopatra then
allowed a poisonous snake, known as an asp, to bite and kill her.
Octavian took control of Egypt after her death. This brought an
end to the Ptolemy dynasty and Egyptian Empire. Octavian
changed his named to Augustus and became the Emperor of
Rome. Cleopatra was the last Pharaoh of Egypt. Many movies
and plays have been written about her mysterious life.
©Teaching to the Middle
DEATH
Name_________________________________________
Use the word bank to identify each description.
Ptolemy XII
Antony
Ptolemy XIII
Octavian
Caesarion
Isis
Caesar
Pharaoh
asp
Actium
1. Ruler of Egypt
2. Son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra
3. Poisonous snake
4. Cleopatra was defeated in this battle
5. Cleopatra’s father; Pharaoh of Egypt
6. Roman with whom Cleopatra had a son
7. Lover of Cleopatra who took his own life
8. Person who defeated Cleopatra and Antony
9. Cleopatra’s brother who put her out of
power
10. Cleopatra claimed to be the reincarnation
of this goddess
©Teaching to the Middle
IDENTIFY:
CLEOPATRA
MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer.
11. How did the people of Egypt view Cleopatra?
A. They did not like her because they thought she lived extravagantly.
B. They liked her because she brought prosperity to Egypt.
C. They would have rather her brother or son rule than her.
D. They wanted her to join the Roman Empire.
12.Which best describes Cleopatra’s relationship with her father?
A. She never knew her father.
B. She had a troubled relationship with her father.
C. She was her father’s favorite child and learned from him.
D. She was jealous of her father’s relationship with her brothers.
13.Why did Marc Antony reportedly take his own life?
A. He lost the Battle of Actium.
B. Octavian took over as Roman Emperor.
C. He thought Cleopatra had used him.
D. He thought Cleopatra had died.
14. How did Julius Caesar mainly help Cleopatra?
A. He allowed her to become part of the Roman Empire.
B. He allowed her to seek refuge in Rome.
C. He assisted her in defeating her brother, Ptolemy XIV.
D. He defeated the Romans in the Battle of the Nile.
16. How did the author mostly organize the passage?
A. She compared the lives of Cleopatra and Caesar.
B. She compared the lives of Cleopatra and her brother.
C. She described the major events of Cleopatra’s life in chronological order.
D. She described what caused Cleopatra to become the Pharaoh of Egypt.
©Teaching to the Middle
15.Which best describes the life of Cleopatra?
A. Simple
B. Mysterious
C. Spoiled
D. Uneventful
Name____KEY_____________________________________
Use the word bank to identify each description.
Ptolemy XII
Antony
Ptolemy XIII
Octavian
Caesarion
Isis
Caesar
Pharaoh
Pharaoh
Caesarion
asp
asp
Actium
1. Ruler of Egypt
2. Son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra
3. Poisonous snake
Actium
4. Cleopatra was defeated in this battle
Ptolemy XII
5. Cleopatra’s father; Pharaoh of Egypt
Caesar
6. Roman with whom Cleopatra had a son
Antony
7. Lover of Cleopatra who took his own life
Octavian
8. Person who defeated Cleopatra and Antony
Ptolemy XIII
Isis
9. Cleopatra’s brother who put her out of
power
10. Cleopatra claimed to be the reincarnation
of this goddess
©Teaching to the Middle
IDENTIFY:
CLEOPATRA
MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer.
11. How did the people of Egypt view Cleopatra?
A. They did not like her because they thought she lived extravagantly.
B. They liked her because she brought prosperity to Egypt.
C. They would have rather her brother or son rule than her.
D. They wanted her to join the Roman Empire.
12.Which best describes Cleopatra’s relationship with her father?
A. She never knew her father.
B. She had a troubled relationship with her father.
C. She was her father’s favorite child and learned from him.
D. She was jealous of her father’s relationship with her brothers.
13.Why did Marc Antony reportedly take his own life?
A. He lost the Battle of Actium.
B. Octavian took over as Roman Emperor.
C. He thought Cleopatra had used him.
D. He thought Cleopatra had died.
14. How did Julius Caesar mainly help Cleopatra?
A. He allowed her to become part of the Roman Empire.
B. He allowed her to seek refuge in Rome.
C. He assisted her in defeating her brother, Ptolemy XIV.
D. He defeated the Romans in the Battle of the Nile.
16. How did the author mostly organize the passage?
A. She compared the lives of Cleopatra and Caesar.
B. She compared the lives of Cleopatra and her brother.
C. She described the major events of Cleopatra’s life in chronological order.
D. She described what caused Cleopatra to become the Pharaoh of Egypt.
©Teaching to the Middle
15.Which best describes the life of Cleopatra?
A. Simple
B. Mysterious
C. Spoiled
D. Uneventful
THANKS!!!
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Egypt.mrdonn.org
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