Rome - the Late Republic
Cleopatra
When Caesar got to Egypt, he was happy that Pompey was dead. He also met Cleopatra there, and took her back to Rome with him. They had a child. But when Caesar declared himself dictator for life, this was too much for the Senators, and they murdered him in 44 BC.
A younger group of men then formed another group: this time it was Caesar's friend Mark Anthony, Lepidus (who was very rich), and Octavian (Caesar's nephew and adopted son). It worked out just the same way.
Mark Anthony
Cleopatra soon became Mark Anthony's girlfriend, and she and Mark Anthony had three more children. Eventually they forced Lepidus forced out of power. Then Anthony and Cleopatra and Octavian got into a civil war. In 31 BC Octavian beat Anthony and Cleopatra in battle at Actium, and Anthony and Cleopatra killed themselves (or so Octavian said, anyway).
For more on the Late Republic, check out these books from Amazon.com or from your library:
Classical Rome, by John Clare (1993). For kids, the whole political history from beginning to end.
Oxford First Ancient History, by Roy Burrell (reissued 1997). For kids. It skips around a lot, not trying to tell everything, just highlights.
The Romans: From Village to Empire, by Mary Boatwright, Daniel Gargola, and Richard Talbert (2004). Okay, it's a little dry, but it is up to date and has all the facts you could want.
The Roman Revolution, by Ronald Syme (1960). Still a classic.
From
the Gracchi to Nero: A History of Rome from 133 B.C. to A.D. 68
by H. H. Scullard (1959, 5th edition 1990). Another classic.
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Cleopatra
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