Cleopatra - Death by Snake - Extra History - #4
Added 2020-10-16 17:19:37 +0000 UTCThis is such a happy thumbnail for a uh... well.. you all know how this story goes.
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Comments
We talked about it in our Lies episode of Ibn Battuta but the tldr is the historical evidence of Udura's existence is... really mixed which would make a full series on her extremely difficult. She's definitely a candidate for a one-off though!
Extra History
2020-10-21 20:15:17 +0000 UTCHey, guys! Any chance we might a video or video series on the warrior queen Udura of Champa mentioned in your Ibn Battuta series?
Daniiiii
2020-10-21 07:37:06 +0000 UTCI assume the whole "Did Cleopatra really commit suicide by snakebite or was that a later romanticization" question will come up in Lies.
Joshua Evans-Lowell
2020-10-16 22:19:06 +0000 UTCOh, and just before I forget, compulsory Horrible Histories clip coming now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfbXQFsOtDo 669 BC In the Egyptian Empire, in a long Reign, Pharaoh Shoshenq V Establishes the new Pattern of Kingship that will Prevail in Egypt. As a Youth, Shoshenq had spent much of his Time in Assyria, where the Kings, although very Powerful, were never Considered Divine. Therefore, the Attitude of the new Dynasty Towards the Kingship will be Radically different from Egyptian Tradition. The Lifestyle of the 22nd Dynasty Pharaohs will be far less Ostentatious, to the Point of being Considered Frugal by Contemporary Historians. And there will be no Return to the Ancient Traditions by later Kings. [Except for One Infamous Incident that will be Covered later in the Timeline] 650 BC In the Kingdom of Lydia, King Gyges of Lydia Introduces the World’s First Standardised Monetary System, in the Form of Electrum Coins Stamped with the King’s Seal. This Idea will Eventually Spread throughout the World, and Replace the Bartering Economies with Money Economies. 606 BC In the Egyptian Empire, Pharaoh Harsiese, in Temporary Control of Phoenicia, Hires Phoenician Shipwrights to Build a Fleet of Ships for the Purpose of Exploring the Coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. 603 BC In the Egyptian Empire, the Egyptian Exploratory Fleet, being Constructed at an Egyptian Port on the Mediterranean Sea by Phoenician Engineers on the Orders of Pharaoh Harsiese, sets Sail. The Fleet, Crewed by a Mix of Egyptian and Phoenician Sailors, Sails along the Mediterranean Coast. Every Autumn, they come Ashore and Plant the Land in whatever Part of the Coast they have reached, and there await the Harvest. Then, having Gathered the Crop, they Move on. And so, in this Manner, they are Able to Circumnavigate the Mediterranean Sea. 600 BC In the Egyptian Empire, the Rediscovery of Ophir Leads to a Reorientation of Egyptian Foreign Policy and Military Activity which will Last for the next Two Centuries. During this Period, Harsiese and his Successors will not Attempt any new Conquests in Asia but will Remain on the Defensive there. Instead, they will Focus on Expansion Southwards into Africa with their newly ~ Reorganised Army, which they Recognise as the Source of their Wealth. The Great March South has begun. 598 BC In the Kingdom of Judea, King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon Invades Syria and Palestine once again, Seeking to bring his Rebellious Vassals to Heel. Jehoiakim of Judea Appeals to Pharaoh Harsiese for Aid, but Harsiese is Distracted by the Great March South, so no Egyptian Aid is Forthcoming. 562 BC In the Babylonian Empire, King Nebuchadnezzar II Passes away at the Age of 72. His Death will be Remembered by Future Historians as Marking the End of what had been a Golden Age, when Babylon, at the Head of a Coalition of Middle Eastern States, at First Defeated and then Overthrew its Hated Assyrian Oppressors and their Egyptian Allies, with Nebuchadnezzar II as its most Competent King, who Lead Babylon into an Era of Hegemony over the Middle East. In the Christian Bible and in the Jewish Torah he will be Viewed more Negatively, as the King whose Army Burned and Plundered the Holy City of Jerusalem, bringing an End to the Royal Line of David and of the Kingdom of Israel, beginning the Period of Babylonian Captivity. 560 BC In the Republic of Ionia, King Croesus of Lydia Invades the Republic of Ionia, Seeking to Incorporate it into his Kingdom. 528 BC In the Kingdom of Magadha, Siddhartha Gautama sits down under the Shade of a Bodhi Tree near the Town of Bodh Gaya, Bihar, and begins to Meditate. He begins to Practice Mindfulness of Breath and Enters the same State of Concentrated Meditation he had Experienced as a Boy by Focusing his Mind upon a Single Object. Meditation Leads to more Refined States, and, Gradually, Reveals to him a way of Leading the Mind to Enlightenment Called “the Noble Eightfold Path.” He has become “The Awakened One:” “The Buddha.” 500 BC In the Republic of Ionia, Pythagoras, a Greek Philosopher and “the Father of Numbers,” Preaches that a Vegetarian Diet is Healthier for the Body and the Spirit. Later Greek Philosophers will Learn from him and, in turn, will Extoll the Benefits of Vegetarianism. Vegetarians, though not a Majority, are still an Important and Sizable Minority. 400 BC In the Republic of Malla, Gautama Buddha Passes away at the Age of 80 in the Town of Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, from a Common Illness: Food Poisoning. He will be Remembered by Future Historians as the Founder of the Fourth largest Religion in the World: Buddhism, whose Teachings will come to be Followed by 520,000,000 People Worldwide, Adapting Different Forms wherever it takes Root. Some Buddhist Denominations will Preach that the Buddha was a Magical Being who Consorted with Gods and Performed Miracles. Others will Argue that he was no more than a Human Being, which, they say, will Add Power to his Message. 399 BC 15th February In the Athenian Republic, the Greek Philosopher Socrates is Sentenced to Death by the Athenian Authorities on Charges of Atheism and Corrupting the Youth of Athens. He Refuses to Flee into Exile and Instead Commits Suicide at the Age of 71 by Drinking Hemlock. He will be Remembered by Future Historians as One of the most Widely Known Figures in Traditional Western Philosophy, as well as being its Founding Father. His Teachings will continue to be Taught in Classrooms and in Law Schools well into the 24th Century. 359 BC In the Kingdom of Macedonia, Philip II Ascends to the Macedonian Throne as Basileus. As a Youth, Philip had spent much of his Time in Thebes as a Hostage, where he had Studied under the General Epaminondas. With what he has Learned there, Philip sets about Reforming the Macedonian Army, Replacing the Earlier Greek ~ Style “Hoplites” with a new Formation: the Macedonian Phalanx. Philip’s Macedonian Phalangists, unlike the Hoplites, are Professional Soldiers and are among the First Troops ever to be Drilled, Allowing them to Execute more Complex Manoeuvers well beyond the Reach of most other Armies. They Fight Packed Close together in a Rectangular Formation, Typically Eight Men deep, with a Leader at the Head of every Column, and with a Secondary Leader in the Middle so that the Rear Ranks can move off to the Flanks if more Frontage is needed. Unlike Earlier Hoplites, the Phalangists are mostly Unarmoured, Except for those in the Front Ranks, and only carry small Shields. No Enemies are Expected to get in Close enough to need any Armour as every Phalangite carries as his Primary Weapon a Sarissa, a Double ~ Pointed Pike of up to 4 Metres in Length. At Close Range such large Weapons are useless, but an Intact Phalanx can Easily keep its Enemies at a Distance; the Weapons of the First Five Ranks all Project beyond the front of the Formation so there are more Spearpoints than Available Targets at any given Time. Philip doesn’t use the Phalanx as his Primary Strike Force. Instead, the Phalanx is used to hold the Enemy in Place for a Decisive Charge by the Cavalry. With this new Army, Philip will Conquer Greece. 340 BC In the Egyptian Empire, Psamtik I, Acting on Reports from Observers who have spent Time with Philip II’s Macedonian Army, Reorganises and Re ~ equips the Egyptian Army Based on the Macedonian Model, but with some Differences. Psamtik keeps a large Force of Egyptian and Nubian Foot Archers, the Armoured Cataphracts Armed with Lances and Bows, and the Light Horse Archers, all of which have been a Successful Part of the Egyptian Military for so long. The Army thus Created is Truly Formidable. 338 BC 2nd August In the Republic of Thebes, a Macedonian Army ~ 1,181 Men under the Command of Basileus Philip II of are Ordered by Basileus Philip II of Macedon to Engage a Combined Athenian/Theban Army ~ 1,551 Men under the Command of Captain Chares ~ at the Village of Chaeronea, Boeotia. Philip’s Son, Alexander, Commands the Left Wing of the Macedonian Cavalry, made up of 301 Horsemen. During the Battle, of the Macedonian Army, 566 Men are Killed while the Combined Athenian/Theban Army is Annihilated when Alexander, taking Advantage of a Gap between the Athenian/Theban Lines, Wheels his Horsemen around behind the and Attacks them in the Rear, with only Captain Chares and 11 other Horsemen Escaping. 336 BC In the Kingdom of Macedonia, Basileus Philip II is Assassinated by One of his Own Royal Bodyguards, Pausanias of Orestis, during the Celebrations of the Marriage of his Daughter, Cleopatra of Macedonia, and King Alexander of Epirus, at the City of Aigai, Emathia. He will be Remembered by for Gaining Dominion over a large Part of Greece [in the Form of the Hellenic League] through Conquest and Diplomatic Means, Restoring Internal Peace to his Country as well as laying the Foundations for its Expansion under his Son, Alexander the Great. Pausanias is Executed on the Spot while trying to Flee from the Assassination by Several of Philip’s Bodyguards. In the Kingdom of Macedonia, Prince Alexander Succeeds his Father, Philip II, as Basileus of Macedonia at the Age of 20. 326 BC In the Macedonian Empire, Basileus Alexander “the Great” Astonishes everyone by Announcing his Conversion to Buddhism, and Proclaims himself the next Buddha. This Surprise Conversion Shocks his closest Advisors, some of whom even Convert to Buddhism themselves. 323 BC 28th May In the Macedonian Empire, Basileus Alexander “the Great” Collapses during a Prolonged Night of Drinking with his Generals in the Palace of Nebuchadnezzar II in the City of Babylon, Satrapy of Mesopotamia. He Develops a Fever, which worsens, leaving him Bedridden and unable to Speak. 322 BC In the Macedonian Empire, having mostly Recovered from his Illness, Basileus Alexander III “the Great” Departs Babylon with an Army, Intending to Conquer the Arabian Peninsula. This Army is very Different from the One which he had Departed Macedonia with 12 Years before. The Core of the Army is Built around Macedonian Veterans of the Lydian and Persian Campaigns but were mostly Persian Horse Archers and Mercenaries in Order to quickly March through the largely Arid Peninsula. 311 BC 9th April In the Macedonian Empire, Basileus Alexander III “the Great” Passes away from a Fever inside the City of Rome, Province of Latium. He will be Remembered by Future Historians as One of Antiquity’s Greatest Generals, a Successful Military Commander who not only Completed his Father’s Conquest of the Greek City States [thus Unifying the Greeks as a Single Political Entity for the very First Time] but also Destroyed Greece’s most Hated Foes, the Persian Empire, as well as bringing the Arabian Peninsula and much of Southern Europe into the Greek Fold. His Battles and Tactics will be Required Courses at most Military Academies, and he will Remain a National Hero in Greece and in the Diadochi Kingdoms, the Roman Republic, and in both the Byzantine Empire and the Republic of Greater Italy. For Buddhists, as the First European King to Convert to Buddhism, Alexander will be a Revered Figure [almost as much as Siddhartha Buddha in some Denominations] ~ looked up to as the Ideal Buddhist King for having Turned a Tradition into an Official State Ideology ~ and his Tomb in the City of Pella, Macedonia, will become a Place of Buddhist Pilgrimage. Judeo-Christians will also Honour Alexander for Sparing the Holy City of Jerusalem and Granting their Religion his Patronage and Protection, although he never Actually Converts. Zoroastrians and Persians will Remember him in a more Negative Light, although Acknowledging him as a Famous Military Leader, for Destroying their Ancient Civilization, Burning their Holy Book [the Avesta] and Persecuting their Followers. Islam will Remember Alexander as Dhul-Qarnayn, who Travelled East and West and Built a Wall between Mankind and Gog and Magog, whose Release will Signal the beginning of the End of the World. In the Macedonian Empire, the Shock of Basileus Alexander’s Early Death and his Lack of a chosen Successor sends Shockwaves throughout the Hierarchy of Satraps and Generals who Attend him. Almost Immediately, the Various Generals begin to Squabble. None of Alexander’s Heirs are of Age. Some, such as Perdiccas, Support the Natural Succession of Macedonia, others, such as Cassander, Believe Nicarchides, to whom Alexander had Entrusted his Ring, is the True Heir of Alexander's Realm. In short, the Chaos begins even before Alexander the Great’s Body has gone Cold. 216 BC In the Roman Republic, Honouring their Treaty Commitments, the Egyptians send an Invasion Force to Italy by Sea. The Egyptian Fleet Escorting the Invasion Force is Intercepted by that of the Romans off Tarentum, and a Naval Battle Occurs. Egyptian Archers Rain Flaming Arrows down on the Roman Vessels, setting many of them Ablaze, and those that do Manage to get in close enough to drop their Corvuses find they do not Work due to the new Railings Installed on the Egyptian Vessels. The Romans Suffer a Bloody Defeat and the Egyptians are Able to Land on Italian Soil. 215 BC In the Roman Republic, Rome Finally Surrenders to the Combined Egyptian and Carthaginian Armies after the Egyptians Transport over a Siege Train and bring it up to the Gates of Rome. Hannibal wants to Burn Rome to the Ground, Kill all the Males and Sell the Women and Children into Slavery, however Pharaoh Necho III, Horrified by the Thought of Destroying an Entire City just for the Sake of Revenge, Persuades Hannibal to show Mercy to the Defeated Romans. Rome is, instead, Stripped of all her Territories outside of Italy, which are given to Carthage, and Crushing War Reparations, Shared between Carthage and Egypt, are Imposed. The Second Punic War is over and Carthage and Egypt are now the most Powerful States in the Mediterranean World. 100 BC In the Roman Republic, a Son, Gaius, is Born in Rome to Senator Gaius Julius Caesar III and his Wife, Aurelia. 78 BC In the Roman Republic, Learning of the Death of Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Julius Caesar Feels Safe enough to Return to Rome. Lacking any Financial Means, he Acquires a Modest House in Suburra, One of Rome’s Lower ~ Class Districts. He Turns to Legal Advocacy and becomes Known for his Rousing Oratory Accompanied by Dramatic Hand Gestures. 49 BC 10th January In the Roman Republic, Julius Caesar, with only a Single Legion, the Legio XIII Germania, Crosses the River Rubicon, the Frontier Boundary of Italy, and Initiates a Civil War, Declaring “the Die is Cast.” Upon Learning of Caesar’s Actions, many Leading Members of the Senate Flee to Greece. 45 BC In the Egyptian Empire, Following Caesar’s Victory in the Roman Civil War, many High ~ Profile Opponents of the new Regime Flee into Egypt, where they are Recruited into the Egyptian Army for their Technical Expertise. Pharaoh Necho V Decides to Reorganise the Egyptian Army, Abandoning the Greek “Hoplite” Style in Favour of a more Roman Legionary Style Army. Unlike the Romans, however, Egypt keeps its strong Archer and Cavalry Contingents. 44 BC 15th February In the Roman Republic, during the Feast of Lupercal, Mark Antony Presents Dictator Julius Caesar with a Crown, Urging him to take it and Declare himself King of Rome. Caesar Refuses Three Times and Orders that the Crown be Placed in the Temple of Jupiter. 15th March In the Roman Republic, Dictator Julius Caesar is Stabbed to Death by a Group of Rebellious Senators Led by Gaius Cassius Longinus, Marcus Junius Brutus, and Decimus Junius Brutus in the Theatre of Pompey. As he Dies [rather Ironically, at the Foot of a Statue of his most Bitter Rival, Pompey the Great] Caesar’s last Words are, “Et tu, Brute?” when he sees his Friend and Protégé, Marcus Junius Brutus, holding a Dagger. Caesar’s Name, Translated into many Languages, will be used as a Title by Emperors in Several Countries for many Centuries to come. Future Historians will Consider him One of Antiquity’s Greatest Generals, Comparing him to Alexander the Great, and/or Ramesses II. For the Public, he will Remain Instantly Recognisable, Partly because of Countless Film and Television Stories about his Life, but also because of the Shakespeare Play, Julius Caesar. 28th November In the Roman Empire, Octavian, General Marcus Agrippa and Gaius Maecenas Return to the City of Rome, Latium, from the City of Apollonia, Epirus, at the Head of an Army of 3,000 Veterans of Caesar's Civil War without any Resistance. Octavian Appoints himself Consul of Rome, and Designates Mark Antony as his Co ~ Consul. 43 BC 26th November In the Roman Empire, Consul Octavian, Consul Mark Antony, and Pontifex Maximus Marcus Lepidus Agree to Divide the Provinces of the Empire between them. Consul Octavian takes the Provinces of Italia, Sicilia, Sardinia et Corsica, Hispania, Gaul and Belgica for himself with Rome as his Capital City, making him the most Senior Partner in the Triumvirate. Consul Antony takes the Provinces of Achaia, Epirus, Macedonia, Thrace, Creta, Asia, Bithynia et Pontus, Lycia et Pamphylia, Galatia, and Cyprus with the City of Ephesus, Asia, as his Capital City. Pontifex Maximus Lepidus is left with Africa, Mauretania Caesariensis and Mauretania Tingitana, with the City of Carthage as his Capital City.
Martin Verran
2020-10-16 17:47:34 +0000 UTC"Most probable that she died, that her physicians tell me, she hath pursued conclusions infinite of easy ways to die. Take up her bed and bear the woman from the monument. She shall be buried by her Anthony; no grave upon the earth shall clip in it a pair so famous. High events such as these strike those that make them, and their story is no less in pity than glory of which brought them to be lamented. Our Army shall in solemn show attend this funeral and then to Rome ~ come, Dolabella, see high order in this great solemnity." Ok, Augustus, we get the idea. Now where's Bayek of Siwa at this point in time?
Martin Verran
2020-10-16 17:40:55 +0000 UTC
