Roman Civilization: History, Culture, and Society

Running head: ROMAN CIVILIZATION
Roman Civilization
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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PART – A
1. “Veni Vidi Vici”
Ans: The phrase “Veni Vidi Vici” is known to be one of the famous words which
was said by the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar. The phrase means “I came, I saw, I
conquered”. In the opinion of Appian himself, Caesar used the following quote in a
letter that he wrote to the Roman Senate after winning the war against Pharnaces II of
Pontus at the Battle of Zela.
The quote can be commonly found in the book that was written by Julius Plutarch by
the name of Life of Caesar and can also be found in the book named Lives of the Twelve
Caesars, written by Suetonius himself. Some experts are also of the opinion that Caesar used
the quote in a report which was written by him to his friend named Amantius in Rome. The
quote has also been used by the kings after Caesar’s death for winning and conquering
various territories. Hence, the quote proves to be one of the most famous used quotes in
history itself.
Cleopatra
Ans: Cleopatra, also known among the historians as Cleopatra VII Philopator was known
among the historians as the last remaining active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt.
She was known among the historians to be a descendant of Ptolemy I Soter, who was the
founder of the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt, and also a commander of Alexander the Great.
She accompanied her father Ptolemy I to Rome during his exile from the country
itself and stayed with her father during the Revolt in Egypt itself. Cleopatra was said to enter
the Ptolemaic Kingdom of her father by the marriage ceremony of Ptolemy I Soter with of
Cleopatra I Syra. The etymology of Cleopatra’s name means “the goddess who loves her

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father”. It is also stated by many historians that despite not being Egyptian herself , Cleopatra
had embraced the cultures of the country of Egypt herself, and she was the first ruler of the
Ptolemaic Dynasty who had learned the Egyptian language herself. Hence, it can be rightfully
said that Cleopatra indeed was one of the most popular rulers in history.
Clodius Pulcher
Ans: Clodius Pulcher, also known among the historians as Publius Clodius Pulcher, was a
well-known Roman patrician as well as a politician himself. He was mainly remembered for
the feuds which he engaged with those of Cicero and Titus Annius Milo and being killed by
the bodyguards of Milo on the way to the Appian.
Clodius was known among the people of the kingdom to be a senator and also a
nobilis of the patrician Claudian gens himself. An eccentric, mercurial as well an arrogant
character himself, Clodius was known to be a disruptive force in the politics of Rome at that
time. He was also associated with the First Triumvirate of Pompey, Crassus and that of
Caesar himself. Thus, it can be said that the it was the various acts by Clodius which made
the people of Rome angry on the politician for his actions. This all culminated when Clodius
ran into conflicts with the rival gang of Milo. He was ultimately killed by Milo on the way to
the Appian in a fight between the two rival parties. It is because of this reason that Clodius is
considered to be one of the greats in the politics of Rome itself.