Famous Men of Rome · Ch. XXIII, part 1 · Unit 5: The first emperors

33. Augustus, part 1: Octavius, Antony and Cleopatra

Goal: Your child can tell how young Octavius rose to power, what a triumvirate was, and what happened at Philippi and Actium.

⏱ About 30 minutes · 6 steps

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You'll need

  • The book, open to this chapter
  • A map of Italy and the Mediterranean (a free online map or a globe)
  • Paper and colored pencils

What's in the book

Sections I and II of Chapter XXIII: Octavius, Caesar's grand-nephew, is not yet twenty when Caesar dies but means to rule. He outmaneuvers Antony, then joins him and Lepidus in a triumvirate. They defeat Brutus at Philippi. Octavius takes Sicily and removes Lepidus, then defeats Antony and Cleopatra in the sea battle of Actium.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Set the scene

    Find Philippi in Macedonia (north of Greece), Actium on the west coast of Greece, and Egypt. Say: After Caesar's death, three men fought over who would rule.

  2. Read the chapter

    Read the first two sections of Chapter XXIII, stopping at section III. It begins:

    The first of the long line of Roman emperors was Octavius, called in history Augustus.

    Heads-up: Brutus, Antony and Cleopatra all take their own lives in this part. The book says so briefly.

  3. Tell it back

    Prompts:

    - What did young Octavius tell his friends?

    - What was the triumvirate?

    - What happened to Brutus at Philippi?

    - What did Cleopatra and Antony do during the battle of Actium?

  4. Talk it over

    Read:

    "I shall rule Rome like Caesar," he would say to his companions. "You may laugh at me now, but the time will come when I shall be master of the Romans."

    Ask: Octavius pretended to want peace with Antony while planning against him. Was that clever, or dishonest, or both?

  5. Words from Rome

    SayTriumvirate means a rule of three men. Octavius, Antony and Lepidus were the triumvirs.

  6. Extra (optional)

    Draw three men and cross them out one by one as the story goes: Lepidus captured, Antony beaten. Who is left?

Answers to the book's problems

He said he would rule Rome like Caesar and one day be master of the Romans. The triumvirate was the rule of three men: Octavius, Antony and Lepidus. Brutus was defeated and killed himself. Cleopatra sailed away with her fleet, and Antony followed, deserting his men.

Worked out for this site from the scan. If a number in your copy differs, trust the book.

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