Ancient History

What do you guys think would have happened if Mark Antony and Cleopatra won the civil war? I think it would lead to more integration and cooperation with the Greeks. This could lead to a longer lifespan of the Western Roman Empire, because the disunity between the Greeks and Romans was one of the principal reasons the East and West did not cooperate with each other very well.

If Mark Antony and Cleopatra what?

Oh. I meant if they won the Civil War instead of Octavian.

What impact do you think this would have on the course of the Roman Empire? Do you think it would be for the better or the worse? I personally think it would be for the better for the later Roman Empire.

I got a book called "More What If" by Robert Cowley, it has almost the same what if, ther it is what if.

You need a common enemy for that kinda things like Parthia...

I suppose...

I don't know, as far as I know, the Pax Augusta did bring a relatively peaceful time to the Empire, which it really needed. Not sure if Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra could pul of the same, wasn't Antonius an enormous coward?

Caesar was a good general and a great strategist. He always had a long-term plan and knew which people to flatter.

I think the Empire had pretty much been in a constant state of war, it needed some time to calm down a bit.

And then he got betrayed and stabbed all over his body. A shame, really, it would've been interesting to see what he'd do after he had been Emperor for a while.

Well... the scenario is like the following: that Antony wouldn't have been as crazy about Cleopatra (at least in public) thus avoiding public embarrassment in Rome, but that conflict between Antony an Octavian was inevitable. Also the book says that Antony would have been in a better position if he had succeeded on his campaign against Parthia for the reason that Octavian couldn't have raised a (propaganda) campaign against Antony as well as he historically did.
If Antony had then defeated Octavian in some decisive battle, he would have then had to get back to Rome, for some time, to reorganize the political atmosphere and hunt down the supporters of Octavian.
Then it gets quite interesting: Antony would have secured the position of Egypt (and it's queen) in the group of Roman client of middle east, Cleopatra and her successors would have ruled the eastern part of mediterranian culturally and economically. Then there's a lot of things about the openess of the society etc.
Then abit about Jesus of Nazareth, he would have lived in very different society and book assumes that the more open minded rulers of Egypt wouldn't have crusified him but relocated him to Alexandria and thus Christianity would have developed in very different way (not consentrating around the death of Jesus) and the center of Christianity would have been Alexandria not Rome, next it tells about how Christianity would spread in this open minded realm and then it tells about how in this realm (where position of women was much better than in Rome) the (hypotethical) Cleopatra IX would have become the "high priestess" (popess?) of Christianity.
And now I'll be translating the last words of this what if:
"If the monument of stone above Nicopolis would have included pieces of ships lost not by Antony but Octavian in the battle of Aktion, the world today would be very different - not necessarily worse."

Jesus died around 33 AD. I believe that was during the civil war but I don't think so.

No, that was not during the civil war, not even close.

When where the Jewish revolts in Rome again?

The Civil War ended in 30 B.C. That is 103 years before the death of Jesus. I wonder what would have happened if the Romans had not converted to Christianity under Constantine. I think this also would have extended the life of the empire. Now I am not saying this because I have a dislike of Christianity (which I dont), but basically, the Empire became a theocracy. Pagan's were constantly being persecuted, and Christianity itself was completely divided with people being claimed heretics left right and center. Instead of unifying the Empire as Constantine had hoped, it divided the Empire completely. Hell one of the Emperors (Julian?) believed the Empire was evil and it was a good thing if it fell. I am sorry, but Christianity was a major player in why the empire ultimately collapsed.

Yes but at least it led to our history.