S8 Ep1168: John Batchelor introduces Barry Strauss, author of The War That Made the Roman Empire: Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavian at Actium,

The John Batchelor Show · Jul 27, 2026 · 10m

John Batchelor introduces Barry Strauss, author of The War That Made the Roman Empire: Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavian at Actium, to discuss the transition from the death of Julius Caesar to the rise of Augustus. Strauss identifies Plutarch and Cassius Dio as the primary historical sources, noting they had access to earlier, now-lost records. The discussion focuses on three main figures: Mark Antony, Octavian, and Cleopatra. At Caesar's death, Mark Antony was a consul and Caesar's lieutenant, hailing from the high Roman nobility. In contrast, Octavian (later Augustus) came from an equestrian…