Establishing Ties Through Tradition and Power

The Hellenistic tradition of rulership, stemming from Alexander the Great's conquests, shaped the political landscape between Rome, Antony, Cleopatra, and the East. The defeat of Antony and Cleopatra allowed Octavian, later Augustus, to become the default choice, leading to the tight integration of the East into the Roman Empire. Without a capable leader like Augustus, the Western provinces might have fragmented, emphasizing the importance of a forceful central authority in establishing and maintaining political ties.