Cleopatra VII was the last active ruler of what was known as the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. A period in which Egypt was ruled by Hellenistic rulers or people who were either Greek or had Greek ascendency. Cleopatra was the descendant of Ptolemy I Soter, a Macedonian Greek General. Cleopatra was a diplomat, naval commander, and linguist. After her death in 30 BC, Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire.