Shakespeare used Roman Empire as the setting of the play. Historically, the play takes place in a period of ten years while it is somewhat summarized to be easily performed on the stage.
Antony is now much older than he was in the period of Julius Caesar and although he was a good politician and an experienced commander, his qualifications seem to vanish now.
We hear about Mark Antony very early in the play; in the first scene Philo's opening speech tells us how Antony is and has been:.
"Philo: Nay, but this dotage of our general's.
O"erflows the measure. Those his goodly eyes,.
That o"er the files and musters of the war.
Have glowed like plated mars, now bend, now turn.
The office and devotion of their view.
Upon a tawny front .".
This is the opening passage of the play and, already, it shows Antony has tragic potential. He has been great - Philo is almost making him out to have been god like. This deification shows us that Antony was a man of extremely high reputation. However, his speech also tells us that Antony is falling from greatness, by saying that he is becoming besotted with a woman - Cleopatra. This makes Antony out to be a tragic hero right from the outset. It also makes a suggestion as to what his tragic flaw is - Cleopatra or, rather, his infatuation with her. This opening is a kind of preparation for what is to come in the play, not unlike the opening lines of "Romeo and Juliet".
Some of the political battles depicted in the play are historically accurate, as the romance of the two main characters is, however we can still consider it as an example of a historical play.
Before judging Antony and Cleopatra as a historical play, there are some points, which are to be considered. First of all there is the blind passion for love, which lead the downfall of an experienced, intelligent leader, Antony, who is well known for his triumphs and qualified manners. There is also another passion, the passion of power, which leads to the decline of another mighty leader Cleopatra.