15 major events from the Roman Empire

  • 122

    Hadrian Wall is built

    Hadrian Wall is built
    The Hadrian Wall was built in 122 AD. It was a long wall built across northern England in an effort to keep the barbarians out.
  • 218

    218 BC Hannibal invades Italy

    218 BC Hannibal invades Italy
    Hannibal leads the Carthage army to attack Italy. This becomes part of the Second Punic War.
  • 306

    Constantine becomes Emperor in 306 AD

    Constantine becomes Emperor in 306 AD
    Rome becomes a Christian empire. Before this, Rome persecuted the Christians. Constantius dies. His son Constantine is the new vice-emperor of Galerius.
  • 380

    Christianity

    Theodosius I proclaims Christianity as the sole religion of the Roman Empire in 380 AD.
  • 395

    Rome splits

    Rome splits
    In 395 AD, Rome split into two empires - the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire. Each side had a ruler in charge of it. The Roman Empire was split by Theodosius.
  • 410

    The Visigoths sack Rome

    The Visigoths sack Rome
    This was the first time in 800 years that the city of Rome has fallen to an enemy. It was a huge uproar.
  • 476

    End of the Western Roman Empire and the fall of Ancient Rome

    End of the Western Roman Empire and the fall of Ancient Rome
    The last Roman Emperor Romulus Augustus is defeated by the German Goth Odoacer. This is the start of the Dark Ages in Europe.
  • 509

    509 BC Rome becomes a Republic

    509 BC Rome becomes a Republic
    The last king is expelled and Rome is now ruled by senators. There is a constitution with laws and Rome becomes a complex republican government.
  • Dec 4, 753

    753 BC Rome is founded

    753 BC Rome is founded
    Rome was founded by Romulus. Romulus was the first of the seven Roman kings. The original name of Rome was Roma.
  • Dec 4, 1453

    The Byzantine Empire ends

    The Byzantine Empire ends
    The Byzantine Empire comes to an end as it falls to the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Turks capture Constantinople in 1453 A.D. It is renamed Istanbul in 1930.
  • 27 BC Roman Empire begins

    27 BC Roman Empire begins
    Octavius appoints himself "Augustus", which means the first emperor.
  • 44 BC Julius Caesar is assassinated

    44 BC Julius Caesar is assassinated
    Julius Caesar is assassinated on the Ides of March by Marcus Brutus. They hope to bring back the republic, but civil war breaks out instead.
  • 45 BC Julius Caesar becomes the first dictator of Rome

    45 BC Julius Caesar becomes the first dictator of Rome
    Julius Caesar defeats Pompey in a civil war. He becomes the supreme ruler of Rome. This is the end of the Roman Republic. He hires Sosigenes, an Egyptian astronomer, to work out a new 12 month calendar.
  • 64 Much of Rome burns

    64 Much of Rome burns
    Nero set fire to Rome and blames the Christians for it.
  • 80 Colosseum is built

    80  Colosseum is built
    The Colosseum was built in 80 AD. The completion of the Colosseum was celebrated with 100 days of games. The Romans invade Scotland.
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