Ancient Rome

Punic Wars

264 BCE

Three wars fought between Rome and Carthage over Rome wanting to expand the empire into Sicily, from 264-146 BC. Rome gained control of Sicily and Corsica as a result.

Battle of Cynoscephalae

197 BCE

Fought in Thessaly between the Roman army and the Macedonians. Macedonian casualties were 8000 killed and 5000 captured. Roman casualties were 700 killed and 2000 wounded. This was the first time Romans were victorious over Macedonia

First Servile War

135 BCE

Unsuccessful slave rebellion against the Roman republic from 135-132BC. Minor battles were won by slaves but the larger Roman army arrived and defeated the slaves. It was the first of three slave revolts.

Second Servile War

124 BCE

Unsuccessful slave rebellion against the Roman republic from 124-100BC. The war occurred on the island of Sicily because of the abuse slaves faced by the Romans.

Julius Caesar

100 BCE

Ruled from 100-44BC. Greatly improved Rome's economy, decreased the number of unemployed, and expanded the area of the Roman Empire.

Third Servile War

73 BCE

The War of Spartacus lasted from 73-71 BC. only slave revolt to threaten Italy. The rebels were led by Spartacus while the Roman Republic was led by Marcus Crassus. 30,000 slave lives were lost, 6000 crucified by Marcus Crassus and another 5000 by Pompey while 10,000 Roman soldiers were killed. Spartacus was never found.

Roman Persian Wars

66 BCE

Conflicts between Rome and Iranian empires lasting from 66BC to 628 AD. The Roman Empire survived the assault but lost its territories in Crete and Southern Italy before regaining the area again

Battle of Vosges

58 BCE

Julius Caesar led the Roman troops against a German tribe in France in the third battle of the Gallic Wars. Caesar secured the German border and continued to advance.

Battle of Axona

57 BCE

Part of the Gallic Wars. Rome led by Julius Caesar forcing the Belgic army to retreat. Caesar continued the Roman quest to expand in Europe.

Crassus

54 BCE

Part of First Triumvirate with Ceasar and Pompey 54-53BC. Transformation of the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire. Governor of Roman Syria.

Pompey

52 BCE

Formed the First Triumvirate with Caesar and Crassus from 52-51 BC. Conquerer of the Orient.

Mark Antony

49 BCE

Tribune to Caesar in 49BC. Formed the Second Triumvirate with Octavian. Had an affair with Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Killed himself because he thought Cleopatra already had killed herself after fleeing Octavian and Greece.

Lepidus

46 BCE

Consul Roman Republic 46BC. Triumvirate 43-36BC. Consul 42BC. Weak and indecisive member of the Second Triumvirate

Claudius

41 BCE

Roman Emperor from 41-54AD. First emperor who accepted bribes to gain army loyalty. Restored the status of peaceful provinces of Macedonia and Achaea.

Battle of Actium

31 BCE

Decisive confrontation of the final war of the Roman Republic. Naval battle between Mark Antony/Cleopatra and Octavian on the Ionian Sea. Octavian was victorious and began the Roman Empire and the title of Augustus.

Augustus/Octavian

27 BCE

Ruled 27BC-14AD. Initiated Pax Romana time of peace. Founded the principate. Recionstruction and social reform in the city.

Caesar's Civil War

49

The Great Roman Civil War from 49-45BC. One of the last conflicts before the establishment of the Roman Empire. Caesar was victorious over the Roman Senate and was declared dictator of the Roman Empire.

Nero

54

Ruled from 54-68. More independence for the Senate. Forbade contests involving bloodshed, banned capital punishment, reduced taxes, granted slaves to make complaints.

Hadrian

117

Roman Emperor from 117-138AD. Built Hadrian's Wall that became the northern border of Britannia

Constantine

306

Emperor from 306-337. Move Roman capital to Byzantium and rebuilt the city calling it Constantinople. Brought Christianity to the Roman Empire.