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1000 BCE
Italy's First Peoples
In 1000 BCE, the Etruscan culture formed in Northern Italy, creating developed communities before the rise of the Romans, and becoming the first Italian civilization.
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753 BCE
Founding of Rome
According to Roman myth, Romulus, son of the god Mars, founded Rome after killing his brother Remus, and thus created the center of the Roman world. -
Period: 616 BCE to 509 BCE
The Etruscan Monarchy
During these years, Etruscan kings, L. Tarquinius Priscus, Sercius Tullius, and Tarquin the Proud, ruler over newly-founded Rome after the Etruscans conquered the early Romans, before they to were overthrown in favor of the Roman Republic. -
509 BCE
Beginning of the Roman Republic
After the rebellion against Tarquin the Proud for the alleged misdemeanor of his son, the Roman Republic was born and worked through a series of class-structured bodies to represent the peoples of Rome, and endured as the powerful method of governance until 46 BCE. -
Period: 264 BCE to 241 BCE
The First Punic War
The First Punic War between Carthage and Rome was fought over the control of Sicily, resulting in a Roman victory and enraged Carthaginians who then rested and gathered their forces before commencing with the Second Punic War. FIND OUT MORE -
Period: 218 BCE to 202 BCE
The Second Punic War
In the sequel to the first Punic War, Hannibal guided his troops through Spain, into Northern Italy, and conquered a great deal of land before again being beaten back by the Romans, and waiting 50 years before the next war. FIND OUT MORE -
Period: 149 BCE to 146 BCE
The Third Punic War
After recovering from the Second Punic War, the Carthaginians again prepared to conquer, and nearby North Africa appealed to might of the Romans to vanquish the threat of Carthage, which they ravaged and put an end to the Carthaginians and the Punic Wars. FIND OUT MORE -
133 BCE
Tiberious Gracchus is Elected Tribune
Social reformer, Tiberious Gracchus was elected Tribune of Rome and began to introduce radical changes to the Roman Republic to aid the poor and bridge the gap between wealth and poverty, but riots ensued and he was killed, his brother (and future tribune) following in his footsteps ten years later. FIND OUT MORE -
100 BCE
First Roman Standing Army
Gaius Marius, noting the inconvenience and season-structured schedule involved in having an army made up of farmers, organized a more "inclusive" permanent army and army structure/rules that became known as "Marius's Legions" and radically transformed the powerful Roman forces into a more versatile, systematical and deadly arrangment -
Period: 60 BCE to 44 BCE
Julius Caesar's Reign
From 60 BCE to 44 BCE, Julius Caesar rose from being the third member of the First Triumvirate, to the dictator of Rome through his defeat of Pompey and his self-appointment to "king" of Rome, only to be murdered by members of his own senate, and be a stepping stone in the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire. FIND OUT MORE -
30 BCE
The End of the Roman Republic
After the death of Julius Caesar, the Romans formed the Second Triumvirate, and then Augustus (Octavian), adopted son of the "divine" Caesar, took power and became the first Emperor of the Roman Empire, making an end of the Roman Republic. -
30
The Death of Jesus and the Beginning of Christianity
Around the year 30 CE, Jesus was crucified by the Romans under the direction of great Jewish leaders, and, after He resurrected from the dead, a new religion that would soon spread throughout the world came into being: Christianity. -
Period: 54 to 68
The Reign of Nero
As the step-son of the Emperor Claudius, Nero became an emperor, albeit an unpopular one, who assassinated his mother, allegedly started the Great Fire of Rome, and graphically tortured Christians before committing suicide and leaving the Roman Empire in turmoil. FIND OUT MORE -
79
The Erruption of Mt. Vesuvius
In 79 CE, the lands surrounding the fertile Mt. Vesuvius was covered in lava and ash, leaving a perfectly preserved archaeological find and the city of Pompeii buried along with its citizens. -
Period: 117 to 138
The Reign of Hadrian
Publius Aelius Hadrianus, son of Trajan, was an originally-Spanish emperor who was interested in the well-being of his people (he even took two major/famous philanthropic trips through his empire) and is famous for his rebuilding of the famed Patheon in Rome. -
Period: 284 to 305
The Reign of Diocletian
Diocletian, in his reign, divided the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western ruled parts, persecuted the Christians to no end, made several reforms to the military and government, and had a stroke, retired and died, leaving the Roman Empire divided and unstable. FIND OUT MORE -
Period: 306 to 337
The Reign of Constantine the Great
Constantine united the Roman Empire once again, and was known to be the (first) Christian emperor who passed the Edict of Milan, created the Christian Roman Empire, finally called an end to the persecution of Christians, and rebuilt Constantinople. FIND OUT MORE -
Period: 379 to 395
The Reign of Theodosius the Great
After the rule of Constantine, many years passed as the rule of the Christian Roman Empire was shifted and battled over before the Christian Theodosius came to power, brought peace after barbaric acts and abolished pagan worship throughout his empire. FIND OUT MORE -
Period: 401 to 476
The Destruction of Western Rome
From 401 CE to 476 CE, the Western Roman Empire came under the attack of Visigoths, Rome was ravaged, the Huns (under Attila the Hun) attacked, and the empire barely survived even though there was significant destruction. FIND OUT MORE -
476
The End of the Western Empire
In 476, the Germanic ruler Odoacer come to power and ended the reign of the Roman Emperors, and the Western Roman Empire was no more.
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