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202
Hannibal Crosses the Alps to Try and Attack Rome (202 BCE)
Hannibal was a military commander trying to help his people by trying to attack Rome, since they had troubles paying the money they owed to Rome. Hannibal took a huge army and a lot of elephants and horses and crossed over the Alps to Italy. The Romans heard he was coming and had a huge army sent to attack him. Hannibal was forced to turn back and was defeated at Carthage.
This is important because it showed how the greed of not paying debts and trying to solve it with violence can end poorly. -
450
Twelve Tables of Roman Law are written (450 BCE)
This was the earliest attempt by the Romans to make a written code of laws. During this time there was a struggle with legal and social protection and civil rights between the two classes, the common people and the privileged class. A group of ten men were appointed to write a code that would bring both classes together so their rights would be equal.
This is important because these laws helped set a foundation for certain laws that we have in todays world. -
Marc Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide, leaving Octavian as strongest ruler (31 BCE)
Cleopatra, queen of Egypt took her life following the defeat of her forces against Octavian, the future first emperor of Rome. Antony was informed that Cleopatra was dead and stabbed himself with his sword because he loved her and didn't want to be living if she wasn't. After their deaths it left Octavian as the strongest ruler.
This is important because it shows how quickly power could shift from one person to another in Ancient Rome. -
Cicero, a Roman Senator and Philpsopher, is Murdered by Mark Antony (43 BCE)
Cicero was beheaded because he had written against Mark Antony in speeches described as Philippics. Because of these, Mark Antony wanted Cicero to be executed and after the beheading, Cicero's hands were to be cut off because they had written the Philippics.
This event is important because it showed how cruel punishments could be in Rome if you crossed people that had authority and power. -
Julius Caesar is Assassinated on the Ides of March (44 BCE)
Caesar was a part of the Roman Government and served as a great leader. He wanted to declare power as a dictator until he died, however many other people who were part of the senate dissagreed. They ploted against Caesar and decided they would kill him on March 15th. All the senators helped in his assassination that day.
This is important because it shows how back in Ancient Rome you could take matters into your own hands and do whatever you wanted to do if you didn't want someone ruling. -
Vesuvius Explodes in Pompeii (79 CE)
On August 24, 79 Mount Vesuvius started erupting moleten ash, pumic, and sulfuric gas miles into the atmosphere. A "firestorm" of poisonous vapors and molten debris swallowed the area suffocating the people of the Roman cities Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae. Tons of falling debris filled the streets until nothing remained to be seen. Roughly 2,000 citizens died.
This event is important because it shows that they did not have the technology we have today to pridict these events from happening. -
Roman Colosseum is Built (80 BC)
The Colosseum was built in Rome where it used to be the lake and gardens of Emperor Nero’s Golden House.
It was built by architects Vespasian and Titus, as a gift to the Roman Citizens. They also used it to stage various forms of entertainment, and to showcase Roman engineering techniques to the world.
This event is important because it showed the Romans knowledge of architects and designing a structure that has a purpose but is also a gift, so it is pleasing to look at. -
Roman Pantheone is Built (118 BC- 126 BC)
The emperor Hadrian built the Pantheon to replace Commander Marcus Agrippa’s Pantheon which burnt to the ground. The Pantheon is a magnificent ancient temple where people went to worship the gods.
This is important because to this day it is one of the most well known, well preserved and infulential buildings of Anceint Rome. It also gives us an idea of how important the gods were to the Romans since this is a huge decorative building.
