Ancient Rome-Emily Harders

Ancient Rome

Period: 800 BCE to 500

Romulus founds Rome

753 BCE

The story of Romulus and Remus was that the twins of Mars, Romulus and Remus, were put in a basket and left in the River Tiber to die. A wolf took them in and they were later raised by a shepherd. When they grew up, they founded cities, and Remus was later killed by his brother Romulus.

Creation of the Roman Republic

509 BCE

Romans overthrow Etruscan conquerors and establish a republic. Citizens could elect representatives to rule on their behalf.

Hannibal Invades Italy

218 BCE

Hannibal of Carthage led an attack on an independent city allied with Rome. This caused the Second Punic War to break out. His huge army including elephants were marched through the Alps into Italy.

Spartacus the gladiator leads the slaves in an uprising

73 BCE

Spartacus the Gladiator led a slave uprising that defeated Roman forces over 6 times.

Military leader Julius Caesar led his army into Gaul

58 BCE

Caesar led his army across the Rubicon River and marched on Rome after the Senate ordered Caesar to disband his army.

Julius Caesar becomes Rome's first dictator

45 BCE

Pompey is defeated in a civil war. Julius Caesar becomes the supreme ruler of Rome, causing the end of the Roman Republic.

Julius Caesar is assassinated

44 BCE

Julius Caesar is assassinated by Marcus Brutus on March 15 and other friends hoping to bring back the republic, but rather causing a civil war.

Roman Empire begins

27 BCE

Octavius appoints himself "Augustus", which means the first emperor.

Rome burns

64

Nero sets Rome on fire and blames Christians.

Mt. Vesuvius erupts

79

Mt. Vesuvius, erupted. Pompeii was buried in ash, trapping residents but preserving their homes and artwork.

Colosseum is built

80

The Colosseum was built in 80 AD which was celebrated with 100 days of games

The Hadrian Wall is built

121

A long wall in northern England is built to keep out Barbarians

Pax Romana ends

180

Marcus Aurelias dies. Rome fell into a period of political instability and violence. Each emperor was successively overthrown or assassinated.

Rome Splits

284

Diocletian seized power and declared himself the new emperor of Rome. One of his orders was to split the Roman Empire in two. He gave the western half to his colleague, Maximian and kept the eastern part for himself

Constantine becomes Emperor

306

Rome becomes a Christian empire. Previously, Rome persecuted the Christians.

Christianity becomes official religion of the Roman Empire

380

Theodosius proclaims Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire

Visigoths sack Rome

410

Visigoths sack Rome for the first time in 800 years.

Fall of Rome

476