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206 BCE
Establishment of the Han Dynasty in China
Liu Bang (Emperor Gaozu) defeated the Qin forces and founded the Han Dynasty, one of the longest-lasting dynasties in Chinese history. -
202 BCE
Battle of Gaixia
This battle marked Liu Bang's decisive victory over Xiang Yu, which led to the establishment of the Han Dynasty. -
31 BCE
Battle of Actium
The naval battle between Octavian (future Emperor Augustus) and Mark Antony/Cleopatra led to Octavian's power consolidation and the Roman Republic's fall. -
27 BCE
Augustus Becomes First Roman Emperor
The Roman Senate gave Octavian the title Augustus, marking the transition from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire. -
9
Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
A significant defeat for the Roman Empire against Germanic tribes, which halted Roman expansion into Germania. -
14
Death of Emperor Augustus
Augustus died, and his stepson, Tiberius, succeeded him as Emperor of Rome, continuing the Julio-Claudian dynasty. -
43
Roman Invasion of Britain
The Roman Emperor Claudius ordered the invasion of Britain, which became a province of the Roman Empire. -
64
Great Fire of Rome
A devastating fire destroyed much of Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero, leading to widespread reconstruction. -
66
Jewish Revolt
A major rebellion by the Jewish people in Judea against Roman rule ended with the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE. -
70
Destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem
Roman forces under Titus captured Jerusalem and destroyed the Jewish Temple, a significant event in Jewish history. -
79
Eruption of Mount Vesuvius
The catastrophic eruption buried the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, preserving them under volcanic ash. -
117
Reign of Emperor Trajan
Trajan expanded the Roman Empire to its greatest territorial extent, including the conquest of Dacia (modern-day Romania). -
122
Construction of Hadrian's Wall
Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of a defensive fortification across northern Britain to protect the Roman province from northern tribes. -
132
Bar Kokhba Revolt
A major Jewish revolt against Roman rule in Judea, resulted in the defeat of the rebels and a significant diaspora of the Jewish population. -
180
Death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius
The death of Marcus Aurelius marked the end of the Pax Romana (Roman Peace) and the beginning of a period of instability in the Roman Empire. -
212
Edict of Caracalla
Emperor Caracalla granted Roman citizenship to all free men within the empire, expanding the political and legal privileges of Roman citizens. -
235
Crisis of the Third Century
A period of political instability, military anarchy, and economic decline in the Roman Empire, with numerous emperors and usurpers claiming power. -
312
Battle of the Milvian Bridge
Emperor Constantine defeated Maxentius and later became the first Roman emperor to embrace Christianity. -
313
Edict of Milan
Constantine and Licinius issued the Edict of Milan, which granted religious tolerance to Christians in the Roman Empire and legalized Christianity. -
455
Sack of Rome by the Vandals
The Germanic Vandals, led by King Genseric, sacked Rome, marking one of the most symbolic events of the fall of the Western Roman Empire.