Rise of the Roman Empire

The Appian Way of the First Roman Adueduct

312 BCE

The Appian Way was one of the earliest and most important roads in the Roman republic. It connect Rome to Apulia, Brindisi, and southeast Italy.
The Roman empire took 500 years to build 11 aqueducts, some of which are still in use today.

Pompeii Destroyed

79 BCE

Shortly after the Roman festival Vulcanalia, the volcano Vesuvius errupted; covering most of the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in ash and burrying most of the surrounding area.

What was the Roman Empire

27 BCE

The Roman Empire, at its height (c. 117 CE), was the most extensive political and social structure in western civilization.

Creation of the Tribune of Plebs

27 BCE

Tribune of the Plebs was the first office of the Roman state that was open to the plebeians. Plebs were free Roman citizens who were not patricians

World Ruled by Rome

27 BCE

Two thousand years ago, the world was ruled by Rome. From England to Africa and from Syria to Spain, one in every four people on earth lived and died under Roman law.

Romans establish a Republican Government in 509 B.C.E.

Nov 9, 1226

The Roman Republic began with the overthrow of the Roman Monarchy. The Monarchy was replaced with a governemnt lead by two consuls (men only) that were elected annually and guided by the senate. Thre time a constitution eventually developed, creating a system of checks-and-balances and seperation of powers.

Octavian defeats Antony and Cleopatra at Actium in 31

Sep 6, 1722

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Not a good for Antony and Cleopatra, but an excellent story for Shakespeare. Due to the actual Battle of Actium, Anotony commited suicide which threw Cleopatra over the edge and she commited suicide too. This victory granted Octavian sole control over the Roman Mediterannean and earned him the name "Agustus".