Roman Empire Timeline

By 21atteso
  • 735 BCE

    The Founding of Rome

    Rome was founded by Romulus. It began as a small impoverished city-state on the western side of central Italy to which it is to so weak that according to a legend, Roman were reduced to kidnapping neighboring women to maintain its population.
  • 509 BCE

    Rome Transition into a Republic

    Roman aristocrats threw off the monarchy and established a democracy republic that relied on men of the wealthy class known as patricians. There was constitutions with laws and complex republican government structure.
  • 218 BCE

    Hannibal Invades Italy (Second Punic War)

    Hannibal invades Italy by leading the Carthage army to attack Italy. This becomes part of the Second Punic War.
  • 45 BCE

    Julius Caesar Become The First Dictator of Rome

    Julius Caesar becomes the supreme ruler of Rome after defeating Pompey in the civil war. This marks the end of the Roman Republic.
  • 44 BCE

    Julius Caesar's Assassination

    Julius Caesar was assassinated. A civil war broke out as the result
  • 27 BCE

    Roman Empire begins

    After the civil war ended in Rome, it changed to from Republican states to a state who has authority vested primarily in an emperor, (first of whom was Octavian/Augustus)which implied a divine status. Despite Rome becoming an imperial state, it felt that Rome had abandoned and betrayed its republic origin. As the result, Augustus was careful to maintain its form as a republic and refers to himself as “first man” rather a king.
  • Period: 27 BCE to 180

    Pax Romana

    A period of peace and minimal military expansion in the Roman Empire
  • 64

    Christian Persecution

    Unofficial persecution of Christians in Rome.
  • 306

    Constantine Became Emperor

    Constatine became emperor and would convert Christian ultimately transforming Rome into a Christian empire.
  • 380

    Christianity Becomes State Religion of Roman Empire,

    Christianity became the sole religion of the Roman Empire in 380 AD.
  • 476

    Fall of Rome

    Multiple waves of Germanic barbarian tribes swept through the Roman Empire and took turns ravaging the empire along with environmental causes.
  • 1453

    Collapse of the Byzantine Empire

    The Byzantine Empire fell and the Ottoman Empire took over.