Roman Empire Timeline

Rome was Found

753 BCE

There were twin brothers named Romulus and Remulus, who were abandoned by their parents, and it is believed that they were tossed into the Tiber river where they basket came onto land and was found by a mother wolf. The wolf took the 2 babies under her care until a shepherd adopted the 2. When the 2 grew up they decided to find the city where they were adopted by the wolfs. Romulus killed Remulus after a disagreement with his brother Romulus about the location of the city.

Rome became a Republic

509 BCE

Rome was developed into a big empire, ruled by king at the beginning. Rome was conquered and ruled by a Etruscan King for hundreds of years. After they over threw their King, they formed a new type of government - The Republic, in 509 BC. This form of government has been followed partly over centuries in different countries. Being Republic allowed their citizens to select a representative to rule on their behalf. They wore togas to differ themselves from non-citizen and slaves.

The Law of the Twelve Tables

499 BCE

In 433 BC, a group of ten men was appointed called Decemviri to write a code of law. They had to do this to settle the conflict between the Patricians (privileged class) and Plebeians (common people). They had to protect the legal, social and civil rights. The Law of Twelve Tables was one of the earliest surviving law codes.

Hannibal invades Italy (Part of the Second Punic War)

218 BCE

There was peace for a small amount of time between Carthage and Rome after the First Punic War. After Hannibal came into power he started to plan the defeat of Rome. After many years of preparation, he was ready. He won his first attack near the Ticinus River, followed by the attack at Trebia River. His plan was to control Northern Italy. Rome prepared all it's forces for Hannibal attack. Rome defeated Hannibal and was left in control of the western Mediterranean and much of Spain.

Expelled all Non-Roman Citizens (except slaves)

98 BCE

There was a serious point in Roman history when all non-Romans ween't allowed to stay in Rome.

Rome introduces the Gold Coin “Aureus”

50 BCE

Rome introduced its first Gold coin name Aureus. It had a value of 25 silver Denarii. The Aureus was mostly used in trading from 1st Century BC to 4th Century AD, which was later replaced by Solidus. The size of Aureus was like Denarius. Although, it was a bit heavier due to the higher density of Gold.

First Dictator of Rome: Julius Ceasar

45 BCE

Julius Caesar is considered one of the greatest military strategist and brilliant politicians of all time. Caesar conquest the Gaul by 51 BC. He was the first Roman General to build a bridge across the Rhine and commenced the invasion of Britain. The achievement provided Caesar’s the supreme military power. He used his power to over throw the existing government and appointed himself as the Dictator of the Rome.

Julius Ceasar is Assassinated

44 BCE

Julius Caesar was assassinated by his own Senators on March 15 (Ides of March) 44 BC. The plan of the assassination was led by Gaius Cassius Longinus and Marcus Junius Brutus. They stabbed Caesar at the location next to the Theater of Pompey.

The Roman Empire Begins

27 BCE

The civilization of Rome changed drastically over time. Gaius Octavian Thurinus (Julius Caesar's nephew), became the first emperor of Rome. He took the name Augustus Caesar. Julius Caesar was never the emperor of Rome, his title was "Dictator". Augustus ruled the Roman Empire from 31 BC to 14 BC. During his rule he made many remarkable changes. Rome had a large amount of stability and prosperity during its first 2 centuries which is also known as Pax Romana (“Roman Peace”).

Augustus ended Pontifex Maximus

12 BCE

Pontifex Maximus was the highest religious post in the Ancient Rome. There had to be elections for the next Pontifex Maximus. When Augustus became Pontifex Maximus he made it so the new emperor gets all the religious dignity and the responsibility of the entire Roman state. The election of pontifices ended.

Aeneid

19

The poet Virgil dies before finishing his epic poem the "Aeneid".

Rome is Burnt

64

There is no evidence that Nero, the emperor, either started the fire or played the fiddle while it burned.
During the fire there was heavy looting. The fire was nearly our to control for 3 day, wiping out 2 of Rome’s 14 districts. Only 4 were untouched.
Nero changed most of the principles of the city using the fire. He also used the fire to put a pause on the growing influence of Christians by claiming they had something to do with the fire. He tortured and executed multiple Christians.

The Colosseum is Built

80

Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty got the Colosseum built as a gift for the Roman people. His son Titus opened the Colosseum in AD 80. It was officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater. There was 100 days of games, including gladiatorial combats and wild animal fights so celebrate. After four centuries of active use, the Colosseum was no longer in use. It remains a popular tourist destination. It symbolizes Rome and its long, intense history.

Hadrian Wall is Built

122

Hadrian's Wall was used as a defense strategy. It ran from the banks of the River Tyne near the North Sea to the Solway Firth on the Irish Sea, and was the northern limit of the Roman Empire. There was a fort about every five Roman miles. Most of the wall still stands. It is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern England.

Pantheon

125

Pantheon was constructed by Hadrian. It was meant to be a temple to all the gods. It was built over the ruins of another temple dating back to 27 AD.

The Diaspora

132

The Jewish diaspora is the dispersion of Jews out of their ancestral homeland (the Land of Israel) and the communities built by them across the world.

The Edict of Caracalla

212

The Roman Emperor Caracalla declared all free men in the Roman Empire were to be given full Roman citizenship and all free women in the Empire were given the same rights as Roman women. Before this, only inhabitants of Italia held full Roman citizenship.

Constantine becomes Emperor

306

The struggle for power led Constantine to convert to Christianity. But he wasn't actually baptized into the Christian church until right he died. This was a fairly common practice at the time (for fear of committing a mortal sin).

Solo Religion: Christianity

380

Theodosius I proclaims Christianity as the sole religion of the Roman Empire.

The Roman Empire is divided

395

The Roman Empire splits into 2 empires - The Western Roman Empire and The Eastern Roman Empire. Each empire had a ruler in charge of it. The Roman Empire was split by Theodosius.

The Visigoths sack Rome

410

The first time in 800 years the Roman empire has fallen to an enemy. It is sacked by the Goths under Alaric. This causes a huge uproar. This is when everything starts going down hill for the Ancient Rome empire.

End of the Western Roman Empire

476

The last Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustus, is forced to leave his thrown and surrender his crown to the German Goth Odoacer. Rome is taken over by the Goths. This marks the start of the Dark Ages in Europe.

Fall of the Roman Empire

476

One of the main causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire was the Barbarian Knowledge of Roman Military Tactics. They gained this knowledge by serving in the Roman army. The Barbarians used this knowledge to eventually turn it against the Empire.

Pantheon is Christianised

Oct 2, 609

The Pantheon was converted, and became a Christian Church The was altered by Pope Boniface IV and consecrated to Santa Maria of the Martyrs.

The Byzantine Empire ends

May 29, 1453

The Byzantine Empire comes to and end when it falls to the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Turks capture Constantinople in 1453 AD. It is renamed Istanbul in 1930.