Roman History

Romulus and Remus

753 BCE

The twins lived to defeat that king and found their own city on the river’s banks in 753 B.C. After killing his brother, Romulus became the first king of Rome

First king

753 BCE

legend says that Romulus became the first King of Rome in 753BC

Era of Monarchy ended

509 BCE

Rome’s era as a monarchy ended in 509 B.C., when it turned into a republic.

Tarquin

509 BCE

When the last of the seven kings of rome, Tarquin the proud , was deposed in 509 BCE, his rival for power Brutus, reformed the system of government and established the Roman Republic

First Law Code

450 BCE

n 450 B.C., the first Roman law code was inscribed on 12 bronze tablets–known as the Twelve Tables–and publicly displayed in the Roman Forum.

The Law of the Twelve Tables

433 BCE

The struggle between the Plebeians (common people) and the Patricians (privileged class) regarding the protection of social, civil, and legal rights, led to the formation of the 10-member committee called Decemviri in 433BC

Ending of Pontifex Maximus

254 BCE

It was the highest religious chair in ancient Rome history and was exclusively reserved for patricians until 254BC, when it was first occupied by a plebeian. It later became highly politicized. Augustus subsumed the chair to the imperial office.

Hannibal invades Italy.

218 BCE

Hannibal invades Italy. Hannibal leads the Carthage army in his famous crossing of the Alps to attack Rome.

Caesars Birth

102 BCE

Julius Caesar’s birth is not known, but historians claim it to be on July 12 or 13, 100 or 102 BC in Rome

Spartacus leads slaves in an uprizing

73 BCE

Spartacus the gladiator leads the slaves in an uprising

Truce of negotiations broke down

53 BCE

In 53 BCE Caesar lead a sizeable force against the Parthians at Carrhae, in modern day Turkey,where he was killed when the truce of negotiations broke down

Caesar's numerically inferior force defeated Pompey's greater one

48 BCE

Pompey met in battle in Pharsalus in Greece in 48 BCE where, Caesar's numerically inferior force defeated Pompey's greater one

Julius Caesar becomes the first dictator of Rome

45 BCE

Julius Caesar becomes the first dictator of Rome. Caesar makes his famous Crossing of the Rubicon and defeats Pompey in a civil war to become the supreme ruler of Rome. This signals the end of the Roman Republic.

Julius Caesar is assassinated

44 BCE

Julius Caesar is assassinated on the Ides of March by Marcus Brutus. They hope to bring back the republic, but civil war breaks out.

The defeat of Brutus and Cassius

42 BCE

They were defeated in the battle of Phillippi in 42 BCE

Antony and Cleopatra

31 BCE

Antony and Cleopatra combined forces were defeated at the battle of Actium in 31 BCE and both later took their own lives

The Roman Empire begins

27 BCE

The Roman Empire begins as Caesar Augustus becomes the first Roman Emperor.

Gracchi brothers

2

In 2nd century BCE, the Gracchi brothers, Tiberius and Gaius, two Roman tribunes, led a movement for land reform and political reform in general.

The death of Augusts

14

Augustus ruled the empire until 14 CE when he died

Much of Rome burns

64

Much of Rome burns. Legend has it that Emperor Nero watched the city burn while playing a lyre.

The eruption of mount vesuivius

79

Titus early reign saw the eruption of mount Vesuivivus in 79 CE which buried the cities of Pompeii, and Herculaneum

The Colosseum is built.

80

The Colosseum is built. One of the great examples of Roman engineering is finished. It can seat 50,000 spectators.

Domitian

81

Domitian ruled from 81-96 CE, and in this time expanded the secret boundaries of Rome, repaired damage to the city caused by his brother, improved economy of this empire

Reign of the five good emperors

96

The imperial succession beginning with Nerva (96-98AD) and ending with Marcus Aurelius (161-180AD), marked the most majestic days of Roman Empire. It was ruled by Trajan (98-117AD), Hadrian (117-138AD), and Antonius Pius (138-161AD) in between.

The Hadrian Wall is built

121

The Hadrian Wall is built. To keep out the barbarians a long wall is built across northern England.

Constantine becomes Emperor

306

Constantine becomes Emperor. Constantine would convert to Christianity and Rome would become a Christian empire. Prior to this Rome persecuted the Christians.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

Roman Emperors Constantine I and Maxentius locked forces on 28 October 312, on Milvian Bridge, a major trade route on Tiber

Christianity to be the sole religion of the Roman Empire.

380

Theodosius I declares Christianity to be the sole religion of the Roman Empire.

Rome splits into two empires

395

Rome splits into two empires

The end of the Western Roman Empire and the fall of Ancient Rome.

476

The end of the Western Roman Empire and the fall of Ancient Rome. The last Roman Emperor Romulus Augustus is defeated by the German Goth Odoacer. This signals the start of the Dark Ages in Europe

Resignation of Augustulus

476

Romulus Augustus was the last emperor of Rome from 31 October 475 to 4 September 476. He was deposed by Flavius Odoacer, a soldier in the Roman army, who became the first King of Italy.

The Byzantine Empire comes to an end as it falls to the Ottoman Empire.

1453

The Byzantine Empire comes to an end as it falls to the Ottoman Empire.