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753 BCE
The founding of Rome
Legend has it that on the 21st of April, brothers Romulus and Remus founded Rome. Romulus eventually kills Remus to become the first king and names the city after himself. -
509 BCE
The Republic begins
After the last of seven kings, Rome begins the Republic period during which it is ruled by senators and has a constitution. -
380 BCE
Christianity becomes the official religion
This will have an effect on the rest of European history to the present day. -
218 BCE
Hannibal invades
Hannibal of Carthage attacks Rome and invades Italy during the Second Punic War. -
122 BCE
Hadrian's Wall
A wall was built across the North of England and marked the northern boundary of the Roman Empire. -
80 BCE
Building of the Colosseum
One of the most iconic ancient buildings in Rome, the completion of the structure was a massive celebration. -
45 BCE
Julius Caesar becomes a dictator
After Julius Caesar wins the civil war, he establishes himself as a dictator for life and supreme ruler of Rome, thus ending the Roman Republic. -
44 BCE
The death of Julius Caesar
On March 15th, known today as the Ides of March, Caesar is assassinated on the steps of the Senate by factions wishing to bring back the Republic. -
37 BCE
Spartacus slave uprising
Spartacus, a gladiator, leads an army of slaves in a series of battles. Spartacus and his men were caught and crucified. -
27 BCE
The Roman Empire begins
Even though Caesar was a dictator, the first leader to call himself ''Emperor'' or Augustus was Octavius. -
64
The Great Fire of Rome
Most of the city is destroyed in a vast fire. Emperor Nero has often been blamed, but modern scholarship doubts this.
80 CE Building of the Colosseum -
306
Constantine becomes emperor
This marks a change in the way that Christians were treated in Rome. Constantine himself became a Christian. -
395
Rome splits
In an effort to make administration of the vast empire easier, Rome becomes two separate empires (Western Roman Empire and Eastern Roman Empire) with two capitals and two rulers. -
410
The attack of the Visigoths
This marks the beginning of the fatal weakening of Rome that would lead to its downfall.
476 CE The end of the Western Roman Empire -
476
The end of the Western Roman Empire
The last Roman Emperor Romulus Augustus is deposed and the Middle Ages begin.
