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753 BCE
Founding of Rome (Event)
Romulus killed his brother Remus and names the city after himself. -
Period: 625 BCE to 510 BCE
Period of the Kings (Era)
This era preceded and set up the Roman Republic. -
Period: 616 BCE to 578 BCE
Reign of Tarquinius Priscus (Era)
Also known as Tarquin the Elder, he was the 5th King of Rome, the first of the Etruscan dynasty. -
Period: 578 BCE to 535 BCE
Reign of Servius Tullius (Era)
He was the 6th king of Rome, 2nd of the Etruscan dynasty. He was assassinated in 535 B.C. -
Period: 519 BCE to 430 BCE
Cincinattus (Person)
Cincinattus served as a consul around the year 460 B.C. He then retired to his farm but was asked to return as dictator in 458 B.C. After establishing peace in the empire in the span of about 15 days, he returned to farming. -
Period: 509 BCE to 27 BCE
Roman Republic (Era)
This era followed the period of Kings, during it the city-state of Rome was governed by a republican form of government. -
490 BCE
Battle of Marathon (Event)
This event saw the Athenians defeat the Persians in a decisive battle in the Persian war. -
Period: 490 BCE to 449 BCE
Persian Wars (Era)
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478 BCE
Delian League founded (Event)
This league was a military alliance to defend against any enemies of the Ionian Greeks. -
Period: 431 BCE to 405 BCE
Peloponnesian War (War)
War between Athens and Sparta. With Sparta eventually defeating Athens, they became the most powerful city state in the region. -
425 BCE
Battle of Pylos (Event)
This naval battle took place at the peninsula of Pylos; the Athenian general Demosthenes and statement Cleon defeated the Spartans and captured hundreds of prisoners. -
422 BCE
Battle of Amphipolis (Event)
Sparta defeats Athens in significant battle in the Peloponnesian War. -
421 BCE
Peace of Nicias (Event)
This peace treaty was signed between Sparta and Athens and brought the first half of the Peloponnesian War to a close. -
404 BCE
Fall of Athens (Event)
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371 BCE
Battle of Leuctra (Event)
With this victory Thebes overtook Sparta as the main military power in the Greek city-states. -
Period: 359 BCE to 336 BCE
Reign of Phillip of Macedon (Person)
Phillip of Macedon, or Phillip the 2nd was the father of Alexander the Great. He was king of Macedonia for over 20 years. -
Period: 323 BCE to 32 BCE
Hellenistic period (Era)
This period spans from the death of Alexander the Great to the death of Cleopatra. -
322 BCE
End of Athenian Democracy (Event)
This event came at the hands of the Macedonians who defeated the Athenians leading to their downfall. -
Period: 312 BCE to 63 BCE
Seleucid Empire (Era)
This was a Greek power in Western Asia . It began to crumble after 100 BC, but did not ultimately fall until 63 BC by the Roman general Pompey’s efforts. -
Period: 234 BCE to 149 BCE
Cato the Elder (Person)
Also known as Cato the Censor or Cato the Wise. He was a soldier, senator, and a historian. He was well known for having conservative views and being adamantly opposed to Hellenization. -
218 BCE
Hannibal crosses the Alps (Event)
One of the most important events in the 2nd Punic War. One of the most amazing feats in ancient military history. -
Period: 218 BCE to 201 BCE
2nd Punic War
This was the second of three wars between the Romans and the Carthagians. The second, like all three saw Rome victorious. -
146 BCE
The sack of Carthage and Corinth (Event)
These events both happened within the span of a few months and brought the 3rd Punic War to a close. -
Period: 106 BCE to 48 BCE
Pompey (Person)
Pompey was a great Roman general and statesman. He played a big role in bringing Rome from the republic into the age of the empire. -
73 BCE
Revolt of Spartacus (Movement)
Spartacus was a gladiator who led a slave rebellion during the 3rd Servile War from 73-71 B.C. The 3rd Servile War was the 3rd of a series of slave revolts. -
Period: 70 BCE to 19 BCE
Virgil (Person)
Virgil was one of Rome’s greatest poet’s who ever lived. -
63 BCE
Attempted coup by Sergius Catalina (Event)
Sergius Catalina was from a wealthy Patrician family, and he attempted an unsuccessful coup to overthrow the Roman Consuls and take control. -
Period: 58 BCE to 50 BCE
Gallic Wars
Wars between Rome and the Gauls, happening under the dictatorial reign of Julius Caesar. -
48 BCE
Battle of Pharsalus (Event)
This was the first of the 3 battles in the Roman civil war that happened from the timespan of 48-31 BC. This battle featured Julius Caesar versus Pompey. Caesar was victorious over Pompey. -
Period: 46 BCE to 44 BCE
Reign of Julius Caesar (Era)
Julius Caesar is the most famous and possibly most notable Roman emperor who ever ruled. His reign was short lived but filled with glory. -
44 BCE
Julius Caesar assassinated (Event)
Julius Caesar is assassinated in the Roman senate on the Ides of March -
41 BCE
Battle of Philippi (Event)
This was the second of three battles in the Roman civil war from 48-31 BC. It featured Octavian and Antony versus Cassius and Brutus. Brutus was in a sense victorious and he also took command of Brutus’s troops after Brutus committed suicide. -
31 BCE
Battle of Actium (Event)
This battle was the last of the three battles of the Roman Civil War. It saw Octavian defeat Antony and his lover Cleopatra giving Octavian the right to rule the empire. -
Period: 27 BCE to 180
*Pax Romana (Era)
The Pax Romana, or period of peace was a nearly 200 year span of peace, prosperity, and expansion in the Roman Empire. It began under Augustus Caesar and ended under Marcus Aurelius. -
Period: 27 BCE to 68
Julio-Claudian Emperors (Era)
This era was the first five Roman emperors.
Beginning with Caesar Augustus, then Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. -
Period: 27 BCE to 476
The Roman Empire (Era)
This period followed the Republic of Rome and lasted nearly 500 years until the fall of Rome. -
Period: 14 to 37
Tiberius (Person)
Tiberius, more widely known as Julius Caesar, was emperor of Rome for around 23 years. -
37
Birth of Josephus (Event)
Josephus is one of the most famous and well known historians of all time. He was born Jewish, but was a major figure in Rome and was present with Tiberius when the Temple in Jerusalem fell in 70 AD. He was an interpreter at that event. -
Period: 54 to 68
Reign of Emperor Nero (Era)
This reign was marked by cruelty and much social and political change. During this time the Great Fire of Rome took place as well as Boudica’s rebellion in Great Britain. -
56
Tacitus (Person)
Tacitus, or Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a great Roman historian, politician, and orator. He is considered one of the greatest Roman historians who ever lived. The dates of his life don’t seem to be commonly known, but it is generally believed he was born around 56 A.D. -
64
Great fire of Rome (Event)
This fire was started by Nero and it destroyed around 70% of Rome. -
67
*Siege of Gamala (Event)
Roman general Vespasian took the Jewish city of Gamala after a seven month siege. -
68
*Year of Four Emperors (Event)
This year marked the transition from the Julio-Claudian dynasty into the Flavian dynasty. The four emperors in chronological order is: Galba, Otto, Vitellius, and Vespasian. Some mark this event as happening in 69 AD. Vespasian began the Flavian dynasty. -
68
*Vespasian appointed to suppress Jewish revolt (Event)
Emperor Nero appointed Vespasian to suppress the Jewish revolt in Judaea. -
69
*Vespasian becomes Emperor (Event)
While Vespasian was in Egypt, the Roman senate declared him as the Roman emperor. The last of the 4 emperors in the “year of four emperors.” -
Period: 69 to 96
*Flavian Dynasty (Era)
The era of the Flavian Dynasty was comprised of the rule of Vespasian and his two sons: Titus and Domition. -
Period: 69 to 79
*Reign of Vespasian (Era)
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70
*Fall of Jerusalem
This event occurred during the reign of emperor Vespasian. Titus was the general who led the siege. -
Period: 96 to 180
Five good Emperors (Era)
This era came after the Flavian dynasty and saw five emperors come to power who ruled well and prosperously.
Beginning with Nerva, then Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius. -
Period: 130 to 202
Irenaeus (Person)
Irenaeus was a very important figure in early Christian orthodoxy. -
Period: 180 to 280
Period of Military Dictatorship (Era)
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Period: 235 to 284
Period of the Barrack Emperors (Era)
In this timespan, there were 20 emperors who all had time on the throne. They were called the barrack emperors because during this time generals would use their armies to vie for and takeover the throne. This was a tumultuous time as general after general came and went as emperor. -
249
Empire wide persecution (Event)
Under the harsh rule of emperor Decius; an empire wide persecution of Christians was enforced. -
260
Emperor Valerian is captured by the Parthians (Event)
Valerian is the first Roman emperor who was captured in battle. This marked the low point of the period of military dictatorship -
Period: 270 to 275
Rule of Emperor Aurelian (Era)
During Aurelian’s reign, he built walls around Rome. This is very significant because up until this point, Rome was the major empire that was usually on the offensive and not the empire defending their capital city with their backs against the wall. Aurelian was assassinated in 275 AD. -
Period: 284 to 305
Reign of Diocletian (Era)
Diocletian was known as the Great Persecutor for the way he treated Christian’s. He instated an empire wide persecution of Christian’s. -
312
Battle of Milvian Bridge (Event)
At this monumental battle, Constantine defeated Maxentius to solidify Constantine as solve emperor in the western empire. -
313
Edict of Milan (Event)
Emperor Constantine in this momentous event granted religious liberty to Christians; but also to other religions besides the religion of the emperor. This was the first time Christianity was recognized as an acceptable religion in the Roman Empire. -
323
Constantine becomes sole emperor (Event)
After ruling the western empire for around 10 years, Constantine finally became sole emperor in Rome. Constantine’s reign is notable in that he made Christianity the religion of the Roman Empire and granted toleration for all Christian’s. Christian persecution ended under Constantine. -
325
Council of Nicaea (Event)
Through this council the Niceness Creed was established; this creed established the doctrine of the Trinity. It was in response to Arius, a clergyman who denied the Divinity of Jesus. -
330
Constantinople Founded (Event)
Constantinople became the capital of Rome and was the center of the Byzantine Empire. -
337
Death of Constantine (Event)
When Emperor Constantine died, the Roman Empire was divided into three sections that each of his three sons ruled a portion of. -
364
Emperor Valentinian divides the empire (Event)
As emperor, Valentinian divided the empire in half; giving one half to his brother Valens and ruling the other half himself. -
Period: 379 to 395
Rule of emperor Theodosius (Era)
As emperor, Theodosius, or Theodosius the Great made a major impact in multiple ways in the empire. One notable impact was he produced the Code of Theodosius. This was a compilation of laws by the Christian Roman emperors dating back to Constantine in 312. -
381
Council of Constantinople (Event)
This event occurred under emperor Theodosius; the same one who wrote the code of Roman laws. From this council the Nicene creed (which was written in 325 at the council of Nicaea), was established and fortified. It was the first of seven councils that convened in Constantinople. -
410
Alaric the Visigoth Sacks Rome (Event)
One of the most devastating events in Roman history. Alaric and his army destroyed churches and temples, and slaughtered many people. -
476
Fall of the Roman Empire (Event)
This year marked the fall of the Western Roman Empire, or the fall of Rome. The Germanic leader Odoacer overthrew emperor Romulus and became the first Barbaric leader to rule in Rome. -
Period: 527 to 565
Rule of Emperor Justinian (Era)
As emperor, Justinian nearly reunited the empire; but ultimately was unsuccessful. During his time The Hagia Sophia was built. The Bubonic plague also took place during his reign, this was a big reason he was unable to reunite the empire.