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Rise of Roman Republic
509BC
The Etruscan King, Tarquin the Proud, is overthrown. The Romans make their own republic where the people choose their own leaders. They had two consuls at the head of the republic and the Senate who advised the consuls. Patricians were upper class citizens and plebeians were lower class citizens. Everyone was part of the Assembly, a union where people decide how they want to live. -
Rome's Territory Before Punic Wars
275BC
By this time, The Romans had expanded their terrritory to the entire penninsula. This was because of their strong army and legionaries (soldiers). Their soldiers were divided into legions of about 5,000 soldiers each. -
The Punic Wars Begin
264BC
The Romans had conquered the eastern half of Sicily, a Southern island. They clashed with the Carthaginians who had conquered the eastern half and war broke out. The war between Carthage and Rome lasted over a century. -
End of Punic Wars and Control of Mediterranean
146BC
The Romans won the Punic Wars and conquered Carthage. They were indestructible and a few years later, Rome was the leading power of the Mediterranean World. -
After the Punic Wars
140BC
Over the next decade after the Punic Wars, Rome was adjusting to its new life. There were agricultural changes like the developement from small farms to large estates, Romans started to enslave people, farmers moved from the farm to the city, and taxes were demanded from everyone. -
Roman Republic starts to Fail
135BC
Farmers who lost their land were unemployed, and because the richer Romans were buying their luxuries from other conquered lands, artisans and merchants also lost their jobs. Rome was in trouble and so new leaders were appointed to fix their problems. -
The Reformers Try
123BC
Two of the reformers who tried to solve Rome's problems were Tiberius Gracchus and his brother Gaius Gracchus. Tiberius thought that limiting a person's land and giving extra to the poor would help. His ideas were vetoed, and the Senate had him and his followers killed. Gaius's idea was to move the poor city to the countryside. He made it so that the poor could buy wheat at a lower price, but soon it was free and the Senate had him killed as well. -
The Generals Try and Sulla Takes Over
120BC
After the reformers came the generals. The first was Gaius Marius, He was a general and a military hero, He opened the army to everyone, and in return gave them money and land. Marius's plan helped Rome by giving jobs to the poor but it also did not help Rome, because the legionaries gave their loyalty to their general instead of the governement. Sulla opposed Marius and when he was given a job that Marius wanted, civil war broke out. Sulla won and made himself dictator in 60BC. -
Sulla Retires and Caear takes Charge
58BC
When Sulla retired, a new triumvirate was appointed. Julius Ceasar was one of the three. Julius Ceaser won complete power when the two other leaders in the triumvirate retired. -
Julius Ceaser, Dictator of Rome Climax and Death
46BC
He built an army. He then counqered part of France, and invaded Britian. The Senate was scared and ordered him to return home. He did and he made hiself dictator of Rome. He made many reforms; giving ex-soldiers land, building roads and buildings, draining mrashes which gave more jobs, planned gladiator games to entertain the poor, doubled Senate, etc. The Sentate saw him as to powerful and had him killed in 44BC. -
New Triumvirate, New Dictator, End of Republic
31BC
After Ceaser's death, people got mad. Another triumvirate came including Mark Antony, Caesar's friend, Octavian, Ceasar's adopted son and Marcus Lepidus, one of Ceasar's top officers. The three worked for a while, but soon they fought for power and Octavian came out as the Roman Empire's dictator.
