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753 BCE
Founding of Rome
Legend states that Romulus and Remus, twin sons of Mars, god of war were the founders of the city. According to the legend they were found by a she-wolf who took care of them until they were found by a Shepard who then adopted them. When they became adults they went on to develop the area where they were found. Then in a fight over location Romulus killed his brother and became the ruler of the settlement named after him "Rome." -
509 BCE
From Kingdom to Republic
In 509 BCE the citizens of Rome, primarily the military, drove out the Etruscan kings, they declared Rome a Republic. They built the Roman forum at the heart of the city which was a political and civic center with temples and public buildings where leading citizens tended to government business. At this time only men with wealth and property could command and rise in the ranks. -
264 BCE
Punic Wars
By the time the Punic Wars started, Rome already controlled the entire Italian Peninsula. In these wars Rome fought with Carthage three times. Rome defeated Carthage and sold prisoners of war into slavery. At the end of the Punic Wars, Rome controlled all of Sicily, the western Mediterranean, much of Spain, and part of Northern Africa. -
60 BCE
First Triumvirate
Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus formed the power of three in Rome. Pompey and Crassus already had conflict between each other so Julius Caesar decided to form a friendship/alliance between the three and Caesar persuaded them to work together. They would split the Roman provinces up for each of their abilities. -
44 BCE
Death of Caesar
On March 15 44 B.C.E Caesar was assassinated by members of the Senate led by Cassius and his friend Brutus. He was stabbed 23 times, Rome plunged into chaos. Caesar's nephew and adopted son, Octavian emerged as a new leader in 31 BCE. He was later called Augustus Caesar. -
31 BCE
Battle of Actium
In 32-31 BCE Octavian defeats Anthony with his new wife Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium. They fled. Then by 30 BCE Octavian would be the sole ruler, Anthony and Cleopatra commit suicide. -
68
Death of Nero
Nero was accused of setting fire and fiddling while the city burned. He built his palace over thousands of homes that were burned, thousands of lives were lost and people were tired. He even persecuted innocent Christians for the fire. He was overthrown due to his greediness and forced to commit suicide. -
121
Death of Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius was one of the most respected emperors in Roman history, he was emperor of Rome from 161-180 AD, he was an emperor, scholar, and military leader. He was a kind emperor who cared about his people, however his successor, his son Commodus was very much unlike him. Aurelius died of natural causes. -
Period: 272 to 327
Constantine's Timeline
Died in: 337 CE Constantine was the first Christian Emperor of Rome. He even helped the spread of Christianity throughout Rome. He defeated Maxentius at Milvian due to a vision sent by God, he grants legal rights to Christians, and makes them citizens, declares religious freedom for everyone, and allows Jews to be on Council. He also made Christianity the sole religion of Rome. Then in 324 CE he reunited Rome and moved the capital to Byzantium (Constantinople). -
476
Fall of the Roman Empire
30 years after Constantine's death Rome split once again. The eastern Roman empire was at war with Persia, but would continue to thrive. On the other hand, the western Roman Empire was losing money due to having to constantly go to war, and there was a lot of internal conflict. Mostly Germanic tribes took over Rome one by one. First Britain, then Spain, Northern Africa, Gaul and Italy, and lastly in 476 CE a Germanic prince (Odovacar) gained control of the Roman militia.
