Rome

rome start

753 BCE

the rise of rome

cities were established

600 BCE

The Etruscans establish cities from northern to central Italy

Rome becomes a republic

509 BCE

Rome becomes a republic. The last king is overthrown and Rome is now ruled by elected officials called senators. There is a constitution with laws and a complex republican government.

The settlement of the Latin War

388 BCE

Between 341 and 338 BC the Romans faced a rebellion by their neighboring Latin allies. After Rome emerged victorious, the settlement they imposed underpinned subsequent Roman conquests of Italy and overseas territories.

war

282 BCE

282-272: War with Pyrrhus

The Punic Wars start

264 BCE

Rome fought three wars against the great North African city of Carthage. These are known as the Punic Wars, from the Latin name for Carthaginians, Poeni.

Hannibal invades Italy

218 BCE

Hannibal invades Italy. Hannibal leads the Carthage army in his famous crossing of the Alps to attack Rome. This is part of the Second Punic war.

The Punic Wars ends

146 BCE

The Punic Wars left Rome as the dominant power in the western Mediterranean.

slaves in an uprising

73 BCE

Spartacus the gladiator leads the slaves in an uprising

Pompey in the East start

67 BCE

Caesar’s conquest of Gaul (58–51 BC), the exploits of Pompey in the eastern Mediterranean were more significant in the expansion of Rome.

Pompey in the East end

62 BCE

It has been estimated that his ‘settlement’ more than doubled the annual income of the Roman empire

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 on the Ides of March by Marcus Brutus

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.

Augustus reintroduces monarchy to Rome starts

31 BCE

The expansion of the empire destroyed the Roman Republic. Institutions designed for a small city-state could not rule a world empire.

first Roman Emperor

27 BCE

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

Augustus reintroduces monarchy to Rome ends

14

It remained the legal basis of every emperor’s reign for three centuries.

Much of Rome burns

64

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

St Peter martyred under Nero

65

St Peter martyred under Nero, and buried on the site of the present St Peter's Basilica

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.

Five Good Emperors start

96

Five Good Emperors', including Marcus Aurelius whose equestrian statue stands on the Capitoline Hill, maintain the Pax Romana (era of peace) that began under Augustus

The Hadrian Wall is built

121

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

Five Good Emperors ends

180

Five Good Emperors', including Marcus Aurelius whose equestrian statue stands on the Capitoline Hill, maintain the Pax Romana (era of peace) that began under Augustus

the third century crisis starts

235

In the 50 years between AD 235 and 284, the Roman empire suffered chronic political and military instability.

the third century crisis

284

This vicious circle was finally halted, and the empire given breathing space, by the emperor Diocletian (r284–305). He created the tetrarchy: a ‘college’ of four rulers, one for each of the major frontiers, and one in reserve.

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

Constantine converts to Christianity

312

At the battle of the Milvian Bridge in AD 312, the emperor Constantine sent his troops into combat with crosses painted on their shields. By the end of his life, he claimed that before the battle he had experienced a vision in which he was given the divine command: “in this sign conquer”. Constantine’s conversion to Christianity had a profound effect on European, and world, history.

Christianity to be the sole religion

380

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

Rome splits

395

Rome splits into two empires

The Visigoths sack Rome

410

The Visigoths sack Rome. This is the first time in 800 years that the city of Rome has fallen to an enemy.

The last Emperor of the West

476

The last Emperor of the West, Romulus Augustulus, abdicates and Rome is taken over by the Goths