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1200 BCE
Etruscans
Around this time, the Etruscans began dominating part of the Italian peninsula, prior to Rome. Before the time of the Roman kings, Etruscans were ahead in trade, manufacturing and weaponry. They borrowed heavily from the Greek military strategists, which Rome would later perfect. The Romans will borrow heavily from the culture of the Etruscans with their alphabet and gladiatorial combat to entertain its citizens. -
Period: 753 BCE to 510
The Reign of Kings
During this time period, Rome was ruled by a series of seven kings. Legend claims that Romulus became the first king in 753 b.c. The reign of kings ended after the forced removal of Tarquin the Proud in 510 b.c. The Romans developed a strong sense of patriarchal rule and cultural attitude. Everything was done for the glory of the state, rather than the person, which would help lead to the downfall of the kings. -
Period: 509 BCE to 27 BCE
The Republic
After the removal of Tarquinus, Rome developed a republican system of government to grant power to the citizens. Kings would forever be considered a bad idea going forward. During this time, Rome grew from a city-state, to conquering the Italian peninsula and began spreading its influence around the western Mediterranean. -
390 BCE
The Gauls
By 390 b.c., the Gauls had crossed the Alps and began settling in northern Italy, appreciating its superior climate. After receiving what they cared most about, gold, they left the city of Rome after sieging it for 7 months. Rome's response in the coming decades was to decimate the Gaul population and instill fear in other groups to prevent further attacks on Rome. This began Rome's centuries long campaign to dominate in Italy and beyond. -
Period: 264 BCE to 241 BCE
First Punic War
In order to control trade in the Mediterranean, Rome fought a series of wars against Carthage from northern Africa. Carthage was rich in grain and controlled islands around the Italian peninsula. Rome developed a method to board enemy ships and fight using land battle tactics in the middle of the sea, rather than destroy good ships that could be used for transport. Rome then set its sights on the eastern Mediterranean power, Egypt. -
Period: 218 BCE to 201 BCE
Second Punic War
Carthaginians began expanding their influence into Spain, once again making Rome nervous. The Carthaginians recruited enemies of Rome as Hannibal marched his army and elephants through Gaul and into the Italian peninsula by way of the Alps. The conditions of crossing over the Alps killed many war elephants and because Hannibal did not punish deserters that were recruited from Europe, he lost his campaign of vengeance against Rome when Carthaginian leadership recalled him back home. -
202 BCE
A Final Blow to Hannibal
After Hannibal was recalled to Africa for being gone too long, Scipio Africanus convinced the senate to send him to Africa with an army to put an end to Hannibal and the Carthaginian power. Scipio outsmarted the elephant charges in battle and the Carthaginians ended up removing their colonies in Spain as a result of their loss. -
Period: 168 BCE to 121 BCE
Gracchi Brothers
Believing that they would do something great for Rome, the Gracchi brothers found their calling in establishing land reforms that removed power from the patrician class and redistributed some power to the plebeians. Tiberius was murdered, but his brother Gaius carried the torch until his death in 121 b.c. Gaius renounced his patrician status in order to move up through the ranks of plebeians and gain power in the Roman republic. -
Period: 149 BCE to 146 BCE
Third Punic War
The fear of Carthage rearming sparked a third war. Roman armies burned the city of Carthage to the ground, executed all males over the age of 12 and salted the city's surrounding farmland. -
287
Power to the Plebieans
The Roman Republic had long been controlled by the wealthy patrician class, but by 287 b.c., the larger and lower plebeian class worked to gain more influential power in the government and began creating laws that even the patricians were required to follow.
