Rome's history

Rome was founded

753 BCE

Ancient Rome was founded by the two brothers, known to be demi-gods, Romulus and Remus on 21 April 753 BCE. The legend claims that, in an argument over who would rule the city (or, in another version, where the city would be located) Romulus killed Remus and named the city after himself.

Rome was a province of Etruria

600 BCE

the republic begins

509 BCE

it took nearly 250 years for the republic to start after the founding of rome

"Law of the 12 Tables" provides written Roman law

450 BCE

Gaulic invasion sacked Rome

390 BCE

The settlement of the Latin War

338 BCE

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

Rome completed the occupation of the Italian peninsula

265 BCE

start of punic war

264 BCE

fought over control of the island of Sicily, and many of the crucial clashes were naval battles.

end of punic war

241 BCE

Rome ultimately emerged victorious, and the war marked the end of Carthage as a regional power.

Conquest of Sardinia

238 BCE

Hannibal invades

218 BCE

Hadrian's Wall

122 BCE

A wall was built across the North of England and marked the northern boundary of the Roman Empire

spartucus was born

111 BCE

spartucus would be a gladiator and a very strong soldier who plays many roles in the history of rome

Building of the Colosseum

80 BCE

One of the most iconic ancient buildings in Rome, the completion of the structure was a massive celebration.

spartacus slave uprising

73 BCE

Spartacus, a gladiator, leads an army of slaves in a series of battles. Spartacus and his men were caught and crucified

Pompey in the East

67 BCE

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

The Great Fire of Rome

64 BCE

Most of the city is destroyed in a vast fire. Emperor Nero has often been blamed, but modern scholarship doubts this.

Julius Caesar becomes a dictator

45 BCE

After Julius Caesar wins the civil war, he establishes himself as a dictator for life and supreme ruler of Rome, thus ending the Roman Republic.

The death of Julius Caesar

44 BCE

On March 15th, known today as the Ides of March, Caesar is assassinated on the steps of the Senate by factions wishing to bring back the Republic

Augustus reintroduces monarchy to Rome

31 BCE

The expansion of the empire destroyed the Roman Republic. Institutions designed for a small city-state could not rule a world empire. Above all, vast military campaigns required generals who commanded armies over wide territories for several years. By the last century BC, these generals would lead their armies against Rome and each other.

The Roman Empire begins

27

Even though Caesar was a dictator, the first leader to call himself ''Emperor'' or Augustus was Octavius.

the start of the third century crisis

235

In the 50 years between AD 235 and 284, the Roman empire suffered chronic political and military instability. Amid endemic civil wars and defeats at the hands of barbarians, emperors came and went with bewildering rapidity. The average reign was no more than 18 months, and many survived for much shorter periods.

the end of 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

This marks a change in the way that Christians were treated in Rome. Constantine himself became a Christian.

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 becomes the official religion

380

This will have an effect on the rest of European history to the present day

Rome splits

395

In an effort to make administration of the vast empire easier, Rome becomes two separate empires (Western Roman Empire and Eastern Roman Empire) with two capitals and two rulers.

The attack of the Visigoths

410

This marks the beginning of the fatal weakening of Rome that would lead to its downfall.

the fall of rome

476

Romulus, the last of the Roman emperors in the west, was overthrown by the Germanic leader Odoacer, who became the first Barbarian to rule in Rome. The order that the Roman Empire had brought to western Europe for 1000 years was no more.

The Byzantine Empire ends

1453

The Byzantine Empire comes to an end as it falls to the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Turks capture Constantinople in 1453 A.D. It is renamed Istanbul in 1930.