Temple of saturn arch septimius severus forum

Timeline of Ancient Rome

  • 1200 BCE

    Founding of Alba Longa

    Founding of Alba Longa
    After the Trojan War, Aeneas fled to found a new Troy which he eventually did in the Italian Peninsula. This new city, Alba Longa, would be where Rome’s founders are from.
  • 753 BCE

    Founding of Rome

    Founding of Rome
    According to legend, Rome was founded by two brothers, Romulus and Remus. After an argument between the two brothers on the location/ruler (two versions of the legend), Romulus killed Remus and founded Rome (named after him). Rome was settled on the banks of the Tiber river.
  • 750 BCE

    Kidnapping of Sabine Women

    Kidnapping of Sabine Women
    In order to safeguard Rome's future, Romulus and his followers kidnapped women from surrounding areas so Rome's population can grow.
  • 509 BCE

    The Roman Republic

    The Roman Republic
    After being ruled by seven kings, the Romans overthrew the role of the monarch within Roman society and set up a Republican government.
  • 450 BCE

    The Twelve Tables

    The Twelve Tables
    The first Roman code of law was written on bronze tablets and put on display at the Roman Forum.
  • 312 BCE

    The Aqueduct

    The Aqueduct
    One of the most significant innovations from the Romans was their ability to transport water from distant lands with their use of aqueducts. Some of these aqueducts transported water as far as 60 miles to reach Rome! As the population grew, so did Rome’s demand for water and aqueducts were the answer!
  • 312 BCE

    Appian Way

    Appian Way
    Rome is famous for their road system, as some are still being used today. The Appian way was one of the first major roads in Ancient Rome. It was mainly used for transporting the Roman Army and its supplies!
  • Period: 264 BCE to 146 BCE

    The Punic Wars

    Rome and Carthage both dominated trade in the Mediterranean and the two powers clashed in a series of conflicts known as the Punic Wars. Ultimately, Rome defeated Carthage and Rome rose to the top as the dominant group in the region.
  • 121 BCE

    The Gracchi Brothers

    The Gracchi Brothers
    Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, Roman Tribunes of the Plebs, led a movement for land reforms and political reforms. One of their reforms was meant to limit the amount of public land one could own from new lands. Needless to say, their proposals were unpopular among the senators and the elite.