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Ancient Rome

  • Rome is founded
    753 BCE

    Rome is founded

    According to legend, Ancient Rome was founded by the two brothers, and demi-gods, Romulus and Remus, in 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
  • Trossuli incorporated into the legion
    750 BCE

    Trossuli incorporated into the legion

    The semi-legendary celeres or trossuli - a 300-man cavalry corps which the first kings of Rome incorporated into the legion - is formed, later their number is increased to 600.
  • Circus Maximus of Rome is first laid out.
    599 BCE

    Circus Maximus of Rome is first laid out.

    The Circus Maximus was a chariot racetrack in Rome first constructed in the 6th century BCE. The Circus was also used for other public events such as the Roman Games and gladiator fights and was last used for chariot races in the 6th century CE.
  • Servius Tullius, the king of Rome, increases the number of the cavalry corps (equites) to 1,800.
    578 BCE

    Servius Tullius, the king of Rome, increases the number of the cavalry corps (equites) to 1,800.

    Members had to serve in ten campaigns but had voting rights in the assembly, their horse and equipment was provided by the state, and they enjoyed a high status, hence the predominance of aristocrats in their ranks.
  • Reign of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, last king of Rome
    534 BCE

    Reign of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, last king of Rome

    Lucius Tarquinius Superbus ('Tarquin the Proud') was traditionally the seventh and last king of ancient Rome before it became a republic. He belonged to the Etruscan Tarquinii clan, reigned from 534 to 510 BCE, and was infamous for his tyrannical rule, although Rome did enlarge its territory in that time.
  • Rome becomes a Republic
    509 BCE

    Rome becomes a Republic

    It all began when the Romans overthrew their Etruscan conquerors in 509 B.C.E. Centered north of Rome, the Etruscans had ruled over the Romans for hundreds of years. Once free, the Romans established a republic, a government in which citizens elected representatives to rule on their behalf.
  • Rome defeats the Latins.
    498 BCE

    Rome defeats the Latins.

    The Latin War was a war fought between the Roman Republic and the Latin League from 498 BC to 493 BC
  • Saturn Temple
    497 BCE

    Saturn Temple

    The first temple dedicated to Saturn is constructed in the Roman Forum of Rome.
  • Temple Dioscuri
    484 BCE

    Temple Dioscuri

    The first temple of the Dioscuri (Castor & Pollux) is dedicated in Rome by Aulus Postumius following his victory over the Latins at the Battle of Lake Regillus.
  • Roman Law
    451 BCE

    Roman Law

    Decemvirate and Publication of Twelve Tables of Roman Law
  • Gauls sack Rome
    390 BCE

    Gauls sack Rome

    After the Gauls defeated the Romans at the confluence of the Tiber and the Allia rivers, the Gauls marched on to Rome. In late July 390 BCE, the undefended city fell to the invaders to be burnt and sacked. Only on the Capitol Hill, did a small number of Romans put up a valiant defense, holding out until famine forced them to surrender. The Romans were forced to pay the Gauls a hefty ransom of gold to depart.
  • Rebuilding of Rome. Strong walls around the seven hills.
    380 BCE

    Rebuilding of Rome. Strong walls around the seven hills.

    Roman walls went from dry-stone and sun-dried bricks walls at the beginning of Roman civilization to walls built with a concrete core and brick facing by the beginning of the Empire. These walls also provide many clues to the history of ancient Rome and the different stages of the Roman economy and society.
  • First Samnite War
    343 BCE

    First Samnite War

    The First Samnite War (343-341 BC) was the first of three clashes between Rome and the Samnite hill tribes, and ended in a Roman victory that saw the Republic begin to expand into Campania.
  • Latin War, victory for Rome.
    340 BCE

    Latin War, victory for Rome.

    The Latin War of 340-338 was a major step in the road that led to Roman control of the Italian peninsula, and that saw a major change in the relationship between the Roman republic and her former Latin allies.
  • The Via Appia, a famous Roman road, is constructed
    321 BCE

    The Via Appia, a famous Roman road, is constructed

    At first it ran only 132 miles (212 km) from Rome south-southeastward to ancient Capua, in Campania
  • Aqua Appia constructed
    312 BCE

    Aqua Appia constructed

    Rome's first aqueduct constructed, the 16 km long Aqua Appia
  • Third Samnite War between Rome and the Samnite people.
    298 BCE

    Third Samnite War between Rome and the Samnite people.

  • The first temple to Venus is dedicated on Rome's Aventine Hill
    295 BCE

    The first temple to Venus is dedicated on Rome's Aventine Hill

  • Victory
    295 BCE

    Victory

    Roman victory over Samnites, Gauls and Umbrians at Sentinum
  • First Punic War
    264 BCE

    First Punic War

    The First Punic War was fought to establish control over the strategic islands of Corsica and Sicily.
  • War Ships
    260 BCE

    War Ships

    Rome builds a fleet of 120 ships in just 60 days to fight the First Punic War
  • Second Punic War
    219 BCE

    Second Punic War

    Hannibal crosses the Ebro river in Spain and sacks the city of Saguntum, Rome's ally, sparking off the Second Punic War
  • Producing coins
    200 BCE

    Producing coins

    Roman coins were first produced in the late 4th century BCE in Italy and continued to be minted for another eight centuries across the empire. Denominations and values more or less constantly changed but certain types such as the sestertii and denarii would persist and come to rank amongst the most famous coins in history.
  • The earliest known Triumphal Arches are built in Rome by L.Sertinius
    196 BCE

    The earliest known Triumphal Arches are built in Rome by L.Sertinius

    The triumphal arch was a type of Roman architectural monument built all over the empire to commemorate military triumphs and other significant events such as the accession of a new emperor.
  • Hannibal flees
    195 BCE

    Hannibal flees

    Facing the threat of being handed to the Romans as a result of the opposition to the reforms he initiated in Carthage, Hannibal flees to Crete and then to Tyre, in Seleucid territory. He will become one of the military advisors of king Antiochos III Megas in his war against Rome.
  • The Achaean League signs a treaty of alliance with Rome.
    191 BCE

    The Achaean League signs a treaty of alliance with Rome.

    The Achaean League (or Achaian Confederacy) was a federation of Greek city-states in the north and central parts of the Peloponnese in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE. With a combined political representation and land army, the successful early years of the League would eventually bring it into conflict with other regional powers Sparta, Macedon, and then later Rome. Defeat by the latter in 146 BCE brought the confederacy to a dramatic end.
  • The treaty of Apamea Kibotos.
    189 BCE

    The treaty of Apamea Kibotos.

    Peace and alliance is established between the Seleucid Kingdom and Rome joined by her allies, such as Pergamon and Rhodes. The Seleucids have to evacuate all the land and the cities from Asia Minor and to pay a huge war indemnity.
  • Third Macedonian War:
    172 BCE

    Third Macedonian War:

    Third Macedonian War: Perseus of Macedon challenges Rome and is defeated.
    Rome defeats Macedon at Battle of Pydna, 168 BCE
  • Change in jurisdiciton
    166 BCE

    Change in jurisdiciton

    Rome gives dominion over the Cyclades to Athens.
    Rome puts Delos under the jurisdiction of Athens and makes the island a free port
  • Clepsydra set up in Rome.
    159 BCE

    Clepsydra set up in Rome.

    First water-clock set up in Rome. Clepsydra, also called water clock, ancient device for measuring time by the gradual flow of water.
  • Third Punic War
    150 BCE

    Third Punic War

    A Carthaginian army attacks Numidia, breaking the peace treaty agreed with Rome and sparking the Third Punic War.
  • Rome sends an army
    149 BCE

    Rome sends an army

    Rome sends an army of 80,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry to attack Carthage.
  • Rome defeats Carthage in Punic Wars.
    146 BCE

    Rome defeats Carthage in Punic Wars.

    Punic Wars, also called Carthaginian Wars, (264–146 BCE), a series of three wars between the Roman Republic and the Carthaginian (Punic) empire, resulting in the destruction of Carthage, the enslavement of its population, and Roman hegemony over the western Mediterranean.
  • War and new rule
    146 BCE

    War and new rule

    Open war breaks out between Rome and the Achaean League.
    Rome sacks Corinth and dissolves the Achaean league. Greece is ruled by Rome
  • Brothers Gracchi
    126 BCE

    Brothers Gracchi

    The Gracchi, Tiberius Gracchus and Gaius Gracchus, were Roman brothers who tried to reform Rome's social and political structure to help the lower classes, in the 2nd century B.C. The brothers were politicians who represented the plebs, or commoners, in the Roman government. They were also members of the Populares, a group of progressive activists interested in land reforms to benefit the poor. Some historians describe the Gracchi is the "founding fathers" of socialism and populism