-
753 BCE
the city of rome is founded
Legend has it that the twin sons of Mars, the god of war, named Romulus and Remus founded the city. Romulus killed Remus and became ruler of Rome and named the city after himself. Rome was ruled by kings for the next 240 years. -
73 BCE
Spartacus the gladiator leads the slaves in an uprising.
-
64 BCE
Much of Rome burns.
Legend has it that Emperor Nero watched the city burn while playing a lyre. -
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. -
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. -
44 BCE
Julius Caesar is assassinated
Julius Caesar is assassinated on the Ides of March by Marcus Brutus. They hope to bring back the republic, but civil war breaks out instead. -
27 BCE
The Roman Empire begins as Caesar Augustus becomes the first Roman Emperor.
-
64
much of rome burns
Nero set fire to Rome and blames the Christians for it. -
68
the year of the four emperors.
Galba, Otho and Vitellius and then Vespasian who became the first ruler of the Flavian Dynasty -
80
The Colosseum is built.
One of the great examples of Roman engineering is finished. It can seat 50,000 spectators. -
112
hadrain wall is built
the Hadrian Wall was built in 122 AD. It was a long wall built across northern England in an effort to keep the barbarians out. -
121
The Hadrian Wall is built
To keep out the barbarians a long wall is built across northern England. -
192
the year of the five emperors
chaos in Rome. The emperors were Pertinax, Didius Julianus, Pescennius Niger, Septimius Severus, Claudius Albinus Septimius Severus begins the Severan Dynasty. Famous events of this period included the Massacre at Alexandria -
192
the five good emperors.
Commodus the son of Marcus Aurelius also reigned during this era. Famous events of this period included Hadrian's Wall, the Pantheon was built in Rome and plague in Rome -
218
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. -
235
the crisis of the third century
period in Roman history of Military Anarchy which lasted over 50 years. Not one single Emperor died of natural causes during this time. Famous events of this period included revolts, civil wars, street fights, fierce foreign enemies, plagues, famines, fire and earthquakes. -
268
the illyrian emperors came from illyria
which was a region in the western part of today's Balkan Peninsula. During this period of the Roman Empire was the worst persecutions of the Christians -
285
the roman empire was split in half
by Diocletian The Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire aka the Byzantine Empire -
285
the Constantinian dynasty
who instigates a policy of toleration towards the Christians. Constantinople is named the new capital of the Romans and the Roman Empire -
306
Constantine becomes Emperor.
Constantine would convert to Christianity and Rome would become a Christian empire. Prior to this Rome persecuted the Christians. -
380
Theodosius I declares Christianity to be the sole religion of the Roman Empire.
-
380
christanity
Theodosius I proclaims Christianity as the sole religion of the Roman Empire in 380 AD. -
394
The Valentinian dynasty derives its name from the first of the dynasty's Emperors
The Empire is invaded by the fierce Barbarians the Visigoths ( Western Goths) and the Vandals. -
395
Rome splits into two empires.
-
410
The Visigoths sack Rome.
This is the first time in 800 years that the city of Rome has fallen to an enemy. -
410
the visigoths sack rome
This was the first time in 800 years that the city of Rome has fallen to an enemy. It was a huge uproar. -
476
The end of the Western Roman Empire and the fall of Ancient Rome.
The last Roman Emperor Romulus Augustus is defeated by the German Goth Odoacer. This signals the start of the Dark Ages in Europe. -
476
the western roman empire ended officially
the fall of the roman empire -
476
the fall of ancient rome
The last Roman Emperor Romulus Augustus is defeated by the German Goth Odoacer. This is the start of the Dark Ages in Europe. -
509
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.