History of Ancient Rome

By Aidan07
  • 753 BCE

    The Foundings of Rome

    Legend has it that on the 21st of April, brothers Romulus and Remus founded Rome. Romulus eventually kills Remus to become the first king and names the city after himself.
  • 509 BCE

    The Republic begins

    After the last of seven kings, Rome begins the Republic period during which it is ruled by senators and has a constitution.
  • 218 BCE

    Hannibal invades

    Hannibal of Carthage attacks Rome and invades Italy during the Second Punic War.
  • 73 BCE

    Spartacus slave uprising

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

    Julius Caesar becomes a dictator

    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.
  • 44 BCE

    The death of Julius Ceaser

    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.
  • 27 BCE

    The Roman Empire Begins

    Even though Caesar was a dictator, the first leader to call himself ''Emperor'' or Augustus was Octavius.
  • 64

    The Great Fire of Rome

    Most of the city is destroyed in a vast fire. Emperor Nero has often been blamed, but modern scholarship doubts this.
  • 80

    Building of the Colloseum

    One of the most iconic ancient buildings in Rome, the completion of the structure was a massive celebration.
  • 122

    Hadrian's Wall

    A wall was built across the North of England and marked the northern boundary of the Roman Empire.
  • 306

    Constantine becomes emperor

    This marks a change in the way that Christians were treated in Rome. Constantine himself became a Christian.
  • 380

    Christianity becomes the official religion

    This will have an effect on the rest of European history to the present day.
  • 395

    Rome splits

    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.
  • 410

    The attack of the Visigoths

    This marks the beginning of the fatal weakening of Rome that would lead to its downfall.
  • 476

    The end of the Western Roman Empire

    The last Roman Emperor Romulus Augustus is deposed and the Middle Ages begin.