Roman History

  • 753 BCE

    Romulus becomes 1st king of Rome; The origin of Rome's name

    Romulus becomes 1st king of Rome; The origin of Rome's name
    Remus was killed by his twin brother, Romulus, because of them arguing about the location of the new city. This led to Romulus giving his name to the city and becoming the first king of Rome.
  • Period: 753 BCE to 509 BCE

    Rome as a Monarchy

  • 715 BCE

    Numa Pompilius becomes the 2nd king of Rome

    Numa Pompilius becomes the 2nd king of Rome
    Numa Pompilius is responsible for the establishment of the religious calendar and with the founding of Rome’s other early religious institutions, including the Vestal Virgins, the Quirinus, and the office of pontifex maximus.
  • 674 BCE

    Tullus Hostilius becomes 3rd king of Rome

    Tullus Hostilius becomes 3rd king of Rome
    Tullus and Romulus are legendary in history for carrying on wars with the neighbouring cities of Fidenae and Veii, organizing the army, disappearing from earth in a storm, doubling the number of Roman citizens, and for the settlement of a war by the pitting the Horatii against the Curiatii. This lead to Horatius winning the battle and destroying Alba Longa.
  • 642 BCE

    Ancus Marcius becomes 4th King of Rome

    Ancus Marcius becomes 4th King of Rome
    Ancus Marcius is very noble for the settlement of the Aventine Hill outside Rome, the first extension of Rome beyond the Tiber River to the Janiculum Hill, and the founding of the port of Ostia at the mouth of the Tiber.
  • 616 BCE

    Tarquinius Priscus becomes 5th king of Rome

    Tarquinius Priscus becomes 5th king of Rome
    Since Ancus is now dead, Tarquin took the throne. Ancus’ sons ended up murdering Tarquin. Tanaquil, the wife of Tarquin, then managed to put her son-in-law, Servius Tullius, in power.
  • 578 BCE

    Servius Tullius becomes 6th king of Rome

    Servius Tullius becomes 6th king of Rome
    Servius Tullius is the one responsible for the Servian Constitution, it divided citizens into five classes regarding to their wealth. Servius was murdered by his daughter and her husband, Tarquinius Superbus, the seventh king of Rome.
  • 534 BCE

    Tarquinius Superbus becomes the 7th king of Rome

    Tarquinius Superbus becomes the 7th king of Rome
    Tarquinius Superbus, Tarquin the Proud, became the 7th king of Rome and was the final monarch of early Rome. Tarquin apparently murdered Tullius which led to him establishing an absolute despotism, this is the reason for his name "the Proud". Him and family was expelled from Rome, therefore, leading the monarchy at Rome to be terminated.
  • 509 BCE

    Rome becoming a republic

    Rome becoming a republic
    The patricians, wealthy landowners, overthrew Tarquinius Superbus and they established a government of elected officials--a republic.
  • Period: 509 BCE to 27 BCE

    Roman Republic

  • 450 BCE

    The Laws of the Twelve Tables

    The Laws of the Twelve Tables
    A commission of ten men was selected to create a code of law which would bring together Patricians and Plebeians and which the magistrates would have to enforce it. The table involves rules for war, religion, law, and government.
  • 287 BCE

    Plebeians gain right to assemble

    Plebeians gain right to assemble
    Plebeians began to call for political reforms to have a say in the government. They were finally given the right to be full citizens then they got their own assemblies--the Assembly of Tribes and the Assembly of Centuries-- so they could pass laws and magistrates.
  • 275 BCE

    Greece and Gaul

    Greece and Gaul
    As Rome was expanding their power, they gain conflicted with Greeks over control of the Greek colonies. The Romans ended up defeating a Greek army that invaded Italy to protect the Greek colonies there. Between 215 and 148 BCE, there's been a series of four wars. Rome defeated Macedonia and went on to take control of the remaining empire of Alexander the Great. The Romans then moved north and west to conquer parts of Gaul.
  • 275 BCE

    Rome controlled the entire Italian peninsula

    Rome controlled the entire Italian peninsula
    After them overthrowing their Etruscan king, Tarquin the Proud, they encouraged central Italy's other city-states to revolt again the Etruscans. After they were free from Etruscan rules, the Romans conquered them which led to them controlling the entire Italian Peninsula.
  • 73 BCE

    Spartacus Rebellion

    Spartacus Rebellion
    Spartacus, a slave of the Romans, led one of the largest slave revolts in history by killing thousands of Roman soldiers. The revolt was stopped by the Romans and 6,000 more slaves were captured and executed by crucifixion.
  • 44 BCE

    End of the Republic

    End of the Republic
    Julius Caesar was frightened by his own power and influence which led to a group of conspirators to attack and kill him on the famous "Ides of March".
  • 27 BCE

    Pax Romana

    Pax Romana
    Also known as Pax Augusta, was a time of peace and prosperity under imperial rule. It was the result of a strong government, a strong economy, a strong military, and a clear set of laws. It lasted about 200 years, from 27 B.C.E. to 195 C.E.
  • Period: 27 BCE to 476

    Roman Empire

  • 68

    Roman Power

    Roman Power
    When Nero died, a civil war broke out between three emperors. The war was won by Vespasian who was part of the Flavian dynasty. They helped initiate economic and cultural reforms in the Roman Empire.
  • 72

    The Colosseum

    The Colosseum
    Vespasian, the Emperor who ruled after Nero, began the construction of the Colosseum, which finished in 80 AD.
  • 313

    Christianity gets legalized

    Christianity gets legalized
    During the rule of Tiberius, 14–37 CE, that Jesus Christ was crucified. Christians were tolerated but were often tortured or killed until the reign of Constantine I. Constantine I declared the religion to be legal in the Edict of Milan. Constantine became the first Christian emperor.
  • 330

    Finding of the new capital

    Finding of the new capital
    Constantine found a new capital on the Bosphorus at Byzantium and renamed Constantinople in his honor.
  • 439

    Rome got invaded

    Rome got invaded
    The nomadic Vandals-- who had invaded North Africa from Spain took Carthage, and in 455 CE, they conquered Rome itself.
  • 476

    The Fall of Rome

    The Fall of Rome
    The Western Roman Empire ended when germanic ruler, Odovacer, replaced the roman emperor. He was the last to become emperor.